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Installation and Activation

Learn how to install and activate the AI Content Writer plugin on your WordPress website.

Table of Contents

Before You Begin

Before installing AI Content Writer, ensure your WordPress installation meets the following requirements:

System Requirements

  • WordPress Version: 5.0 or higher
  • PHP Version: 7.4 or higher
  • MySQL Version: 5.6 or higher (or MariaDB equivalent)
  • WordPress Memory Limit: 128MB minimum (256MB recommended)
  • Server Requirements: Standard WordPress hosting environment

For optimal performance, we recommend:

  • PHP 8.0 or higher
  • MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.2+
  • HTTPS is enabled on your site
  • WP-Cron is enabled for automated content generation

Installation Methods

You can install AI Content Writer using one of three methods. Choose the method that works best for you.

Method 1: Install from WordPress Repository

This is the easiest and recommended method for most users.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Log in to WordPress Admin
    • Navigate to your WordPress dashboard
    • URL format: https://yourwebsite.com/wp-admin/
  2. Access the Plugins Page
    • In the left sidebar, click on Plugins
    • Click on Add New
  3. Search for the Plugin
    • In the search bar (top right), type: AI Content Writer
    • Press Enter or wait for automatic search results
  4. Locate the Plugin
    • Look for “AI Content Writer – Automatic Content Generator and Auto Poster”
    • Verify the author: BeautifulPlugins
  5. Install the Plugin
    • Click the Install Now button
    • Wait for the installation to complete (usually takes 5-10 seconds)
  6. Activate the Plugin
    • Once installed, the button changes to Activate
    • Click the Activate button

✅ Success! The plugin is now installed and activated.

Method 2: Install via Upload

Use this method if you’ve downloaded the plugin ZIP file from WordPress.org or another source.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Download the Plugin
  2. Log in to WordPress Admin
    • Navigate to your WordPress dashboard
  3. Access Upload Page
    • Go to Plugins → Add New
    • Click the Upload Plugin button at the top
  4. Upload the ZIP File
    • Click Choose File
    • Select the ai-content-writer.zip file from your computer
    • Click Install Now
  5. Wait for Installation
    • WordPress will upload and install the plugin automatically
    • This may take 10-30 seconds, depending on your connection
  6. Activate the Plugin
    • Click the Activate Plugin link
    • You’ll be redirected to the Plugins page

✅ Success! The plugin is now installed and activated.

Method 3: Install via FTP

Use this method if you have FTP access and prefer manual installation.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Download the Plugin
    • Download the plugin ZIP file
    • Extract the ZIP file on your computer
    • You should have a folder named ai-content-writer
  2. Connect via FTP
    • Open your FTP client (FileZilla, Cyberduck, etc.)
    • Connect to your WordPress hosting server
    • Use your FTP credentials (host, username, password, port)
  3. Navigate to Plugins Directory
    • Browse to: /wp-content/plugins/
    • This is where all WordPress plugins are stored
  4. Upload the Plugin Folder
    • Upload the entire ai-content-writer folder
    • Ensure all files and subdirectories are transferred
    • Maintain the folder structure
  5. Set Proper Permissions
    • Folders: 755 (or 750)
    • Files: 644 (or 640)
    • Some hosts may use different permissions
  6. Activate via WordPress Admin
    • Log in to the WordPress dashboard
    • Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
    • Find “AI Content Writer” in the list
    • Click Activate under the plugin name

✅ Success! The plugin is now installed and activated.

Activation

Once the plugin is installed, you need to activate it to start using its features.

Activation Process

  1. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins
  2. Locate “AI Content Writer” in the plugin list
  3. Click the Activate link under the plugin name
  4. Wait for the activation confirmation message

What Happens During Activation?

When you activate AI Content Writer, the plugin automatically:

  • Creates necessary database tables for campaigns and logs
  • Registers custom post types (aicw_campaign, aicw_post, aicw_log)
  • Sets up default settings and options
  • Schedules automated cron jobs for content generation
  • Creates admin menu items in the WordPress dashboard

Verifying Installation

After activation, verify the plugin is working correctly:

Check Admin Menu

Look for the new “AI Content Writer” menu item in the WordPress admin sidebar (left side). It should appear with a page icon and include the following submenu items:

  • Dashboard
  • Campaigns
    • Add New Campaign
  • Generate Content
  • Logs
  • Settings
    • General
    • API Settings
  • Help

Check Plugin Status

  1. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
  2. Find “AI Content Writer” in the list
  3. Verify it shows as Active
  4. Check the version number (should be 2.1.0 or higher)

Access the Dashboard

  1. Click on AI Content Writer in the admin menu
  2. You should see the plugin dashboard with:
    • Welcome message
    • Quick statistics
    • Getting started guide
    • Links to create campaigns

Test Basic Functionality

  1. Navigate to AI Content Writer → Settings
  2. Verify all settings tabs are accessible
  3. Check that you can view the API Settings tab

If you can access all these areas without errors, your installation was successful!

Next Steps

Now that AI Content Writer is installed and activated, you’re ready to configure it:

Immediate Actions

  1. Configure Initial Settings
    • Set up general plugin options
    • Configure allowed hosts
    • Adjust default settings
  2. Get API Keys
    • Sign up for Google Gemini API (Free)
    • Or sign up for OpenAI/ChatGPT API (Paid)
    • Configure Pexels API for images (Free)
  3. Create Your First Campaign
    • Choose a campaign type
    • Configure campaign settings
    • Start generating content

Learn More

Troubleshooting Installation Issues

Plugin Not Showing in Menu

Problem: Plugin installed, but no menu appears.

Possible Solutions:

  • Ensure the plugin is activated
  • Check if your user role has ‘manage_options’ capability
  • Try deactivating and reactivating the plugin

Installation Failed Error

Problem: “Installation failed” message appears.

Possible Solutions:

  • Check server permissions (folders should be writable)
  • Verify PHP memory limit (128MB minimum)
  • Ensure WordPress can write to wp-content/plugins/
  • Try the FTP installation method

White Screen After Activation

Problem: Blank screen appears after clicking Activate

Possible Solutions:

  • Increase PHP memory limit in wp-config.php: define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
  • Check for plugin conflicts by deactivating other plugins
  • Enable WordPress debug mode to see error messages
  • Contact your hosting provider about PHP errors

Database Errors

Problem: Database-related errors during installation.

Possible Solutions:

  • Verify MySQL/MariaDB version meets requirements
  • Check database user permissions
  • Ensure the database isn’t full (storage quota)
  • Try manual database table creation if needed

Permission Denied Errors

Problem: “Permission denied” or “Could not create directory”.

Possible Solutions:

  • Check file/folder permissions via FTP
  • Ensure Apache/Nginx user can write to the plugins directory
  • Contact hosting support for permission issues
  • Use the FTP installation method instead

Uninstalling (If Needed)

If you need to uninstall the plugin for any reason:

  1. Deactivate First
    • Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
    • Click Deactivate under AI Content Writer
  2. Delete the Plugin
    • After deactivation, click Delete
    • Confirm the deletion
  3. Clean Up (Optional)
    • The plugin automatically removes its data on uninstall
    • Custom post types and settings are deleted
    • Database tables are removed

For detailed uninstallation instructions, see Uninstalling the Plugin.

Getting Help

If you encounter any issues during installation:

  • Documentation: Review other documentation pages
  • Support Forum: Visit WordPress.org support forum
  • Plugin Website: beautifulplugins.com/ai-content-writer
  • Contact Support: Reach out to the BeautifulPlugins support team

Next Page: Initial Configuration →

Last Updated: November 26, 2025 | Plugin Version: 2.1.0

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