Plugin is a feature in WordPress that allows its users to add many features to your website easily by installing a simple plugin. WordPress users can do various functions in their website by using the related plugin without having to code that feature.
For Example: If a user has a football website in WordPress and wants to add an display football match scores on his webiste then he/she can easily do that by installing football score plugin on his/her website without having to code that feature.
There are two methods for installing WordPress plugins:
1) Install Plugin from WordPress Directory using WordPress Plugin Search.
2) Install WordPress Plugin manually by uploading it from your PC/Laptop i.e. localhost.
Install Plugin from WordPress Directory using WordPress Plugin Search
This method allows you to search for any of your desired plugin that is available in the WordPress plugin search library and install that plugin on your website. You just need to search for the name or type plugin that you want to install from the WordPress Directory.
To install plugin using this method you need to follow the following steps:
1) Login to your WordPress Admin Panel.
2) In your WordPress Admin Panel, On the left side in your navigation bar locate & click on Plugins > Add New
3) You will now be redirected to a page like shown in the screenshot below. In the “Search Box” search for your desired plugin that you want to install by typing its name.
For example: If you want to install a plugin related to SEO, then you just need to enter “SEO” in the plugin search box.
Note: In the WordPress plugin section you will also see a selection of “Featured”, “Popular” and “Recommended” plugins handpicked by WordPress developers & its users. You can also find a plugin from these sections as these are normally the most used & trusted WordPress plugins.
4) After searching for your desired plugin as shown in the previous step, you will now see a list of all the plugins related to your search available in the WordPress plugin library. You can select a plugin from the list that you want to install and for that you need to click “Install” button to install the plugin.
Note: You can also click “More Details” to view the all details of your selected plugin. There you will see the plugin’s rating, user reviews and all its features. We recommend you to always choose the plugin that is rated by the many users as these plugins are mostly secure and trusted.
5) Now WordPress will automatically install your plugin. Once your plugin is installed, you need to activate the installed plugin by clicking on “Activate Plugin”.
Now your WordPress plugin has been activated on your website.
Install Plugin manually by upload it from your device or localhost.
Using this method you can upload the WordPress’s plugin from your PC/Laptop i.e. localhost that you have downloaded or coded and is in your PC/Laptop. For uploading the WordPress plugin you need to do the following:
1) Login to your WordPress Admin Panel.
2) Once you are in your WP Admin area, navigate to Plugins > Add New available in the left side panel.
3) You will now see a page as shown in the below screenshot. Click on “Upload Plugin” button.
4) Press the “Browse” button & a “Pop-Up” screen will open. Browse to your WordPress Plugin zip file in your PC/Laptop that you want to upload and then select it.
5) After selecting your file/plugin from your PC/Laptop, you need to click “Install Now” button.
Now WordPress will automatically upload and install your plugin from your computer/Laptop to the server.
6) Once the installation process will be completed you will see a message like below. To use this uploaded plugin you need to activate your plugin by pressing “Activate Plugin”.
Congratulations! Now your plugin has been activated on your website & you can start using it as per your requirements.