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How to Install WordPress Plugins

Users love WordPress not only because it’s a great program for web publishing, but also because it’s free and support is free. And everyone loves all the free plugins that enhance WordPress blogs and websites. You can install these plugins online via your browser or through the WordPress Dashboard. Both methods are covered here.

Here are the steps for installing WordPress plugins through your browser.

  1. Navigate to the WordPress Plugins Directory in your browser.

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    You see the searchable Plugin Directory.

  2. Enter the name of the plugin (or a search term relevant to the plugin or a feature you’re looking for) in the search box and then click the Search Plugins button.

    The directory lists all plugins that match your query. You can also sort your search query by selecting one of the radio buttons underneath the search box: Relevance (default), Newest, Recently Updated, Most Popular or Highest Rated. Additionally, WordPress.Org lists plugins on the right side of the page by: Most Popular, Newest Plugins and Recently Updated to help you find plugins that may interest you.

    The Most Popular plugins have the greatest number of users and have been downloaded most often by users. In the Plugin Directory, they’re grouped because the majority of WordPress users want to find them easily.

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    All plugins are tagged with keywords; the most popular tags are listed along the left side.

You can also install plugins through your Dashboard:

  1. Click the Add New link under the Plugins menu in your Dashboard.

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    This loads the Install Plugins page where you can search for plugins.

    When searching for, and finding, plugins in the Dashboard, you use the same method you used at the WordPress website in their Plugin Directory. Ever since WordPress provided the plugin search in the Dashboard, most users don’t use the WordPress website anymore.

  2. On the Install Plugins page, click the Upload link at the top.

    The Install Plugins page reloads with a form that allows you to browse your computer for a plugin .zip file that you previously downloaded from the WordPress Plugin Directory; upload it and WordPress installs it for you, automatically.

  3. Choose Plugins and then click Add New to access the WordPress.org Plugin Directory from the Install Plugins page.

    Every plugin on the WordPress site is searchable from the Install Plugins page. Plugins are also listed by Featured, Popular, Newest, and Recently Updated categories. Popular Tags gives you shortcuts to the most-used tags for particular plugins with just a click of the links that are displayed at the top of the page.

  4. When you find a plugin you’re looking for, click its link to view its details.

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    A description of the plugin appears in a pop-up window with a number of tabs at the top. These tabs can vary with each plugin and could include Installation, FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), Screenshots, Stats, and Notes. Each tab provides important information about the plugin.

The FYI box on the right provides useful information, such as the version of the plugin, when the plugin was updated, what versions of WordPress are compatible with the plugin, and links to the author’s website.

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The rating section below the FYI box displays the average rating the plugin has received from its users.

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