WordPress is a complete CMS loved by millions of user worldwide. For WordPress users it is necessary that they should know how to work with plugins. In this tutorial I will explain you everything about plugins like – What are plugins, How to Install Plugins, How to download plugins and more.
Plugins are a piece of software that expands the functionality of a WordPress website. For example WooCommece Plugin adds eCommerce features in your WordPress website, allowing it to list and sell unlimited products.
In the same way Easy Media WordPress Plugin can create Image-Video Gallery in your WordPress Website.
There are millions of WordPress Plugins which provide different functions like SEO, Slider, Animation, eCommerce, Optimization, Marketing and more. They allow you to make any sort of website by easily adding any functionality you want.
Plugin Installation in your WordPress website can be done very easily by any of the following 3 ways –
Let’s talk about each of them in details.
WordPress provide a quick easy way to Search and Install Plugins from the dashboard itself. Go to Plugins > Add New section, then enter the name of the plugin in the search box, and click the enter button of your keyboard.
You will see the Plugin in the search result below, click the Install Now button against any of them to start the installation. The plugin will be installed in a few seconds time and you will be asked to Activate Plugin. So click the Activate Plugin link so that you can start using the plugin.
In the below pictures, it is shown how to install WooCommerce plugin by searching it in the search box and then clicking the ‘Install Now’ button.
Some premium plugins do not show up in the WordPress Search Plugin area. Therefore you have to download these plugins (in zip file) from their developer’s website. Then you have to upload these plugins to your WordPress website from WordPress Dashboard.
Steps to perform in this case are:
Note that when uploading plugins, WordPress only allows zip format.
A very popular premium plugin is Slider Revolution which can be downloaded in zip file. Then it needs to be uploaded and installed.
You can even use FTP to upload the plugin in your WordPress Website and then activate it from Installed Plugins section of the dashboard. You will need an FTP account for your website, which can be created from the FTP area in your hosting account.
After the plugin is uploaded you can go to Plugins > Installed Plugins section in your WordPress dashboard and activate this plugin.
Plugins are software and like any other software, it becomes necessary to keep them updated. Periodically plugin developers release updates of their plugins which provides new features and fix bugs.
These bugs can cause damage to your website by preventing certain features from working. They can also cause security issues.
WordPress has provided one click plugin update solution so that you can update them easily. Go to plugins page in dashboard and the plugins which have new versions will ask you to updates them. Simply click the Update Now link under them to update them to their latest version.
WordPress is the best CMS from which any type of website can be built. There are millions of free plugins for WordPress which you can use in your website. You can get them from the plugin search area in your dashboard or you can download them from the WordPress site itself – https://wordpress.org/plugins/.
Now you can continue to explore more new plugins. If you face any issues while installing a WordPress plugin? Do let us know in the comments section below.
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