{"id":11183,"date":"2023-03-22T09:05:45","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T09:05:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/?p=11183"},"modified":"2023-08-23T23:21:16","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T23:21:16","slug":"guide-to-plugin-installation-uninstallation-activation-and-deactivation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluehost.com\/blog\/guide-to-plugin-installation-uninstallation-activation-and-deactivation\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Uninstall a Plugin On WordPress + Activating, Installing and Checking the Compatibility"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Plugins are essential components of building a WordPress site and work together to extend functionality and add features to your website. When you create a WordPress site, you can install various plugins available in the WordPress directory<\/a>. In addition, users can manage their WordPress plugins by activating, deactivating, or uninstalling them from their dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing how to manage your plugins can help you learn how they individually optimize your site and which plugins you may need to remove from the dashboard. Follow us through activating, deactivating, and uninstalling your plugins below. <\/p>\n\n\n

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How to install a WordPress plugin<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you start to install plugins on your WordPress site:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Select \u201cPlugins\u201d from the dashboard and \u201cAdd New.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Go to the Plugin Directory, which lists featured, popular, and premium plugins available. You can leverage the \u201cSearch Bar\u201d on the top right-hand side of the directory to find a specific plugin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. After you find the plugin you are looking for, click \u201cInstall Now.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Installing WordPress plugins manually<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    You can install hundreds of plugins from the directory or manually upload them from your computer. When you purchase a plugin from a third-party developer, you\u2019re given a file to download before you upload it to your WordPress admin dashboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Installing WordPress plugins from the dashboard is relatively quick and easy as long as you have the file type. In addition, WordPress provides the option to manually install plugins purchased from outside the WordPress directory. Here are the four steps to installing a manual plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Download the WordPress plugin to your desktop.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Extract the plugin folder to your desktop if downloaded as a zip archive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Read through the \u201creadme\u201d file thoroughly to ensure you follow the installation instructions and then:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Click \u201cAdd New.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Upload your file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Click \u201cActivate\u201d to activate it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Check the \u201cDetails\u201d readme file for customization and further instructions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      If you downloaded your plugin as a zip file, you\u2019d need to upload the plugin through the WordPress admin dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. Select \u201cPlugins\u201d from the dashboard and \u201cAdd New.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Go to the Plugin Directory, which lists featured, popular, and premium plugins available. You can utilize the \u201cSearch Bar\u201d on the top right-hand side of the directory to find a specific plugin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. After you find the plugin you are looking for, click \u201cInstall Now.\u201d This will upload the plugin file from your computer and install it. Once it completes, make sure to \u201cActivate\u201d the plugin and configure the settings to fit your needs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        How To activate a WordPress plugin?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        Whether you have installed your plugin from the directory or manually, it doesn\u2019t start to work for your website until you activate it. Once you install your plugin, hit \u201cActivate,\u201d and you will have a new plugin ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        After activation, some plugins may need configuration to use them on your site. Be sure to check the description of the plugin for any further instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Consider these WordPress plugins<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        The largest source of free plugins is the official WordPress Plugin Directory<\/a>. You can purchase premium plugins from a developer directly or through the WordPress.org directory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        These plugins typically come with additional options, including ongoing customer support and regular updating from the plugin creator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Jetpack<\/strong> – Jetpack contributes to improving WordPress-powered blogs and websites through stats, related posts, search engine optimization<\/a>, social sharing, protection, backups, and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Once you\u2019ve installed the Jetpack plugin, you\u2019ll find a new menu item on your sidebar called \u201cJetpack.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Yoast<\/strong> – Yoast SEO<\/a> is the highest-ranking WordPress SEO<\/a> plugin. It is the favorite tool of millions of users looking to add value to their content through SEO. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Using Yoast, site authors can control how content is seen on search engines and social networks and optimize their content with suggested keywords. It is best recommended for WordPress users because it makes it easy to control titles, set targeted keywords, and manage sitemaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Yoast is incredibly easy to use and can help you optimize multiple aspects of your WordPress site, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n