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Quick Updater

Adds a drag-and-drop ZIP upload zone to the Plugins page for quick plugin installs and updates.

What It Does

Quick Updater adds a full-screen drop overlay to the Plugins list page. Drag a plugin ZIP file anywhere over the page and the overlay appears; drop the file and the plugin is installed or updated using WordPress's built-in Plugin_Upgrader with overwrite enabled. Drag-and-drop is the only input path — there is no file-browser button. This is faster than the Add New > Upload Plugin flow when you already have a ZIP file ready.

Features

  • Full-screen drag-and-drop overlay that appears when you drag a file over the Plugins page
  • Accepts .zip files only (validated by filename extension)
  • Uses WordPress Plugin_Upgrader with overwrite_package enabled — updates existing plugins or installs new ones
  • AJAX-based upload with progress feedback
  • Upload zone only appears for users with manage_options capability

How to Use

  1. Go to the Plugins page

    Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. The drop overlay stays hidden until you drag a file over the page.

  2. Drop a ZIP file

    Drag a plugin ZIP file from your computer over the page and drop it on the overlay. Only .zip files are accepted. Clicking the overlay dismisses it.

  3. Wait for installation

    The plugin is uploaded and installed (or updated if it already exists). You will see a success or error message when complete.

FAQ

Does it create a backup before updating?

No. Quick Updater uses WordPress's built-in Plugin_Upgrader which overwrites the existing plugin directory directly. If you want a backup first, use the Package Downloader module to download a ZIP copy before updating.

Can I upload themes this way?

No. Quick Updater only handles plugin ZIP files. For themes, use the standard Appearance > Themes > Add New > Upload Theme flow.

What happens if the ZIP contains a different plugin?

WordPress's Plugin_Upgrader will install it as a new plugin, not update the one you intended. Make sure the ZIP file matches the plugin you want to update.

Why do I see "Invalid file type"?

Files must have a .zip extension — the check is by filename, not file contents. Rename or re-compress the file if needed.

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