# Installing Plugins in Discourse 101 for super-super dummies
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/installing-plugins-in-discourse-101-for-super-super-dummies/325748
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [September 10, 2024, 2:42am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/installing-plugins-in-discourse-101-for-super-super-dummies/325748 "2024-09-10T02:42:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@WesPenre](https://meta.discourse.org/u/WesPenre)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2024, 2:42am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/installing-plugins-in-discourse-101-for-super-super-dummies/325748/1 "2024-09-10T02:42:55Z")
Hello Support Team,
We had to reinstall our Discourse on Digital Ocean. However, all plugins were gone after the install. I have looked around on Meta and found info on how to install plugins, but even though the tutorials might be obvious to tech-savvies like yourselves, it’s still Greek to me. I think Meta would be served by a _really_ dumbed-down explanation—step by step—on how to install a plugin from complete scratch to a working install (like in bullet points or 1-2-3…). Can you please help me with this?
The first plugin I want to install is “Who’s Online.” Therefore, can we use that as the example in the 101 lesson? I have wanted to learn how to set up new plugins for a long time, and I need to know how to do it. It’s mandatory for any Admin.
Thank you very much, team!
Wes Penre
[https://wespenreboards.com/](https://wespenreboards.com/)
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### Author:  [@nathank](https://meta.discourse.org/u/nathank)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2024, 3:06am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/installing-plugins-in-discourse-101-for-super-super-dummies/325748/2 "2024-09-10T03:06:26Z")
This is well written and about as simple as it can be:
> [@Install plugins on a self-hosted site](https://meta.discourse.org/t/install-plugins-on-a-self-hosted-site/19157):
>
> warning This guide assumes that you have a self-hosted standard installation. We only support the standard method of install here, so these instructions assume you have a [standard install](https://meta.discourse.org/t/142537?silent=true). warning This guide only applies to self-hosted Discourse instances. If you are using a managed hosting service, the available plugins are controlled by your hosting provider. For example, on our hosting [these specific plugins](https://www.discourse.org/plugins) are available by hosting tier. information_source As of mid-2025, [many p…](https://meta.discourse.org/t/373574)
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### Author:  [@WesPenre](https://meta.discourse.org/u/WesPenre)
#### Post date: [September 10, 2024, 3:07am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/installing-plugins-in-discourse-101-for-super-super-dummies/325748/3 "2024-09-10T03:07:43Z")
I missed that page for some reason. Thanks, Nathan. It looks straight-forward!
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### Author:  [@system](https://meta.discourse.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [October 10, 2024, 3:08am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/installing-plugins-in-discourse-101-for-super-super-dummies/325748/4 "2024-10-10T03:08:32Z")
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