This guide covers both editions. Pick your path first, then follow the matching steps.
| Edition | Install from | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lite (free) | WordPress admin → Plugins → Add New, or wordpress.org | PDF, max 2 signers — Lite vs Pro |
| Pro | Account Portal ZIP | Full feature set |
Before You Begin
Section titled “Before You Begin”Ensure your server meets the system requirements:
- WordPress 5.8 or higher
- PHP 7.4 or higher
- OpenSSL extension enabled
- 128MB memory limit minimum
Install WPsigner Lite
Section titled “Install WPsigner Lite”Method A: Plugins → Add New (recommended)
Section titled “Method A: Plugins → Add New (recommended)”- Log in to WordPress admin
- Go to Plugins → Add New
- Search for WPsigner
- Click Install Now, then Activate
- Open the WPsigner menu and create your first PDF document (max two signers)
Method B: Upload the Lite ZIP
Section titled “Method B: Upload the Lite ZIP”- Download the Lite package from wordpress.org (or your distribution ZIP named
wpsigner) - In WordPress go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Choose the ZIP → Install Now → Activate
Install WPsigner Pro
Section titled “Install WPsigner Pro”Method 1: Upload via WordPress Admin (Recommended)
Section titled “Method 1: Upload via WordPress Admin (Recommended)”This is the easiest method for most Pro customers.
Step 1: Download the Plugin
- Log in to your WPsigner Account Portal
- Open the Downloads tab for the main WPsigner plugin
- For official addons (for example Smart Signing Forms), use the Addons tab instead
- Click Download to get the latest ZIP file
- Save the file to your computer (do not unzip it)
See Account Portal and Addons Overview for addon downloads.
Step 2: Upload to WordPress
- Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard
- Navigate to Plugins → Add New
- Click the Upload Plugin button at the top
- Click Choose File and select the Pro ZIP file
- Click Install Now
- Wait for the upload and installation to complete
Step 3: Activate the Plugin
- After installation, click Activate Plugin
- You’ll be redirected to the WPsigner dashboard
- Follow the welcome wizard to complete initial setup
If Lite was installed earlier, deactivate or remove Lite after Pro activates successfully. Your documents remain.
Method 2: FTP/SFTP Upload
Section titled “Method 2: FTP/SFTP Upload”Use this method if you have server access or the admin upload fails.
Step 1: Extract the Plugin
- Download the Pro ZIP from your account
- Extract/unzip the file on your computer
- You should have a folder for the Pro plugin (typically
insigneror as documented in your download)
Step 2: Connect via FTP
- Open your FTP client (FileZilla, Cyberduck, etc.)
- Connect to your server using your FTP credentials
- Navigate to
/wp-content/plugins/
Step 3: Upload the Folder
- Upload the entire Pro plugin folder (for example
insigner) to/wp-content/plugins/ - Wait for all files to transfer (this may take a few minutes)
- Verify the main plugin file is present inside that folder (for example
insigner.php)
Step 4: Activate in WordPress
- Log in to WordPress admin
- Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
- Find WPsigner (Pro) in the list
- Click Activate
- If Lite is also installed, deactivate Lite so only Pro runs
Method 3: WP-CLI (Advanced)
Section titled “Method 3: WP-CLI (Advanced)”For developers and automated deployments:
# Navigate to WordPress directorycd /path/to/wordpress
# Install from local zip filewp plugin install /path/to/wpsigner.zip --activate
# Or if you have direct download URLwp plugin install https://wpsigner.com/download/wpsigner.zip --activatePost-Installation Setup
Section titled “Post-Installation Setup”After activating WPsigner, complete these essential configuration steps:
1. Configure Digital ID
Section titled “1. Configure Digital ID”Your Digital ID is required for signing documents with legal validity.
- Go to WPsigner → More → Digital ID
- Choose between:
- Generate Self-Signed: Quick setup for testing or internal use
- Upload Certificate: Use your own .p12/.pfx certificate from a Certificate Authority
2. Set Up Email
Section titled “2. Set Up Email”Ensure signing request emails are delivered reliably.
- Go to WPsigner → Settings → Email
- Configure SMTP settings (recommended) or use default WordPress mail
- Customize email templates if desired
- Send a test email to verify delivery
Recommended SMTP plugins:
- WP Mail SMTP
- FluentSMTP
- Post SMTP
3. Configure Branding (Optional)
Section titled “3. Configure Branding (Optional)”Add your company’s branding for a professional experience.
- Go to WPsigner → Settings → Branding
- Upload your company logo
- Set your brand colors
- Customize the signing page appearance
4. Set Permalinks
Section titled “4. Set Permalinks”WPsigner requires pretty permalinks for signing URLs.
- Go to Settings → Permalinks
- Select any option except “Plain”
- Click Save Changes
Verifying Installation
Section titled “Verifying Installation”Check System Status
Section titled “Check System Status”- Go to WPsigner → More → System Status
- Review the health check results
- Ensure all requirements show green checkmarks
Common Status Checks
Section titled “Common Status Checks”| Check | Expected Result |
|---|---|
| PHP Version | ✅ 7.4 or higher |
| OpenSSL | ✅ Enabled |
| Memory Limit | ✅ 128MB+ |
| Upload Size | ✅ 10MB+ |
| Permalinks | ✅ Enabled |
| WP Cron | ✅ Working |
Create a Test Document
Section titled “Create a Test Document”- Go to WPsigner → New Document
- Upload a sample PDF
- Add yourself as a signer
- Place a signature field
- Send the document
- Check your email and complete the signing
If the test completes successfully, your installation is working correctly!
Updating WPsigner
Section titled “Updating WPsigner”Automatic Updates
Section titled “Automatic Updates”WPsigner supports WordPress automatic updates:
- Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins
- Find WPsigner
- Click Enable auto-updates (if available)
Manual Updates
Section titled “Manual Updates”- Download the latest version from your account
- Deactivate the current WPsigner plugin
- Delete the old plugin (your data is safely stored in the database)
- Install the new version following Method 1 above
- Activate the plugin
Your documents, signers, and settings are stored in the database and are not deleted by a normal plugin update. Create a backup before updating.
Multisite Installation
Section titled “Multisite Installation”For WordPress Multisite networks:
Network Activation
Section titled “Network Activation”- Download and upload
wpsigner.zip - Go to Network Admin → Plugins
- Click Network Activate for all sites
Per-Site Activation
Section titled “Per-Site Activation”- Upload the plugin to the network
- Each site admin can activate independently
- Settings are configured per-site
Troubleshooting Installation
Section titled “Troubleshooting Installation””Plugin could not be activated”
Section titled “”Plugin could not be activated””Cause: PHP version too low or missing extension
Solution:
- Check your PHP version (minimum 7.4)
- Ensure OpenSSL extension is enabled
- Contact your host if needed
”Upload failed - file size exceeds limit”
Section titled “”Upload failed - file size exceeds limit””Cause: Server upload limit too small
Solution:
- Increase
upload_max_filesizein php.ini - Or use FTP upload method instead
”Fatal error after activation”
Section titled “”Fatal error after activation””Cause: Plugin conflict or memory issue
Solution:
- Increase WordPress memory limit in wp-config.php:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M');
- Deactivate other plugins temporarily to identify conflicts
White screen after activation
Section titled “White screen after activation”Cause: PHP error being suppressed
Solution:
- Enable WordPress debug mode in wp-config.php:
define('WP_DEBUG', true);define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
- Check
/wp-content/debug.logfor error details
Getting Help
Section titled “Getting Help”If you encounter issues during installation:
- System Requirements - Verify server compatibility
- Troubleshooting Guide - Common issues and solutions
- Contact Support - Get personalized help
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”Now that WPsigner is installed:
- Quick Start Guide - Create your first document
- Creating Documents - Learn the 4-step wizard
- Digital ID Setup - Configure certificates