Fixing the Missing 'Add / Upload Plugin' Option in WordPress Admin Dashboard
Introduction
Finding that the 'Add / Upload Plugin' option is missing from your WordPress admin dashboard can be a source of frustration for many site owners. This guide is designed to assist you in identifying and resolving this issue, ensuring that you can manage your site more effectively.
Understanding the Issue
Several factors could cause the 'Add / Upload Plugin' option to disappear, including limitations due to hosting on WordPress.com without a suitable plan, restrictions based on user roles, settings within a multisite network, memory limit constraints, or particular configurations in your wp-config.php file.
Prerequisites
- Ensure you're working with WordPress admin panel and have access to cPanel.
- Confirm that you have administrator privileges admin dashboard on your WordPress site.
Step-by-Step Guide To Fix
1. Check Your Hosting Environment: This implies that the website is hosted on a server where the website owner has full control over the hosting environment. Opting for a hosting service like intoHOST offers greater flexibility and customization options. Having sufficient hosting resources, such as RAM (Random Access Memory), CPU (Central Processing Unit), and I/O (Input/Output), is crucial for the efficient operation of a server.
2. Verify User Roles: Confirm that your user account has WordPress Administrator rights. Lower-level roles, such as Editor or Subscriber, do not have the permission to add /upload plugins.
3. Increase PHP Memory Limit: A low PHP memory limit may prevent the addition of new plugins. You can increase this limit by adding `define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');` to your wp-config.php file.
4. Check for Multisite Restrictions: In WordPress Multisite installations, only the network administrator has the permissions to install plugins. If you're not the network admin, you'll need to contact them for assistance.
5. Modify the DISALLOW_FILE_MODS Setting:
- Via cPanel's File Manager, access the root directory of your site.
- Locate and edit the wp-config.php file.
- Look for `define('DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', true);`. If present, change `true` to `false`. If absent, insert `define('DISALLOW_FILE_MODS', false);` above the line reading `/* That's all, stop editing! Happy publishing. */`.
- Save your changes.
Conclusion
By following the outlined steps, you should be able to restore the 'Add / Upload Plugin' option in your WordPress admin dashboard. Always remember to back up your website before implementing any changes to safeguard against data loss. If issues persist, it may be beneficial to consult with a professional or reach out to your hosting provider for further assistance.