The reason you don't see all the plugins in WordPress Multisite and how to fix it

WordPress Multisite is a system that allows you to manage multiple websites under a single WordPress installation. However, some users may notice that they cannot see all the plugins installed in the Multisite network.  This article will explain the cause of this issue and how to resolve it.

Managing plugins in WordPress Multisite

In the WordPress Multisite system, there are two types of screens for managing plugins:

• Main plugin screen of the main website - allows you to activate specific plugins on the main website but does not allow you to install new plugins.
• Network Admin Plugins screen - Used to manage plugins across all sites on the network

Installing plugins in WordPress Multisite

If you want to install a plugin in WordPress Multisite, follow these steps:

• Go to My Sites » Network Admin » Plugins
• Click the Add New button to add a new plugin.
• When the installation is complete, you will see the Network Activate option.

If you choose Network Activate, the plugin will be activated on all sites in the network, and the administrators of each site will not be able to deactivate or remove the plugin.

Plugins in the subsite of WordPress Multisite

If you are a Super Admin, you will be able to install and manage plugins on all websites in the network. However,  The administrators of the sub-sites will not have the authority to install, update, or remove plugins, which is why they do not see the plugin menu in their own menu bar.

Enabling the plugin menu for the subsite

If you want the subsite administrators to be able to see and manage their own plugins, follow these steps:

• Go to the Network Admin Dashboard
• Go to Settings » Network Settings
• Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and check the Enable Plugins Menu.
• Press Save Changes to save the settings.

After following these steps, the administrators of each website will be able to see the plugin menu and activate the installed plugins. However, they will not be able to see or manage the network-activated plugins.

If you cannot see all the plugins in WordPress Multisite, it may be because the plugin is activated at the network level or the user's permissions do not allow them to manage plugins.  Accessing the Network Settings will help you resolve this issue.

We hope this article helps you understand why some plugins do not appear in WordPress Multisite and enables you to manage your network more efficiently.