Installing DigiConsent on your WordPress website is a straightforward process that takes just a few minutes. This comprehensive guide walks you through multiple installation methods, verification steps, and initial activation to get your cookie consent management system up and running.
Pre-Installation Checklist
Before installing DigiConsent, ensure your WordPress installation meets the minimum requirements and that you have the necessary access and information ready.
System Requirements
- WordPress Version: 5.8 or higher (DigiConsent is tested up to WordPress 6.8)
- PHP Version: 7.4 or higher (PHP 8.0 or 8.1 recommended for optimal performance)
- MySQL: Version 5.6 or higher, or equivalent MariaDB version
- Server Requirements: Standard WordPress hosting with write permissions for the plugins directory
- Admin Access: WordPress administrator-level account access
Before You Begin
While DigiConsent is designed to work seamlessly with WordPress, it’s always wise to take precautions before installing any new plugin:
- Backup Your Website: Create a complete backup of your WordPress database and files using your preferred backup solution
- Update WordPress: Ensure you’re running the latest version of WordPress for maximum compatibility
- Update Existing Plugins: Update all existing plugins to their latest versions to avoid conflicts
- Check Theme Compatibility: DigiConsent works with all standard WordPress themes, but verify your theme is up to date
- Review Current Cookie Setup: If you’re using another cookie consent plugin, plan to deactivate it after DigiConsent is configured
Installation Method 1: WordPress Plugin Directory
The easiest and most common way to install DigiConsent is directly from the WordPress plugin directory through your admin dashboard.
Step-by-Step Installation
- Access Your WordPress Dashboard: Log in to your WordPress admin area using your administrator credentials
- Navigate to Plugins: In the left sidebar, hover over “Plugins” and click “Add New”
- Search for DigiConsent: In the search box on the right side, type “DigiConsent” and press Enter
- Identify the Correct Plugin: Look for “DigiConsent” by DigiHold in the search results. Verify it’s the official plugin by checking the author name
- Click Install Now: Click the “Install Now” button next to the DigiConsent plugin
- Wait for Installation: WordPress will download and install the plugin automatically. This typically takes 10-30 seconds
- Activate the Plugin: Once installation completes, the “Install Now” button changes to “Activate.” Click it to activate DigiConsent
After activation, you’ll see a success message and DigiConsent will appear in your WordPress admin menu. The plugin is now installed and ready for configuration.
Installation Method 2: Manual Upload via Dashboard
If you’ve downloaded the DigiConsent plugin file from WordPress.org or another source, you can upload it manually through your WordPress dashboard.
Step-by-Step Manual Upload
- Download the Plugin: If you haven’t already, download the DigiConsent plugin ZIP file from WordPress.org or your purchase source
- Navigate to Plugin Upload: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New
- Click Upload Plugin: At the top of the page, click the “Upload Plugin” button
- Choose File: Click “Choose File” and select the DigiConsent ZIP file from your computer
- Install Now: Click the “Install Now” button to upload and install the plugin
- Wait for Upload: WordPress will upload the file (progress is shown) and automatically extract the plugin files
- Activate: Click the “Activate Plugin” link once installation is complete
This method is useful when you’re working offline, need to install a specific version, or have download speed limitations that make direct installation challenging.
Installation Method 3: FTP/SFTP Upload
Advanced users or those with FTP access can install DigiConsent by uploading files directly to the server. This method is useful when dashboard access is limited or for automated deployments.
FTP Installation Steps
- Download and Extract: Download the DigiConsent ZIP file and extract it to a folder on your computer
- Connect via FTP: Use an FTP client (like FileZilla, Cyberduck, or your hosting control panel’s file manager) to connect to your WordPress server
- Navigate to Plugins Directory: Browse to
/wp-content/plugins/on your server - Upload Plugin Folder: Upload the extracted “digiconsent” folder to the plugins directory
- Set Permissions: Ensure the folder has appropriate permissions (typically 755 for directories and 644 for files)
- Activate in WordPress: Log in to your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins, find DigiConsent in the list, and click “Activate”
Important Note: Make sure you upload the folder containing the plugin files, not the ZIP file itself. The structure should be /wp-content/plugins/digiconsent/digiconsent.php and related files.
Verifying Successful Installation
After installing and activating DigiConsent, verify that everything is working correctly before proceeding with configuration.
Check Admin Menu
Look for “DigiConsent” in your WordPress admin sidebar. You should see a new menu item with a cookie icon. Clicking it should reveal submenu items:
- Dashboard
- Settings
- Analytics
- Logs
Verify Database Tables
DigiConsent creates custom database tables for storing consent logs and analytics data. While you don’t need to access these directly, you can verify they were created successfully by checking your database (if you have access). The tables will be named with your WordPress prefix followed by digiconsent_logs and digiconsent_analytics.
Check Frontend Display
Visit your website in a private/incognito browser window (to simulate a first-time visitor). You should see the DigiConsent banner appear with default settings. If you don’t see the banner, try clearing your cache if you’re using a caching plugin.
Initial Activation and Setup
Upon activation, DigiConsent automatically configures itself with sensible defaults, but you’ll want to customize these settings for your specific needs.
Default Configuration
DigiConsent installs with these default settings:
- Banner Layout: Bottom banner (least intrusive option)
- Consent Behavior: Notice-only mode (you should change this based on your legal requirements)
- Banner Text: Friendly, approachable default messages
- Buttons: Accept, Reject, and Settings buttons all enabled
- Consent Expiration: 365 days (one year)
- Cookie Categories: All four categories enabled with default descriptions
First Configuration Steps
After activation, follow these steps to configure DigiConsent for your needs:
- Navigate to Settings: Click DigiConsent → Settings in your WordPress admin menu
- Choose Consent Behavior: Select opt-in, opt-out, or notice-only based on your legal requirements (opt-in is recommended for GDPR compliance)
- Select Banner Layout: Choose the layout that works best with your website design
- Review Default Text: Read and customize the pre-heading, heading, and description text to match your tone and explain your cookie usage clearly
- Set Privacy Policy Page: Select your privacy policy page from the dropdown menu
- Save Settings: Click the “Save Settings” button at the bottom of the page
Handling Multisite Installations
If you’re running WordPress Multisite, DigiConsent can be installed network-wide or on individual sites within your network.
Network Activation
To activate DigiConsent across your entire network:
- Log in as a network administrator
- Go to Network Admin → Plugins
- Install DigiConsent using any of the methods described above
- Click “Network Activate” instead of regular Activate
Each site in your network will need to configure DigiConsent separately through their own admin dashboard. Settings are not shared across network sites, allowing each site to customize their consent management according to their specific needs.
Individual Site Activation
Alternatively, you can allow individual site administrators to activate DigiConsent only on their sites by installing it network-wide but not network-activating it. Site administrators can then activate it individually from their Plugins page.
Troubleshooting Installation Issues
Most installations proceed smoothly, but occasionally you might encounter issues. Here are solutions to common problems:
Plugin Doesn’t Appear After Activation
If DigiConsent doesn’t appear in your admin menu after activation:
- Clear your browser cache and hard refresh the page (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R)
- Log out of WordPress and log back in
- Check that you have administrator-level permissions
- Verify the plugin is listed as active in Plugins → Installed Plugins
- Check for JavaScript errors in your browser’s developer console that might be hiding the menu
Banner Doesn’t Display on Frontend
If the consent banner doesn’t appear on your website:
- Clear all caching plugins and server-side caches
- Test in a private/incognito browser window to ensure cookies aren’t already set
- Check that your theme includes the
wp_footer()function call (required for all WordPress themes) - Temporarily deactivate other plugins to check for conflicts
- Verify JavaScript is enabled in your browser
Database Table Creation Errors
If you see errors about database tables not being created:
- Verify your database user has CREATE TABLE permissions
- Check that your database hasn’t reached its size limit
- Try deactivating and reactivating the plugin to trigger table creation again
- Contact your hosting provider if database permissions are restricted
PHP Version Compatibility Errors
If you receive errors about PHP version compatibility:
- DigiConsent requires PHP 7.4 or higher
- Contact your hosting provider to upgrade your PHP version
- Most modern hosts allow you to change PHP versions through your control panel
- PHP 8.0 or 8.1 is recommended for best performance and security
Migrating from Another Cookie Plugin
If you’re switching to DigiConsent from another cookie consent solution, follow these steps for a smooth transition:
- Install DigiConsent: Install and activate DigiConsent without deactivating your current plugin yet
- Configure Settings: Set up DigiConsent with your desired configuration, matching your current consent behavior
- Transfer Scripts: Copy any tracking scripts from your old plugin to the appropriate DigiConsent cookie categories
- Test Thoroughly: Test DigiConsent in a staging environment or by temporarily disabling your cache
- Deactivate Old Plugin: Once satisfied, deactivate and uninstall your previous cookie consent plugin
- Clear All Caches: Clear all caching layers including WordPress cache, server cache, and CDN cache
- Monitor Analytics: Watch your DigiConsent analytics to ensure consent is being tracked properly
Important: Don’t run two cookie consent plugins simultaneously on your live site, as this creates a confusing user experience and may cause conflicts.
Post-Installation Best Practices
After successfully installing DigiConsent, follow these best practices to ensure optimal performance:
- Configure Before Going Live: Set up all your settings, scripts, and design before directing traffic to your site
- Test on Multiple Devices: Verify the banner displays correctly on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
- Test Different Browsers: Check functionality in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
- Clear Cookie Between Tests: Always test in incognito/private mode or clear cookies between tests to see the banner as new visitors would
- Review Privacy Policy: Ensure your privacy policy accurately describes how you use cookies and tracking technologies
- Set Up Monitoring: Check your Analytics dashboard regularly to track acceptance rates and identify any issues
- Document Your Configuration: Keep notes on which scripts you’ve added to which categories for future reference
Next Steps After Installation
With DigiConsent successfully installed, you’re ready to move on to configuration and customization:
- Follow the First Steps After Installation guide to configure basic settings
- Read the Basic Configuration article to customize your consent banner
- Explore Cookie Categories Overview to understand how to organize your scripts
- Check out the Design Customization guide to match the banner to your brand
- Review Consent Modes Explained to ensure you’ve chosen the right compliance approach
The installation process is designed to be simple and reliable, allowing you to focus on configuring DigiConsent to meet your specific compliance and business needs. With the plugin successfully installed, you’re ready to create a professional, compliant cookie consent experience for your website visitors.