Managing Plugins in WordPress

Introduction

Typically Plugins are created in PHP code. Plugins are used to have extra features on your WordPress blog. Many Plugins use extra settings right into the Dashboard for us to manage their features. 😉

How it works with Blogger!

Blogger.com does not have any options to add plugins. This is the biggest advantage WordPress has over Blogger.com. Blogger.com has gadgets typically but they are more like Widgets in WordPress.

How it works with WordPress!

There are literally thousands of plugins which are available free on WordPress official site. There are also many plugins you can buy for advanced users. 🙂

How to check which Plugins are on your WordPress Blog?

Click on the Plugins option on the left side bar of the Dashboard. This will give you sub menus which are typically Plugins, Add New and Editor (see image below). Clicking on Plugins will show a whole list of all the Plugins that are installed on your blog. This list also shows if the Plugin is activated or deactivated.

How to add new Plugins on WordPress?

Now click on Add New you will be show the Install Plugins screen as seen in the image below. Here all you have to do is search for a Plugin on WordPress. It will display many results and you can click on one of them and install it on your WordPress blog. Sounds easy enough! 🙂


Editing Plugins on WordPress

You can select a plugin and start editing it. Just click on the Editor option which is below the Add New option. A note of caution is that do not try to edit a Plugin from this editor and to be on the safe side use FTP.

Video

Here is the video which shows how to manage plugins.

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Bonus Tips

You might ask what are these plugins really about? How do I know which one should be installed. If you have migrated using our services (rtCamp) there is a long list of default Plugins we install with every blog we migrate from Blogger.com to WordPress.

Summary

Widgets change the way your website looks to a visitor. Plugins actually are advanced tools and give us extra features and options even in the WordPress Dashboard.

6 responses to “Managing Plugins in WordPress”

  1. Brandy – Middle Tennessee – Child of a great God, wife to a marvelous man, and mother to four boisterous blessings. As classically Charlotte Mason educators, we also enjoy nature study, "living" books, unit studies, and lapbooking. Through our website and resources, we bring meaningful connections through missions-focused studies, integrated poetry and picture study, cursive curriculum, and educational resources that assist families in their homeschool journey at http://www.halfahundredacrewood.com.
    Brandy says:

    What do I do if I don’t have a plugin option on the dashboard menu? Thanks!

    • Hey Brandy,
      If you don’t have plugin option in your WordPress dashboard, it means you are using free WordPress.com blog. Refer this article about difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
      Thanks.

        • I think you are hosted the site on WordPress.com, they do not have option to add new plugin.

  2. Renee & Burt – Suffolk – Becka is a crochet and knitwear designer and fibre artist, with an obsession with colour and self confessed yarn addict. Becka is the founder of Renee & Burt, she discovered her love for knitting and crocheting back at University when studying Graphic Design with Illustration at the University of Hertfordshire. ​After graduating, Becka worked in the design industry for over 6 years working for a couple of companies, the latest being for a children's craft company, creating craft kits for the likes of Tesco's, ASDA, Sainsbury's and Wilko to name a few. But her passion remained with all things fibre based. Obsessed with crocheting and knitting, Becka would spend most of her spare time creating patterns and experimenting with different textures and materials. It was from her love for nature and colour, and passion for all things yarn based that lead to her creating Renee & Burt. ​Becka loves creating playing with texture and colour and creating something beautiful either to wear or display in the home. She loves experimenting and really tries to push the boundaries on ways she can turn the yarn and fabric and other textures into beautiful creations. ​Becka creates crochet and knitwear patterns to inspire you to create items you will treasure, she also creates one off, bespoke pieces that you can wear, accessories and display, each piece is completely unique and made completely out of love! Becka also sells a range of limited edition yarns saved from high end fashion designers like Coco Channel's end of line fashion ranges.
    Rebecca says:

    Mine also doesn’t show the plug-ins would this be because I am on a free trial at the moment and I will be buying the premium opition.

    • This plugin is not available on WordPress.com account blogs.