Plugins add features to WordPress. There are three installation methods, and the right one depends on where the plugin came from and whether the dashboard is reachable.
Method 1 — from the plugin directory
- Go to Plugins → Add New.
- Search for the plugin by name.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
Method 2 — upload a zip
For premium plugins bought from a developer or marketplace.
- Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
- Choose the .zip file and click Install Now.
- Click Activate Plugin, then enter your licence key if the plugin requires one.
Method 3 — via cPanel File Manager
Use this when the zip is too large to upload, or when a plugin has broken your dashboard and you need to work around it.
- Open File Manager and browse to
public_html/wp-content/plugins/. - Upload the plugin zip into that folder.
- Select the zip, click Extract, then delete the zip.
- Go to Plugins in the dashboard — it will be listed, waiting to be activated.
Deactivating a plugin when you are locked out
If a plugin causes a fatal error, rename its folder in wp-content/plugins/ (for example akismet to akismet-off). WordPress will fail to find it, deactivate it automatically, and let you back in.
Good practice
Only install plugins you actually use, delete the ones you do not, and avoid nulled or cracked plugins — they are the single most common source of malware on hosting accounts.
