How Do I Add a New Plugin on WordPress?

To add a new plugin on WordPress, simply navigate to the ‘Plugins’ section of your WordPress dashboard and click on ‘Add New’. Then, use the search bar to find the specific plugin you want, click ‘Install Now’ once you find it, and finally activate the plugin to start using it.

Full Explanation

Adding a new plugin in WordPress involves accessing the built-in plugin management system. First, you go to the ‘Plugins’ menu, which lists all your current plugins and options to manage them. Here, selecting ‘Add New’ opens the interface where you can explore and install new plugins. Using the search functionality, you can look up any available plugin by typing its name or keywords. After locating the plugin you want, the option to ‘Install Now’ will appear. Clicking this begins the installation process. Once the plugin is installed on your website, an ‘Activate’ button becomes available to enable the plugin’s features and make it operational on your site.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. Open your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to the Plugins menu.
3. Click on Add New to open the plugin installation page.
4. Use the Search plugins function on the right-hand side to find the plugin you want.
5. When you find the plugin in the search results, click on Install Now.
6. Once installation completes, click Activate to enable the plugin.

Real Examples

For instance, if you are looking to use the “All in one WP migration” plugin, simply type its name into the search bar on the ‘Add New’ plugins page. Once it appears in the search results, click ‘Install Now’ and then ‘Activate’ to start migrating your website with ease.

Common Mistakes

• Not clicking the Activate button after installation, which means the plugin won’t function until it is activated.
• Failing to use the search bar properly, which can make it difficult to find the desired plugin.
• Attempting to install plugins outside the official WordPress dashboard, which is not covered in these instructions.

FAQs

Q: Do I always have to activate the plugin after installing it?
Yes, installation alone doesn’t enable the plugin. You must activate it to use its features.

Q: Can I search for any plugin using the search function?
Yes, the search bar allows you to look up any plugin available in the WordPress plugin repository.

Key Takeaways

• Access the plugin section via the WordPress dashboard.
• Click ‘Add New’ to find and install plugins.
• Use the search bar to locate the exact plugin you want.
• Always activate plugins after installing them to enable their functionality.