Upload WordPress Plugins and Themes Using FTP

Upload themes and plugins using FTP

Contents in this post

1. What is a WordPress Plugin?
2. What is a WordPress Theme?
3. What is FTP
4. Steps to upload plugin and theme

 

What is a WordPress Plugin: WordPress Plugins are PHP scripts that extend the functionality of WordPress. They enhance the features of WordPress or add entirely new features to your site. Plugins are often developed by volunteers and are usually free to the public.

Important: Plugin Directory path in WordPress is { WordPress Directory/wp-content/plugins }

 

What is a WordPress Theme: A WordPress Theme is a collection of files that work together to produce a graphical interface with an underlying unifying design for a website. These files are called template files. A Theme modifies the way the site is displayed, without modifying the underlying software.

 

What is FTP: The File Transfer Protocol is a standard network protocol used for the transfer of computer files between a client and server on a computer network.

 

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Steps to Upload Plugins and Themes

Please read the full article for a better understanding. Some important points are given at the end of this post. please read them carefully.

• Create FTP account from cPanel and get the login information.
• Now connect to the server using any FTP software like File Zilla. { for more guidance on FTP connection Read This article }
• Download the zip file of the plugin or theme. A zip file of plugin or theme can be downloaded from WordPress.org
• Now extract the zip content to any directory in your computer.
• Open FTP Client Software and navigate to the plugin directory or theme directory of WordPress.
• If you are uploading a plugin then you must upload plugin files to location ‘<wp-directory>/wp-content/plugins/’.
• If you are uploading a theme then you must upload theme files to location ‘<wp-directory>/wp-content/themes/’
• Now upload the whole directory of the plugin to their folder.

 

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Example: I want to upload the woo-commerce plugin to my WordPress site. To do this, first i need to download the zip file of the woo-commerce plugin.

After downloading the plugin zip,  extract this zip to any location of computer.

Now open FTP software and connect to the server.

Now upload the whole directory.

After Uploading, You can now see the plugin in your WordPress admin dashboard. now you can activate it. The same process can use to upload a theme. Keep in mind that you must upload a plugin into the plugins directory and a theme into the themes directory of the WordPress.

 

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IMPORTANT POINTS

1. You should download the zip file from wordpress.org
2. If you are downloading the zip from any other source then it is possible that the plugin or theme is malicious. Your site can be hacked by hackers.
3. Please do not upload the file to the wrong directory. Plugin directory path in WordPress is   <wp-installation-directory>/wp-content/plugins 
4. You must upload the whole directory of the plugin with the root directory. Like if you are uploading the woo-commerce plugin then upload the complete folder. Here root directory means the main directory that stores all the files and folder of that plugin. In the woo-commerce plugin, the root directory name is ‘woocommerce’.
5. Please read this article if you are getting any problem with the FTP connection. { Read Now }
6. If you are getting any error while installing the plugin or theme from the WordPress admin dashboard, you can use this method.