What the plugin does #
The Loupely WordPress Plugin is the server-side half of Loupely’s diagnostic system. Without it, the Chrome extension can only capture what the browser sees. With it, the extension also gets access to PHP Errors, Hook Execution data, WooCommerce pipeline events, REST API responses, and everything else happening on your server that the browser has no visibility into. That’s where most WordPress problems actually live.
If your site runs on self-hosted WordPress (meaning you installed it yourself, or it’s on a managed WordPress host like WP Engine, Kinsta, or SiteGround), the plugin will work. If your site is on WordPress.com’s free or paid hosted plans, plugin installation isn’t available.
How to install the Loupely WordPress Plugin #
Method 1: From the WordPress Plugin directory (recommended) #
- Log in to your WordPress Dashboard.
- Go to Plugins in the left sidebar and click Add New Plugin.
- In the search bar, type Loupely.
- Find the Loupely plugin in the results, confirm the developer is Loupely LLC, and click Install Now.
- Once installation completes, click Activate Plugin.
Method 2: Upload from a ZIP file #
If you downloaded the plugin ZIP file directly from useloupely.com:
- Go to Plugins > Add New Plugin in your WordPress Dashboard.
- Click Upload Plugin at the top of the page.
- Click Choose File, select the Loupely ZIP file from your computer, and click Install Now.
- Click Activate Plugin when installation finishes.
After activation: get your connection key #
Once the plugin is active, a Loupely menu item will appear in your WordPress Dashboard sidebar. Click it to open the plugin settings page. You’ll see a Connection Key displayed there. This is the key you paste into the Loupely Chrome extension to link the 2 together.
The connection key is different from your License Key. The connection key is site-specific and tells the extension where to find your server’s data. The License Key is tied to your Loupely account and controls your plan access. See The Two Keys: Connection Key vs. License Key if the distinction is confusing.
Next step: connect the extension to your site #
Installing the plugin is step 1. You still need to paste the connection key into the Chrome extension to complete the setup. See Connecting the Extension to Your WordPress Site for that step.
Troubleshooting installation #
If you search for Loupely in the plugin directory and don’t find it, the plugin may not yet be listed there. Use Method 2 (upload from ZIP) and download the file from useloupely.com. If you get a file permission error during installation, your hosting environment may have restricted file write access in the wp-content/plugins directory. Contact your host’s support team and ask them to allow plugin uploads via the dashboard.