What this step does #
Installing the Chrome extension and the WordPress Plugin separately isn’t enough on its own. They need to be linked so the extension knows where to find your server’s data. You do that with a connection key: a site-specific token the plugin generates that you paste into the extension once. After that, every time you run a diagnosis on that site, the extension can pull both browser and server data together.
This is a one-time setup per site. You don’t repeat it unless you reinstall the plugin or move to a different WordPress installation.
What you need before starting #
- The Loupely Chrome extension installed and pinned in your toolbar. See Installing the Loupely Chrome Extension.
- The Loupely WordPress Plugin installed and activated on your site. See Installing the Loupely WordPress Plugin.
- A Loupely account. You need to be signed in to the extension.
How to connect them #
- Get your connection key from WordPress. In your WordPress Dashboard, click Loupely in the left sidebar. The connection key is displayed on the plugin settings page. Copy it.
- Open the Loupely extension popup. Click the Loupely icon in your Chrome toolbar. Make sure you’re signed in to your account.
- Paste the connection key. The popup will prompt you to enter a connection key for the current site. Paste the key you copied from WordPress and click Connect.
- Confirm the connection. The popup will update to show the site as connected. You’ll see the site URL listed under your account status.
That’s it. The extension and plugin are now linked for that site.
How to tell if the connection is working #
Navigate to any page on your WordPress site, open the Loupely popup, and check the connection status. It should show your site URL as connected. If you click Run Diagnosis on a page, the extension should capture both browser and server data. The capture file will include PHP error entries and WordPress-specific fields if the connection is working correctly. If you only see browser-side data (console errors, network requests), the server connection isn’t live yet.
Connecting multiple sites #
Each WordPress site gets its own connection key. If you manage more than 1 site, repeat the process for each one: install the plugin, copy the connection key, paste it into the extension while you’re on that site. The extension stores connections per site URL, so switching between sites is automatic once each one is set up.
If you’re on the Agency Annual plan, you can connect unlimited client sites this way under 1 account. See How Agency Annual Works for details.
Troubleshooting the connection #
If the extension shows a connection error after you paste the key, the most common causes are:
- The plugin isn’t active. Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins in your WordPress Dashboard and confirm Loupely is active, not just installed.
- The REST API is blocked. Some security plugins block REST API requests. If you use Wordfence, iThemes Security, or a similar plugin, check whether REST API access is restricted and whitelist the Loupely endpoint.
- A CORS error. If you see a CORS-related message in the extension, see CORS Errors: What They Are and How to Fix Them.
- You copied the wrong key. The connection key is different from your License Key. Make sure you’re copying from the Loupely plugin settings page in WordPress, not from your useloupely.com account dashboard.