Title: Enabling / Disabling plugins in multisite mode Last modified: August 20, 2016 --- # Enabling / Disabling plugins in multisite mode * Resolved [bhobbit](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bhobbit/) * (@bhobbit) * [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enabling-disabling-plugins-in-multisite-mode/) * I have installed WordPress in multisite modefollowing step by step the codex. * Then I have copied files for 2 plugins into /WP-Content/plugins folder. * As network admin, I have activated them for network. * Back to the main site, these plugins are not shown under the plugin tab !? * Back as network admin, I have deactivated one plugin. * Now, this plugin is well shown in plugin tab of main site and I can activate it ?! * I’m sure have read that, before activating and using a plugin on a subsite in multisite mode, it was necessary for network admin to active it first for network… * What have I done wrong ? * Thanks for your help Serge. Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total) * [Andrea Rennick](https://wordpress.org/support/users/andrea_r/) * (@andrea_r) * [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enabling-disabling-plugins-in-multisite-mode/#post-2204343) * > I’m sure have read that, before activating and using a plugin on a subsite > in multisite mode, it was necessary for network admin to active it first for > network … * No, that’s incorrect. You may have mistaken plugins for themes. Themes are *enabled* first for the network, which lets them show up in the themes area. * Activation is a different process and plugins are not done the same way. * Network activating a plugin removes it from the plugisn list on the sub sites. * Network enabling a theme makes it show in the sub sites. * Thread Starter [bhobbit](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bhobbit/) * (@bhobbit) * [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enabling-disabling-plugins-in-multisite-mode/#post-2204356) * Thank you for your help, Andrea, but, sorry, I don’t mistake plugins for themes 🙂 * > Network activating a plugin removes it from the plugisn list on the sub sites. * I don’t understand why “network activating”, that is “making active on network”, a plugin, removes it for use on this network ?! * I’m not very fluent in English, but to me, “activating” something means giving it the opportunity to be used and “deactivating” the contrary. Both words are quite similar in French, but seem to mean differently 🙂 * [Andrea Rennick](https://wordpress.org/support/users/andrea_r/) * (@andrea_r) * [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enabling-disabling-plugins-in-multisite-mode/#post-2204372) * “activating” in this context means turning it on, like a light bulb. 😉 * Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/) * (@ipstenu) * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist * [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enabling-disabling-plugins-in-multisite-mode/#post-2204406) * bhobbit * “enabling” means giving the opportunity to be used. * “activating” means turning on 🙂 * (What language do you speak natively?) * Thread Starter [bhobbit](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bhobbit/) * (@bhobbit) * [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enabling-disabling-plugins-in-multisite-mode/#post-2204471) * > “activating” in this context means turning it on, like a light bulb. 😉 * …. or turning TV, radio, on … * So, when I turn a plugin on as network admin, I can expect that this plugin will be visible to all subsites, where subsite admins will be able to “enable” it, in order to have the opportunity to use it … Is that correct ? * But, in my case, network activating a plugin makes it NOT visible to subsite admins; on the contrary, turning plugin off makes it visible … * I don’t understand this behavior, that’s the reason why I asked for help … * > (What language do you speak natively?) * Have a look to my previous message where you’ll find answer 🙂 * Thank you for your help, Serge. * [Andrea Rennick](https://wordpress.org/support/users/andrea_r/) * (@andrea_r) * [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enabling-disabling-plugins-in-multisite-mode/#post-2204479) * > So, when I turn a plugin on as network admin, I can expect that this plugin > will be visible to all subsites, where subsite admins will be able to “enable” > it, in order to have the opportunity to use it … Is that correct ? * no, when you turn on a plugin in this context, it makes it start working across all sites and does NOT show in their plugins list.. because it is on. “active” in this case, an each individual site cannot turn it off for their site. * it jump right over the opportunity to use it and forces it on for everyone. * network DE activate a plugin, and you will then see it show up in the plugins list on the sub sites. then users can selectively turn it off and on. * Thread Starter [bhobbit](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bhobbit/) * (@bhobbit) * [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enabling-disabling-plugins-in-multisite-mode/#post-2204510) * I think I have understood now … * Actually, I had not seen that even the plugin was not visible in plugin list, it was still visible and configurable in tools or settings menu. * Many thanks for your help and great patience 🙂 * Best regards, Serge. * PS: I don’t know how to close this discussion and mark it as “resolved” * Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/) * (@ipstenu) * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist * [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enabling-disabling-plugins-in-multisite-mode/#post-2204511) * Upper right, there’s a dropdown 🙂 I marked it for you. * Thread Starter [bhobbit](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bhobbit/) * (@bhobbit) * [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enabling-disabling-plugins-in-multisite-mode/#post-2204512) * Ok, seen, thank you 🙂 Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total) The topic ‘Enabling / Disabling plugins in multisite mode’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Networking WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/multisite/) * 9 replies * 3 participants * Last reply from: [bhobbit](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bhobbit/) * Last activity: [14 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/enabling-disabling-plugins-in-multisite-mode/#post-2204512) * Status: resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics