How to install plug-ins on WordPress.org sites in five easy steps

by John Stringer | Sep 8, 2012 | How to, Technology, Wordpress

A good friend asked for input on how to install a WordPress plug-in on a self-hosted site, so I figured I’d put together a quick five step tutorial in video and text form below.  Enjoy:

Step 1: Log in to your WordPress site and click the “Plugins” option

Once you’ve logged in to your wordpress site (typically via www.yourdomian.com/wp-admin), you’ll see a view pretty similar to the screenshot below and you can click the “Plugins” option.

Step 2: Choose “Add New” option from the “Plugins” sub menu

Next, choose the “Add New” option from the “Plugins” sub menu

Step 3: Use  the “Search Plugins” field and button 

Now that you’ve made it to the “Install Plugins” page, make sure you’re on the “Search” area that looks like the screenshot below.  Then, simply type in a keyword (word, phrase, name of a plug-in, etc.) in the search field and click the “Search Plugins.”  In this example, I use wp-biography b/c that’s the plugin my friend asked me about.

Step 4: Click “Install Now” on the Plugin you want to use and confirm 

Once you’ve found the right plugin in the search results, click the “Install Now” hyperlink and WordPress will install the plug-in for you.

Step 5: Activate your new plugin

Finally, active your new plugin and you are set.

Keep in mind that some plugins have settings you may need to update/edit to get the results you desire, while others may work just like you want them to as soon as you activate them.  Whatever the case, if you find you don’t like a plut in, you can always deactivate and/or delete it!

Let me know below if this information was helpful to you!