How To Activate Plugins On A WordPress Multisite

How To Activate Plugins On A WordPress Multisite? 

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the inner workings of WordPress Multisite, weigh its pros and cons, and provide step-by-step instructions for setting up and activating plugins on both subdomains and subdirectories. We will also see how you can activate plugins on a WordPress multisite.

WordPress Multisite is a powerful feature that allows you to create and manage multiple websites from a single installation of WordPress. It offers a convenient way to manage multiple websites from a single dashboard. However, all these websites will be utilizing shared resources and administrative controls.

One of the key aspects of WordPress Multisite is the ability to activate plugins across the entire network or on individual sites. In this blog post, we will explore how to make a plugin visible in multisite and how to activate plugins on individual sites within the multisite network.

Understanding How WordPress Multisite Works

Before we embark on our plugin activation journey, let’s take a moment to understand the mechanics of WordPress Multisite. This remarkable feature allows you to manage multiple websites from a single WordPress installation.

It offers centralized administration, enabling seamless updates of themes, plugins, and settings across all interconnected sites. However, Multisite does require careful planning and maintenance due to its intricate network structure, and shared resources can pose challenges if a plugin or theme misbehaves.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of WordPress Multisite

Like any powerful tool, WordPress Multisite has its advantages and drawbacks. Let’s explore both sides of the coin:

Pros

  • On the positive side, Multisite provides centralized management, saving time and effort by allowing administrators to control multiple sites from a single dashboard.
  • It offers streamlined user management, facilitating shared logins and permissions across sites.
  • Additionally, Multisite can be cost-effective for managing a network of related websites.

Cons

  • Multisite’s complexity can be overwhelming for beginners or those unfamiliar with its intricacies.
  • The shared resource pool means that a malfunctioning plugin or theme can affect all interconnected sites.
  • A site’s performance depends on the traffic received by the other sites in the network. The sudden increase in one site’s traffic will reduce the other sites’ speed and performance.
  • A multisite network shares a database, so all actions like back-ups and updates have to be performed network-wide.

Subdomains vs. Subdirectories

A multisite on WordPress can be implemented as subdomains or subdirectories.

Subdomain

A subdomain is a prefix added to the main domain name, separated by a dot (e.g., subdomain.maindomain.com). A subdomain can have its own design, navigation, and even a different content management system.

It is used to create a separate section or branch of a website that can have its own unique content and functionality. Subdomains are commonly used when you want to create distinct sections with different purposes or target different audiences.

Example:

Let’s say you have a website called “example.com” that sells various products. If you want to create a separate section for customer support, you can use a subdomain like “support.example.com” to handle all the support-related content and features.

Subdirectory

A subdirectory, also known as a subfolder, is a folder that is created within the main domain, and its path is appended to the main URL (e.g., maindomain.com/subdirectory).

It is used to organize and categorize content within a website without creating a separate section or branch with its own unique identity.

Example:

Continuing with the example.com website, if you want to organize your blog posts, you can create a subdirectory called “blog” (maindomain.com/blog) and put all your blog articles in that folder. This way, all your blog content will be neatly organized within the main website, and visitors can access the blog by navigating to the subdirectory.

Setting Up WordPress Multisite with Subdirectories

Now, let’s dive into the practical aspects of setting up WordPress Multisite with subdirectories. Follow these step-by-step instructions:

Step 1: Login as super admin

Ensure you have the necessary privileges as a super administrator.

Step 2: Activate Multisite by editing the wp-config.php file

Your website’s configuration file or wp-config.php file is located at the root directory of the site. To access it,

  1. Open the FTP client and log in to your website.
  2. Navigate to the root directory of your site.
  3. Identify the wp-config.php file and open the file to edit it.
  4. Scroll to the bottom of the file until you see the line “/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. /”.
  5. Add the following code above this line and save the changes to the file.
define( 'WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true );

Step 3: Configure the network structure

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. Deactivate all activated plugins on your store.
  2. Now, navigate to Tools > Network Setup.
  3. Choose to create subdirectories.
  4. Enter a name for your network and the super admin’s email address.
  5. Check the information provided and click on Install.

Step 4: Modify wp-config.php and .htaccess files to create Subdirectories

Add the relent code snippets to these files in your WordPress root directory to enable creating subdomains. Make sure to back up these files before modifying them.

Add the following lines of code to your wp-config.php file. Make sure these lines are placed between “define( ‘WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE’, true );” and “/* That’s all, stop editing! Happy blogging. /”.

define( 'SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', false ); define( 'DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', 'domain.tld' ); define( 'PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/' ); define( 'SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 ); define( 'BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1 );

Make sure to replace domain.tld with your actual domain and save the config file.

Add the following code to the .htaccess file and save it.

RewriteEngine On RewriteRule .* - [E=HTTP_AUTHORIZATION:%{HTTP:Authorization}] RewriteBase / RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L] # add a trailing slash to /wp-admin RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?wp-admin$ $1wp-admin/ [R=301,L] RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR] RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d RewriteRule ^ - [L] RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(wp-(content|admin|includes).*) $2 [L] RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(.*\.php)$ $2 [L] RewriteRule . index.php [L]

Setting Up WordPress Multisite on Subdomains

For those who prefer the path of subdomains, here’s how to set up WordPress Multisite using this approach:

  1. Ensure you have the necessary privileges as a super administrator.
  2. Activate Multisite functionality by adding a line of code to the wp-config.php file.
  3. Modify your .htaccess file to enable the creation of subdomains.
  4. Return to your WordPress dashboard and access the Network Setup page to configure the subdomains.

Making a Plugin Visible in Multisites

Now that your Multisite is established, it’s time to make your chosen plugin visible across all interconnected sites. Here’s how:

  1. Assume your role as a super administrator.
  2. Navigate to the Network Admin area and locate the desired plugin.
  3. Activate the plugin network-wide with a simple click on the Network Activate link.

The plugin is now visible and active across your entire Multisite network.

Activating Plugins on Individual Sites in the Multisite

If you wish to activate plugins only on specific sites within your Multisite network, follow these steps:

  1. Log in as a super administrator and select the desired site from your network.
  2. Access the site’s dashboard and navigate to the Plugins menu.
  3. Find the plugin you want to activate and click on the Activate link. The plugin is now activated solely on the chosen site.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a WordPress Multisite? 

WordPress Multisite is a feature that enables you to create multiple WordPress websites under one WordPress installation. 

Why is WordPress Multisite beneficial? 

WordPress Multisite facilitates running multiple WordPress websites under one installation. Therefore you can manage all your websites from the same dashboard. 

Can I enable Multisite on an existing website?

You can enable Multisite even on any existing website. You will only have to deactivate the plugins on your website to do so.

Wrap Up

Hope you have gained a deeper understanding of Multisite’s functionality, assessed its pros and cons, and mastered the setup and activation process.

You are now well-equipped to manage multiple websites efficiently and unlock the true potential of WordPress Multisite. Now, go forth and create your own digital empire!

Article by

Content writer @ WebToffee. Fueled by caffeine and a love of sarcasm. When not writing, you can catch her binging the latest drama series.

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