Use your plugins

Once you install a plugin, the next step is to start using it. This guide shows you how to work with the plugins you have installed on your site.

Each plugin is different, but this general advice will help you find out where to go to start using a newly installed plugin on your site.

Plugins usually add new menu items to your dashboard. The example below highlights new menu items from plugins:

Other plugins will add their settings inside existing options like Settings, Tools, or Appearance:

Other plugins can add new panels and options within the editor:

After installing a plugin, you may need a tutorial on how to use it on your website. Any good plugin will provide support guides (often called “documentation” or “docs”) that show you how to get started with the plugin and explain the options and features it provides.

For instructions on how to use a plugin:

1. Visit your dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins.
3. Look for a link to Settings, Docs, or Support for information on how to use the plugin:

Not all plugins may provide links like these. If not, check the plugin’s website (often found by googling the name of the plugin) for a link to a help center, support guides, documentation, or video tutorials.

Any good plugin will provide support via the WordPress.org forums, or their own support channels. You can contact the makers of that plugin directly for help with their plugin.

Here at WordPress.com, we’ll assist you with plugins made by us (such as Jetpack and WooCommerce.) However, we’re not able to assist with plugins not made by us – there are over 50,000 plugins so it would be impossible for us to be experts on them all! Our friendly WordPress.com Happiness Engineers are happy to provide general tips and troubleshooting related to third-party plugins, but more expert support may be available from the plugin’s author. Learn more in Get Help With Plugins and Themes.