Are you wondering how to install WordPress plugins and themes from GitHub?
GitHub is a project hosting service used by many open-source projects and developers. As a WordPress user, sometimes you may come across plugins or themes hosted on GitHub.
Since GitHub is not specific to WordPress development, it may be difficult for a new user to figure out how to download and install a plugin or theme from GitHub.
In this article, we will show you how to install WordPress plugins or themes from GitHub.
What Is GitHub?
As we mentioned earlier, GitHub is a code hosting service. It is free to use for open source projects, and currently, it is the most popular project hosting service among open-source developers.
It uses the Git revision control system, hence the name GitHub. Not only that, but it provides easy tools for collaboration and social networking features such as following users, giving repositories stars, subscribing to repositories and projects, and more.
GitHub can be used on any kind of project that wants to use the Git revision control features. For example, you can use it for open-source learning resources, documentation projects, manuals, guidebooks, and more. GitHub’s tools allow users to add other users to their projects and work with them in teams.
That being said, let’s look at how to install WordPress plugins and themes from GitHub.
How to Install WordPress Plugins and Themes From GitHub
Before you install a WordPress theme or plugin from GitHub, make sure that you are able to receive updates for it. We will cover that part later in this article.
Installing plugins and themes from GitHub is super easy. It is just like installing a WordPress plugin manually.
First, you need to go to the plugin/theme’s repository on GitHub.
On the main page of the repository, click on the ‘Code’ button and then select ‘Download ZIP’.
Now, head over to your WordPress admin area and go to the Plugins » Add New page.
You will need to manually upload the plugin from your computer. To do that, click on the ‘Upload Plugin’ button.
This will show you the option to upload the plugin’s zip file.
You need to click on the ‘Choose file’ button and then select the ZIP file from your computer.
Next, you need to click on the ‘Install Now’ button. WordPress will now upload the zip archive from your computer to your website, unzip it, and install the plugin for you.
Once it is done, you will see a success message. You can then click on ‘Activate’ to activate the plugin on your WordPress website.
How to Get Updates for WordPress Plugins Installed From GitHub
By default, WordPress looks for a newer version of the plugin based on a plugin’s read me file and plugin header, which contains the information about the latest stable version to use.
However, by default, WordPress does not show automatic updates for plugins downloaded from GitHub. To enable users to automatically receive updates directly from GitHub repositories, theme and plugin developers need to make a little extra effort.
To achieve this, some plugins and themes from GitHub may already have included the code that will enable you to receive automatic updates.
In some cases, the theme/plugin developer may ask you to install the GitHub Updater plugin. This will enable you to get updates for GitHub plugins and themes.
In either case, you will have to contact the plugin/theme developer on GitHub and ask them about the updates situation to be sure that you will get updates when they release a new version.
We hope this guide helped you install WordPress plugins or themes from GitHub. You may also want to see our guide on how to code a website and our expert picks for the best WordPress plugins for business websites.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
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Ethan says
Hi, are the plugins and themes from github safe to download without malware and other malicious code?
WPBeginner Support says
It would depend on who’s code you are downloading
Admin
Ismail says
Hello admin,
Thank you so much for this article and I learn a lot from this site. Today, I want to download Facebook Instant Articles fro Github, and this article help me to do that. But I have a question, if possible please guide me since I am newbie.
For FBIA plugin from WP Directory, do I have to uninstall it and install the plugin from Github afterwards? I hope you can help me on this. Thank you for your help to all people.
WPBeginner Support says
If you are replacing the plugin with a version from GitHub it would normally be best to remove the old files and then replace them with the plugin from GitHub
Admin
yh says
wordpress is saying I need a business plan to add plug ins. is there any way around this? or is there any way for me to retrieve a scheduled post and post it manually? I cant find the post anywhere
WPBeginner Support says
Please see our guide on the difference between self hosted WordPress.org vs free WordPress.com blog.
Admin
Andy Fragen says
Thanks for mentioning GitHub Updater. It works with plugins or themes hosted on GitHub, Bitbucket or GitLab.
As a bonus you can use GitHub Updater to perform a one click install of any GitHub, BitBucket, or GitLab (public or private repos) plugins or themes using only the repository URI vastly simplifying the instructions in the article.
adolf witzeling says
GitHub is great-for learning too. I’ve gained so much knowledge just by looking at code from github. Thanks for this nice post!
Gautam Doddamani says
GitHub and StackOverflow are some of my favourite sites for checking out useful scripts that i can use on my blog. I am using one plugin from GtiHub myself…but didn’t know about the GitHub updater…thanks guys!
Morgan says
Here is a real tip:
Right click “Download ZIP” > Copy Link Address
Plugins > Add New > Upload > Choose File
When the window pops-up for you to find your zip file, just paste the URL and it will fetch the link. No need to clutter your computer with files you don’t need.
Andy Fragen says
You can actually do a one click install using the Remote Install feature of GitHub Updater. Added benefit is the plugin/theme directory is correctly renamed.
Tracy says
Are the plugins found on Github any more “unsafe” than the plugins that are in the repository?
WPBeginner Support says
Tracy, yes there is a chance of that. In the WordPress plugin repository, plugins go through a basic review process and since it is a larger community an unsafe plugin would get caught much quicker than on GitHub.
Admin
Aaron says
Awesome article, I heard your interview on Mixergy. Really love how you use FAQ’s to drive content. I had no idea your traffic was so huge- very cool to see your growth through value creation. Congrats! –Aaron
Alfred Degens says
Thanks for this article!
Can you tell me where to find WordPress plugins on GitHub?
Is there a way to search for those open source plugins on Github?
I tried on Google search but didn’t find any plugin on Github.
Regards,
Alfred
WPBeginner Support says
Try searching WordPress Plugin site:github.com
Admin