[![How to Install a Plugin in WordPress – a Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners 1](https://coma.lv/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Gemini_Generated_Image_kx1zyvkx1zyvkx1z.webp)](https://coma.lv/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Gemini_Generated_Image_kx1zyvkx1zyvkx1z-1030x575.webp) # How to Install a Plugin in WordPress – a Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners Aug 21, 2024/by [Alina](https://coma.lv/en/author/alina-suhorukova-gmail-com/) The first thing every beginner needs to learn after installing WordPress is how to install plugins. Plugins let you add new features such as a gallery, a slideshow and more. There are thousands of both free and paid WordPress plugins. In this step-by-step tutorial we will show you how to install a plugin in WordPress. ![installplugins](https://coma.lv/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/installplugins.png) ## Before You Start If you use WordPress.com, whether you can install plugins depends on your plan. On the Free, Personal and Premium plans, installing plugins is not available, which is why many users do not see the Plugins menu in their dashboard. This is due to the [limitations of the WordPress.com platform itself](https://coma.lv/en/2025/06/26/wordpress-com-limitations/). To use plugins fully, you need to upgrade to the Business or Commerce plan on WordPress.com or use independent hosting with WordPress.org. ## How to Install a Plugin in WordPress To make it easier to follow, you can watch the following video on how to install a plugin in WordPress: However, if you prefer to follow written step-by-step instructions, read on. We will cover all three methods: installing a plugin using the search, uploading a plugin, and installing it manually using FTP. ## Installing a Plugin Using WordPress Plugin Search The easiest way to install a WordPress plugin is through the search in the plugin directory. The only drawback of this option is that the plugin you need has to be available in the WordPress plugin directory, which is limited to free plugins. The first thing to do is go to your WordPress admin area and click **Plugins > Add Plugin**. ![searchplugins (1)](https://coma.lv/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Ekranuznemums-2025-05-20-013759.jpg) You will see a screen like the one in the screenshot below. To find a plugin, type its name or the feature you are looking for, as we did. After that you will see several listings, as in the example: ![pluginsearchresults](https://coma.lv/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Ekranuznemums-2025-05-20-014341.jpg) Choose the plugin that suits you best. We searched for Social Floating Sidebar and the first result was Fuse Social Floating Sidebar, so we will click the “Install Now” button. WordPress will now download and install the plugin. After that you will see a button to activate it. ![activateplugin](https://coma.lv/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Ekranuznemums-2025-05-20-014703.jpg) A WordPress plugin can be installed on your site but it will not work until you activate it. So click the “Activate” button. That’s it – you have successfully installed your first WordPress plugin. The next step is configuring the plugin. The settings are different for every plugin, so we will not cover them in this article. ## Installing a Plugin Using WordPress Admin Plugin Upload Paid WordPress plugins are not available in the WordPress plugin directory. These plugins cannot be installed using the first method. For such plugins there is an upload method. We will show you how to install a plugin on WordPress using the upload option in the admin area. First, you need to download the plugin from its source (it will be a zip file). Then log in to your WordPress admin area and open the **Plugins > Add Plugin** page. After that, click the Upload Plugin button at the top of the page. ![uploadpluginwpadmin](https://coma.lv/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Ekranuznemums-2025-05-20-015010.jpg) This opens the plugin upload section. Here you need to click the “Choose File” button and select the plugin you downloaded to your computer earlier, and then click “Install Now”. ![pluginupload](https://coma.lv/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Ekranuznemums-2025-05-20-015239.jpg) WordPress will now upload the plugin file from your computer and install it. You will see a confirmation notice when the installation is complete. ![plugininstalledmanual](https://coma.lv/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/plugininstalledmanual.png) To start using the plugin, click the Activate Plugin link. You will also need to configure the plugin to suit your needs. The settings differ from plugin to plugin, so we will not cover them in this article. ## Manually Installing a WordPress Plugin Using FTP In some cases your WordPress hosting provider may have applied restrictions that do not allow you to install a plugin from the admin area. The best way out of such a situation is to install the plugin manually via FTP. The FTP method is the least suitable one for beginners. First you need to download the plugin file (it will be a zip file). Then unzip the file on your computer. When you unzip the plugin’s zip file, a new folder with the same name is created. You will need to upload this folder to your website using an FTP client. You will need to access your hosting via an FTP client. If you do not have an FTP username and password, contact your WordPress hosting provider and ask for them. Open the FTP client on your computer and connect to your website using the login and password provided by your web host. After that, find the **/wp-content/plugins/** directory Upload the folder you extracted from the zip file to the **/wp-content/plugins/** folder on your web server. ![ftppluginupload](https://coma.lv/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/ftppluginupload.png) After the files are uploaded, go to your WordPress admin area and click the **Plugins** link in the menu. You will see the successfully installed plugin on the plugins page. ![installedplugins](https://coma.lv/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/installedplugins.png) Now click the Activate link under the plugin. You may also need to change the plugin’s settings. The settings of different WordPress plugins can differ from each other, so we will not describe them here. We hope this helps you install a plugin on WordPress. --- *Our specialization is WordPress website development and maintenance. Contact us for a free consultation — [vadim@coma.lv](mailto:vadim@coma.lv), [+371 29394520](tel:+37129394520)* ---