Plugins are a way to add a feature to your website quickly and easily. With tens of thousands of plugins available, just about any feature you want to add to your website is available to you.
While you can search the internet for plugins, that is not recommended for novice WordPress users because of security concerns. The WordPress.org Directory is a trusted source of plugins that have been tested and checked for security and quality. All of these plugins are also Free!
This is a step by step tutorial on how to install a plugin from the WordPress.org Directory into your website.
Go to the Add New Plugin Page
When you are logged in to your website,
Hover your mouse over Plugins and click Add New
Search for the plugin by keyword or name
Use the Search Box to find the plugin you want by keyword or by name. Type some keywords or the name of a plugin and press enter.
Some of the most popular plugins to install are:
- Jetpack
- Yoast SEO
- WP Super Cache
How to choose a plugin
With so many choices available, it can be difficult to choose a plugin. Many plugins can do the same thing, so how are you supposed to choose?
Below the plugin description is a box with useful information to help you choose.
- Star Rating- shows what other users think of the plugin
- Number of Active Installs shows how popular the plugin is
- Last Updated- gives you an idea of whether the developer of the plugin cares about it and will maintain it in the future.
- Compatible with your version of WordPress give you confidence that it will work on your website.
When you see a plugin you may want to try, click More Details to give you a better idea about the plugin including instructions and screenshots on how to use it.
(Pro Tip- Right Click on “More Details” and open it in a new Tab so you can refer to it later)
Click Install Now when you’re ready to try the plugin.
Try a bunch of plugins and see which ones you like.
Activate the Plugin
After you click Install Now, the button will change to a blue color and say Activate.
Click Activate to turn the plugin on.
Check the Plugin Settings
Most plugins install a menu item in your WordPress dashboard. These can be stand alone items below the Settings link or a sub menu under Settings.
(Some plugins place their menu in other locations.)
