Installing WordPress Plugins via the Dashboard

The administrative interface for WordPress is Dashboard, which is easy to reach and intuitive to use. Simply pull up your favorite Web browser and enter the URL for your WordPress Web site or blog followed by /wp-login.php. For example, if your WordPress blog uses the URL http://www.mywordpressblog.com, you type http://www.mywordpressblog.com/wp-login.php.

On your WordPress installation's login page, enter your administrator username and password.

To find plugins in the WordPress Dashboard:

1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.

   The Dashboard page appears, as shown in Figure 2-1.

   Figure 2-1: The Dashboard page.

   

2. Choose PluginsAdd New.

   The Install Plugins page appears, as shown in Figure 2-2. On this page are a number of selections, including a search box. Typing a term in this box and clicking the Search Plugins button searches the WordPress Plugins Directory for plugins that match the term.

   At the top of the Install Plugins page, you find links for the following options:

   • Search: The page where you can search for plugins within the directory.
   • Upload: This page provides you with a means to upload a plugin directly into WordPress. We discuss this page in more detail later in this chapter.
   • Featured: This page displays a selection of plugins featured by WordPress as great plugins you may want to try out.
   • Popular: This page shows the most popular plugins based on criteria selected by WordPress.

     Figure 2-2: The Install Plugins page.

     

   • Newest: This page shows the most recently added plugins within the repository.
   • Recently Updated: This page shows the plugins most recently updated by their developer.

   Each of these pages provides you with easy access to plugins that you may want to try without you having to search for them. Explore each of these pages at your leisure; you may find some great plugins this way.

   At the bottom of the Install Plugins page is a selection of keywords, as shown in Figure 2-3. When you click a keyword, WordPress displays all the plugins tagged with the keyword. For example, clicking gallery shows all plugins tagged with that keyword, such as NextGen Gallery, a very popular plugin.

Figure 2-3: Keywords at the bottom of the Install Plugins screen.

After you find a plugin you like, you can easily find great plugins to install. Within the Dashboard, this is a very simple process:

1. Click the Details link underneath the title of the plugin you want to install, as shown in Figure 2-4.

   Figure 2-4: Plugins listed on the Install Plugins page.

   

   The Plugin Information window, which provides a description of the plugin, appears with a number of tabs at the top, as shown in Figure 2-5.

2. Click the Installation tab to view the installation instructions.

   Read the installation instructions before you proceed. Each plugin's installation and activation differs.

3. Return to the Description tab and then click the Install Now button to install your plugin.

   The Installing Plugin page appears, with a message stating whether your plugin installed successfully, as shown in Figure 2-6.

   Figure 2-5: The Plugin Information window.

   

   If you see anything other than a successful message, you need to follow the support instructions on the Plugin Information window. This may include an FAQ tab or a Support link. Always make note of any error messages you see.

   Figure 2-6: The Installing Plugin page.

   

4. Choose PluginsPlugins to verify that your plugin installed successfully.

   Your plugin should appear on the Plugins page's All list, as shown in Figure 2-7.

   Figure 2-7: List of installed plugins.