{"id":70011,"date":"2024-01-10T09:25:04","date_gmt":"2024-01-10T15:25:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/?p=70011"},"modified":"2025-11-13T23:46:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T05:46:20","slug":"how-to-install-a-magento-extension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/blog\/how-to-install-a-magento-extension\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Install a Magento Extension?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you looking to enhance your Magento website functionality<\/strong> with new features? One way to achieve that is by installing Magento extensions. Installing various plugins to your ecommerce store may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article will take you through installing Magento 2 extensions step-by-step<\/strong>. We will also cover how to manually install a plugin from a ZIP file and install it via Composer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Magento used for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Magento is an open-source ecommerce platform<\/strong> used for building and managing online stores. It provides a range of features and functionalities for businesses to create and customize their online storefronts<\/strong>, including product catalog management, shopping cart functionality, payment, shipping integration, order management, customer service tools<\/strong>, and marketing and promotional capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Magento extension?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Magento extension<\/a> is a software add-on that extends the functionality of the Magento ecommerce<\/strong> platform. The active community and outside developers are absolutely free to create extensions and functionalities for the app, including payment gateways, shipping options, marketing tools<\/strong>, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Install a Magento Extension Manually from a .zip file<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To install a Magento extension manually from a .zip file, download the plugin from a reputable source like Mageplaza<\/strong><\/a> or Magento Marketplace<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Open the ZIP file and inspect the contents<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let’s say we have an example ZIP file called Extension.pkg<\/em> containing a unit named Extension. The first step is to unzip all the data in the ZIP file on your local machine. The extracted data may appear a bit like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

app\/ etc \/ modules \/ Extension.json<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Magento Connect Manager<\/strong> may use JSON, but it should be removed from the Magento root folder\u2014the same counts for documents like setup.json, README.txt, or related files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Turn off the Magento Compiler<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Magento has introduced a new feature called the Compiler<\/strong>, which allows you to combine all PHP data into a single file<\/strong>. If you have enabled the Magento Compiler, remove it before making any changes. You can do that through your web server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Upload all documents to the Magento disk<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now you’re ready to add all documents to the Magento disk. When SSH or SFTP is accessible<\/strong>, it is best to use them: it gives you a stable encrypted connection to your Magento client. Otherwise, use FTP<\/strong><\/a> or the<\/strong> file manager<\/strong><\/a> in control panels like SPanel<\/strong> or cPanel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Update the Magento memory<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The next step is to update the Magento memory<\/strong>. This can be done through the Magento server. Alternatively, instead of refreshing the Magento memory, we recommend you use the Flush Cache to ensure all leftover data is gone.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes that’s not enough: If you use Magento caching with the default configuration settings\u2014meaning the cache is stored in files\u2014you can also try removing all the files from the Magento folder var\/cache<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5: Open the Magento server to log out.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This step is crucial\u2014log out from the Magento backend and then log back in to update the changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 6: Re-allow the Magento Compiler<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you enabled the Magento Compiler before and disabled it, you can try enabling it again through the Magento server. Rebuild the Compiler cache<\/strong>, or the new extension (or modified files) will not be included. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Install Magento Extensions Using Setup Wizard<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another way to install Magento extensions is through the platform’s built-in Setup Wizard<\/strong>. This method is usually quicker and less technical, making it ideal for those who don\u2019t have extensive coding knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Log in to your admin panel and navigate to System <\/strong>\u2192 Web Setup Wizard<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Select Extension Manager<\/strong>, then click the Browse<\/strong> button to upload your extension package.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Next, review the extension information and click Install<\/strong> to begin the installation process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Complete the readiness check<\/strong>. If you face a readiness check error, check your Magento 2 system requirements and make changes as required.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. When all requirements are met, click Next<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Once completed, remember to create a backup and enable the new extension in your admin panel settings. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Installation via Composer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Access to the CLI is mandatory for a successful Magento extension installation via Composer<\/strong>. Third-party sources or the Magento Marketplace<\/strong> can be utilized for finding and downloading extensions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It is important to pay close attention while installing an extension and follow the instructions provided by the plugin developer<\/strong>. Once completed, clearing caches and running relevant configuration commands are necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Setting up Access Keys<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Secure access keys are crucial to connect your Magento store with the Composer repository<\/strong>. You can easily generate these keys from the Magento Marketplace and add them to your Composer configuration file. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once done, you can install any desired extensions via Composer using the command line interface. It’s always recommended to run a backup of your store<\/strong> before installing new extensions for added safety and security<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How to Uninstall an Extension<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. First, disable the module from your Magento Admin Panel<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Then, remove the extension’s entry from your composer.json file<\/strong> and run the Composer remove command<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Finally, clear caches<\/strong> and reindex if necessary. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      It’s important to note that uninstalling an extension may also remove any associated data or configurations, so be sure to back up your store before proceeding with the removal process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Troubleshooting<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      If you encounter any problems during your Magento commerce module installation process<\/strong>, following several best practices is important to ensure the best experience for store owners and shoppers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n