Title: Plugin does not show up in admin
Last modified: August 19, 2016

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# Plugin does not show up in admin

 *  Resolved [mike116](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mike116/)
 * (@mike116)
 * [17 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-does-not-show-up-in-admin/)
 * I’ve used ftp to upload plugins to my wp-content/plugins several times this week,
   but they never show up on my admin plugins area. I’ve been reading tons of posts
   on here and the CODEX pages and I’ve seen posts from people with the same problem
   but there is never a solution given (at least that I’ve seen or that applies 
   to me). Just to make sure, I tried again just now using one of the plugins from
   the “approved” list for upgraded wordpress. Still no dice.
 * Here’s what I’ve done with the plugins so far…
    1. downloaded plugin to desktop
   2. unzipped plugin 3. read documentation and have tried to follow all instructions.
   4. uploaded unzipped file (not individual components) using ftp to wp-content/
   plugins 5. check admin panel and find that only askimet and hello dolly are present
   under plugins.
 * Any ideas? I’m pretty new at this but I have uploaded themes successfully before
   and my understanding is that installing plugins isn’t supposed to be this difficult.
   Am I missing something obvious?
    Thanks.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [Glenn Ansley](https://wordpress.org/support/users/blepoxp/)
 * (@blepoxp)
 * [17 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-does-not-show-up-in-admin/#post-813246)
 * It sounds a lot like you’re uploading the files to the wrong directory (even 
   if that directory is named plugins). One way to find out is to try to hit one
   of those readme files you mentioned via your browser. For instance, if you’ve
   attempted to upload the cforms plugin, point your browser to [http://yoursite.com/wp-content/plugins/cforms/readme.txt](http://yoursite.com/wp-content/plugins/cforms/readme.txt)
 * If you’re ftp client has successfully uploaded it but the browser doesn’t find
   anything, it went somewhere other than where it was supposed to go.
 *  [flick](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mosey/)
 * (@mosey)
 * [17 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-does-not-show-up-in-admin/#post-813258)
 * Try [this video by whoami](http://www.village-idiot.org/archives/2008/06/19/how-to-upload-a-wordpress-plugin/)?
 *  Thread Starter [mike116](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mike116/)
 * (@mike116)
 * [17 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-does-not-show-up-in-admin/#post-813412)
 * THANK YOU!!! I really appreciate the responses.
 * The videos nailed it. The problem was in the unpacking of the zip. NOW I know
   WP only looks one level deep. This was making me nuts. I really appreciate the
   guidance.
 * Mike
 *  [flick](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mosey/)
 * (@mosey)
 * [17 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-does-not-show-up-in-admin/#post-813499)
 * You’re welcome 😉 Glad it helped, but really have to thank whooami for creating
   the video!

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Plugin does not show up in admin’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [admin](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/admin/)
 * [missing](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/missing/)

 * 4 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [flick](https://wordpress.org/support/users/mosey/)
 * Last activity: [17 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-does-not-show-up-in-admin/#post-813499)
 * Status: resolved

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