How to Manually Install and Update Plugins in WordPress: A Step-by-Step Guide

WordPress plugins extend the functionality of your website, adding new features without the need for custom coding. While most plugins can be installed directly from the WordPress Plugin Repository, sometimes you need to install them manually. This is particularly common for premium plugins included with WordPress themes purchased from ThemeForest.

If you have purchased a Themeasy WordPress theme from ThemeForest, you’ll find all the required plugins inside the theme package. This includes the Themeasy plugin, which is essential for the theme’s functionality. These plugins are located in the /plugins folder of the downloaded theme package.

In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through the process of manually installing and updating WordPress plugins using two different methods: via the WordPress Dashboard and via FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

Method 1: Installing a Plugin via the WordPress Dashboard (Recommended)

This is the easiest way to manually install a plugin.

Step 1: Download the Plugin File

1. If you purchased a Themeasy theme from ThemeForest, extract the downloaded package on your computer.
2. Locate the /plugins folder inside the theme package.
3. Identify the required plugin files, which will be in .zip format (e.g., themeasy.zip).

Step 2: Upload the Plugin to WordPress

1. Log into your WordPress dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
3. Click the Upload Plugin button at the top.
4. Click Choose File and select the .zip file of the plugin.
5. Click Install Now.

Step 3: Activate the Plugin

1. After the installation completes, click Activate Plugin.
2. The plugin is now installed and ready to use.

✅ You have successfully installed a plugin manually via the WordPress Dashboard!

Method 2: Installing a Plugin via FTP (Advanced Users)

If the WordPress dashboard method doesn’t work for any reason, you can upload the plugin manually using FTP.

Step 1: Extract the Plugin Files

1. Download and extract the theme package from ThemeForest.
2. Navigate to the /plugins folder and locate the required plugin .zip file.
3. Extract the .zip file to get a folder (e.g., themeasy/).

Step 2: Upload the Plugin via FTP

1. Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your website.
2. Navigate to the WordPress installation directory (/wp-content/plugins/).
3. Upload the extracted plugin folder (themeasy/) into the /plugins/ directory.

Step 3: Activate the Plugin in WordPress

1. Log into your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
3. Locate the newly uploaded plugin and click Activate.

✅ You have successfully installed a plugin manually via FTP!

How to Manually Update Plugins in WordPress

Updating plugins manually follows the same procedure as installing them. You will need to replace the existing plugin files with the new version.

Method 1: Updating via the WordPress Dashboard

1. Download the latest version of the plugin (e.g., from the /plugins folder of a new Themeasy theme package).
2. Log into your WordPress dashboard.
3. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
4. Deactivate and delete the existing version of the plugin.
5. Follow the steps in the “Installing a Plugin via the WordPress Dashboard” section to upload and install the new version.
6. Activate the plugin.

✅ Your plugin is now updated!

Method 2: Updating via FTP

1. Download the latest plugin version and extract the .zip file.
2. Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your website.
3. Navigate to /wp-content/plugins/.
4. Delete the existing plugin folder.
5. Upload the new plugin folder to replace the old version.
6. Log into your WordPress dashboard and reactivate the plugin.

✅ Your plugin has been successfully updated using FTP!

Final Thoughts

Manually installing and updating WordPress plugins is a straightforward process, whether through the dashboard or FTP. If you’re using a Themeasy WordPress theme from ThemeForest, remember that all required plugins, including the Themeasy core plugin, are located in the /plugins folder of the downloaded package.

If you encounter any issues during installation or updating, check for plugin compatibility with your WordPress version or contact Themeasy support for assistance.

Happy building with Themeasy! 🚀