If you’re running a WordPress site, then updating your plugins and themes is important. These updates are not just about adding new features; they’re essential for bug fixes, security improvement, and making sure everything works smoothly with the latest WordPress version.

In this article, we’ll explore how to install and update your WordPress plugins and why updating your plugins is necessary for your website’s success.

Disclaimer

We are not affiliated with any plugins mentioned in this blog. Recommendations are based on their popularity, effectiveness, and user reviews.

What Are WordPress Plugins and Why Are They Important?

WordPress plugins are powerful add-ons that integrate with your WordPress website to extend its core features. These no-code WordPress plugins empower you to effortlessly customize and enhance your website, providing a user-friendly solution without requiring coding expertise or technical skills.

Key Benefits of WordPress Plugins

• Enhance Performance & User Experience
  Speed and performance are crucial for any WordPress website. Caching plugins like WP Rocket and W3 Total Cache optimize load times, while Smush and ShortPixel compress images without losing quality, ensuring a seamless user experience.
• Customize Your WordPress Site Without Coding
  Easily build and design custom pages with Elementor or Beaver Builder, while WPForms and Contact Form 7 help create interactive forms effortlessly.
• Optimize SEO & Increase Organic Traffic
  SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and Rank Math help structure your content, optimize keywords, and improve rankings, making your site more discoverable.
• Secure Your WordPress Website
  Protect your site from malware and attacks with security plugins like Wordfence, Sucuri, and All-In-One WP Security & Firewall, ensuring a safe browsing experience.
• Launch & Grow Your E-Learning Platform  
  WordPress offers powerful plugins for building and managing online courses. LearnDash, LifterLMS, and Sensei LMS provide essential tools for course creation, student engagement, and content delivery.
• Expand Website Functionality
  WordPress plugins empower you to expand your site’s capabilities, from eCommerce solutions to social media integrations, adapting your website to various needs. With the right plugins, you can:
  • Launch an online store using WooCommerce, complete with inventory management, secure payments, and flexible shipping options.
  • Reach a global audience by enabling multilingual support with plugins like WPML or Polylang.
  • Track and optimize performance with analytics tools such as Google Site Kit and MonsterInsights to monitor user behavior and engagement.
  • With these tools, you can customize your WordPress site to grow your business, enhance user experience, and streamline operations.

Key Steps Before Updating WordPress Plugins

Keeping your WordPress plugins updated is essential for maintaining security, performance, and compatibility with the latest WordPress version. However, outdated or incompatible updates can cause site malfunctions, plugin conflicts, or security vulnerabilities. To ensure a smooth update process, follow these key precautions:

✅ Backup Your Website – Always create a full backup of your files and database before updating.

✅ Check Compatibility – Review the plugin changelog to confirm compatibility with your WordPress version and other plugins. Incompatible updates may lead to issues like the White Screen of Death (WSOD)—learn how to fix it here.

✅ Use a Staging Site – Test updates on a staging site before applying them to your live website. This prevents disruptions and ensures smooth functionality. Follow this step-by-step guide to set up a staging site.

✅ Review Ratings & Feedback – Before updating, check recent user reviews to identify potential issues in the latest version.
By taking these precautions, you can update WordPress plugins confidently while minimizing risks. If you encounter any errors, explore our troubleshooting blogs for quick solutions.

Next, let’s explore how to install and update WordPress plugins efficiently!

Install WordPress Plugins

There are several ways to install plugins on your WordPress site. You can choose the following methods depending on your skill level and ease of use.

1. Installing from the WordPress plugin directory
2. Manual installation (Zip File)
3. Via FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

WordPress Plugin Directory

Utilizing the official WordPress Plugin Repository is the easiest and secure way to install a plugin and enhance your website’s functionality. The repository provides a vast selection of free plugins to various needs. Follow these steps to install and activate a plugin effortlessly:

1. Log in to your WordPress site and access the Dashboard.
2. In the left menu. click on Plugins -> Add New
3. The Plugins settings will expand, providing options. Click Add New.
4. Use the search bar in the top-right corner to find the desired plugin.
5. Click Install Now next to the plugin you want.
6. Once installed, click Activate to enable it.

That’s it! Your plugin is now active and ready to enhance your WordPress site.

Upload and Install a WordPress Plugin via ZIP File

WordPress also allows you to install plugins manually using a ZIP file, which is useful for premium or custom plugins not available in the official repository. Follow these steps: 

1. Download the ZIP file of your desired plugin from a trusted source.
2. In your WordPress Dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New.
3. Click the Upload Plugin button at the top.
4. Click Choose File, select the ZIP file, then click Install Now.
5. Once the installation is complete, click Activate Plugin to enable it.

Your plugin is now installed and ready to use! 

Install a WordPress Plugin via FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

If you’re unable to upload a plugin through your WordPress dashboard or prefer a manual approach, you can install it using FTP (File Transfer Protocol). This method requires an FTP client like FileZilla or a file manager from your hosting provider. Follow these steps:

1. Download and unzip the plugin files on your local computer.
2. Open FileZilla and enter your FTP login details from your hosting account to connect.
3. In the Remote Site section, navigate to your WordPress directory.
4. Locate the /wp-content/plugins/ folder.
5. In the Local Site section, find the unzipped plugin folder.
6. Drag and drop the plugin folder from the Local Site to the Remote Site.
7. Once uploaded, go to your WordPress Dashboard → Plugins and click Activate.

Your plugin is now successfully installed and ready to use! 

Update WordPress Plugins

Keeping your WordPress plugins updated ensures better security, performance, and compatibility. WordPress provides multiple ways to update plugins, suitable for users of all skill levels. Here are the three main methods:

1️⃣ Automatic Updates via WordPress Dashboard – Enable automatic updates for hassle-free plugin management.

2️⃣ Manual Updates – Update plugins individually through the Plugins section in your dashboard.

3️⃣ FTP (File Transfer Protocol) Updates – Use FTP tools like FileZilla to manually replace plugin files if needed.

Each method ensures a smooth update process, helping you maintain a secure and fully optimized WordPress website.

1. Automatic Updates via WordPress Dashboard

The easiest way to update plugins is through the WordPress dashboard, making it ideal for quick and hassle-free updates.

Steps to Update a Plugin Automatically:

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins.
3. Locate the plugin that needs an update (you’ll see a notification if an update is available).
4. Click View version details to check what’s new.
5. Click Update Now next to the plugin and wait for the process to complete.
6. You’ll receive a confirmation message once the update is successful.

Bulk Plugin Updates:

1. Select multiple plugins using checkboxes.
2. Choose Bulk Actions → Update and click Apply.

     2. Manual Plugin Update & Installation

This method is useful for premium or custom plugins not available in the WordPress Plugin Directory.

Steps to Manually Update a Plugin:

1. Download the latest plugin .zip file from the developer’s website.
2. In the WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New.
3. Click Upload Plugin, then Choose File and select the downloaded .zip file.
4. Click Install Now, then Activate the updated plugin.
5. If updating an existing plugin, WordPress may ask you to deactivate and delete the old version before installing the new one.

3. Updating Plugins via FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

If your WordPress dashboard isn’t working due to permission issues or timeouts, FTP updates provide a more technical approach.

Steps to Update via FTP:

1. Access Files via control panel provided by hosting or Run an FTP client like FileZilla and log in using your FTP credentials (found in your hosting dashboard).
2. Navigate to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
3. Backup the existing plugin folder by downloading it to your computer.
4. Delete the old plugin folder from /wp-content/plugins/.
5. Extract the new plugin .zip file and upload the folder to the same directory via FTP.
6. Once uploaded, the new version of the plugin will be active.

Bonus: Installing & Updating WordPress Plugins via Freemius

Freemius is a powerful marketplace and licensing platform that helps developers sell and manage WordPress plugins and themes. Unlike traditional marketplaces, Freemius provides an all-in-one system, including licensing, payments, subscriptions, and automatic updates, making plugin management seamless.

How to Install a WordPress Plugin via Freemius

Installing a plugin purchased through Freemius-powered checkout is simple:

1. Visit the plugin’s product page (e.g., Custom Tabs for LearnDash).
2. Click “BUY NOW”, and a checkout popup will appear.
3. Enter your billing details and complete the purchase.
4. After payment, you’ll receive an email with a download link for the plugin’s ZIP file and product key.
5. Install the plugin via ZIP file upload (see manual installation guide above).
6. Activate the plugin by entering the product key in the WordPress dashboard.

Once activated, your plugin is ready to use!

Automatic Updates on Freemius-Powered Plugins

Freemius-powered plugins come with seamless automatic updates as long as your license is active. This ensures your site remains secure and benefits from the latest features.

How to Enable Automatic Updates on Freemius Plugins:

1. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Checkmark the Freemius-powered plugin from the list.
3. Choose Bulk Actions → Enable Auto-updates and click Apply.

License Renewal for Continuous Updates & Support

Many premium WordPress plugins require an active license for ongoing updates and customer support. Keeping your license valid ensures compatibility with WordPress core, themes, and other plugins.

Types of Plugin Licenses:

• Annual License Renewal – Renew yearly to continue receiving updates and support.
• Lifetime License – One-time purchase for unlimited updates and support (higher upfront cost but no renewals).

Why Renew Your Plugin License?

✔ Access to Premium Features – Retain advanced tools that enhance your site’s functionality.

✔ Priority Support – Get direct assistance from developers when needed.

✔ Security & Performance Updates – Receive regular bug fixes, security patches, and optimizations.

By renewing plugin licenses, you ensure your WordPress website remains secure, functional, and optimized for long-term success. 

Best Practices for Managing WordPress Plugins

Effective plugin management keeps your WordPress site secure, fast, and reliable. Follow these best practices:

✅ Keep Plugins Updated – Regular updates fix bugs, enhance security, and improve performance.

✅ Remove Unused Plugins – Deactivate and delete plugins you no longer need to reduce security risks.

✅ Check Compatibility – Ensure plugins are compatible before updating WordPress core.

✅ Use Trusted Plugins – Download only from reputable sources to avoid malware risks. Nulled themes or plugins can contain malicious code, making your site vulnerable to hackers.

✅ Limit Plugin Use – Too many plugins slow down your site; install only essential ones.

✅ Backup Before Updates – Always create a backup before updating or removing plugins.

✅ Test on a Staging Site – Avoid live site issues by testing plugins in a staging environment.

✅ Monitor Performance – Use tools like Query Monitor or GTmetrix to identify slow plugins.

✅ Restrict Installation Access – Limit plugin management to trusted admins for security.

By following these best practices, you can keep your WordPress site secure, fast, and optimized while reducing risks associated with plugin management. 

Conclusion

Keeping your WordPress site in top shape is essential for peak performance, strong security, and staying ahead of the competition. Proactively managing plugin updates helps prevent crashes, improve speed, and unlock new features that enhance functionality.

Whether you choose automatic updates, manual installation, or the FTP method, staying updated ensures a smooth, secure, and optimized website—saving you from potential headaches.
Want a hassle-free way to manage your WordPress updates? Let LDninjas handle your plugin and site maintenance so you can focus on growing your business. Contact us today to keep your website fast, secure, and fully optimized!

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