Difference Between Plugins Installed vs Plugins Activated

If you use WordPress, you’ve likely heard the terms installed plugins and activated plugins. They may sound similar, but they have different meanings. This post will help you clearly understand each term and make sure your site stays fast, secure, and easy to manage.

Table of Contents

• What Are WordPress Plugins?
• What Does “Installed Plugin” Mean?
• What Does “Activated Plugin” Mean?
• Key Differences: Installed vs Activated Plugins
• Why It Matters to Make Sure You Activate the Right Plugins
• Tips to Manage Your Plugins Safely
• Get Installed and Activated Plugins in Code
• Conclusion
• FAQs

What Are WordPress Plugins?

Plugins are tools or features you can add to your WordPress website. They help you extend the functionality—like adding a contact form, SEO tools, backups, or social sharing options.

What Does “Installed Plugin” Mean?

An installed plugin means the plugin files are present in your WordPress site, but the plugin isn’t active yet. It’s like downloading an app but not opening it.

What Does “Activated Plugin” Mean?

An activated plugin is both installed and running. Once activated, the plugin starts working on your site and can change its behavior or appearance.

Key Differences: Installed vs Activated Plugins

Why It Matters to Make Sure You Activate the Right Plugins

Activating too many plugins can:

• Slow down your website
• Create plugin conflicts
• Increase the risk of bugs and security problems

Keeping unused plugins installed can:

• Clutter your admin dashboard
• Confuse site managers
• Still pose risks if left outdated

Make sure to keep only the plugins you use and need.

Tips to Manage Your Plugins Safely

• Use only trusted plugins from the WordPress repository or verified developers
• Keep activated plugins updated
• Delete unused or inactive plugins
• Back up your site before activating new plugins
• Use a staging site to test before going live

Get Installed and Activated Plugins in Code

Here are example code snippets to get installed and activated plugins using PHP in WordPress.

Single Site Example

// Get all installed plugins
$all_plugins = get_plugins();

// Get active plugins
$active_plugins = get_option('active_plugins');

// Output plugin info
echo "Installed Plugins:<br>";
foreach ($all_plugins as $plugin_file => $plugin_data) {
    echo $plugin_data['Name'] . (in_array($plugin_file, $active_plugins) ? ' (Active)' : ' (Inactive)') . "<br>";
}

Multisite Example

// Get all installed plugins
$all_plugins = get_plugins();

// Get sitewide activated plugins
$network_active_plugins = get_site_option('active_sitewide_plugins');

// Loop through all plugins
echo "Installed Plugins (Multisite):<br>";
foreach ($all_plugins as $plugin_file => $plugin_data) {
    $status = 'Inactive';
    
    // Check if active on network
    if (isset($network_active_plugins[$plugin_file])) {
        $status = 'Network Active';
    } elseif (is_plugin_active($plugin_file)) {
        $status = 'Active on current site';
    }
    
    echo $plugin_data['Name'] . " ($status)<br>";
}

Tip: Always use this inside a WordPress environment (like a custom admin page or theme function), not directly in standalone files.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between installed and activated plugins helps you keep your WordPress website clean, fast, and secure. Make sure to activate only what you need and delete what you don’t. Smart plugin management is key to a successful WordPress site.

FAQs