> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.uichemy.com/llms.txt).
> Use it to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install and Activate UiChemy

Install and activate the UiChemy plugin on your WordPress site, free and Pro.


Installing UiChemy takes two minutes. If you're using it with Elementor, install Elementor first, UiChemy registers the Composer widget on top of Elementor, so Elementor needs to be active before you activate UiChemy. If you're using Gutenberg (WordPress's built-in editor) or Bricks Builder instead, you can skip straight to Step 2.

### Step 1: Install Elementor (if you're using it)

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to **Plugins → Add New Plugin**.
2. Search for **Elementor**.
3. Click **Install Now** on the Elementor listing, then click **Activate**.

If Elementor is already installed and active, or you're building with Gutenberg or Bricks instead, skip to Step 2.

### Step 2: Install UiChemy

Go to [wordpress.org/plugins/uichemy](https://wordpress.org/plugins/uichemy/) to download UiChemy, or install it straight from your dashboard:

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to **Plugins → Add New Plugin**.
2. Search for **UiChemy**.
3. Click **Install Now** on the listing, then click **Activate**.

**From a ZIP file (manual install):**

1. Download the UiChemy `.zip` file from your account or from the source you received it.
2. In your WordPress dashboard, go to **Plugins → Add New Plugin → Upload Plugin**.
3. Click **Choose File**, select the `.zip`, then click **Install Now**.
4. Click **Activate Plugin**.

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  <video controls width="100%" style="display: block;">
    <source src="https://res.cloudinary.com/ekxmy1t9/video/upload/v1789475074/uichemy-docs/uichemy-composer/getting-started/install/install-activate-composer.mp4" type="video/mp4" />
  </video>
</div>
<p style="text-align: center; font-size: 0.875rem; color: var(--text-color-secondary, #6b7280); margin-top: 0.5rem;"><em>Installing and activating UiChemy, then opening the Composer widget in Elementor</em></p>

<Callout kind="tip">
Here you can see the flow using Elementor. If you're on Gutenberg or Bricks instead, the steps are the same, only the builder you open the Composer widget in changes.
</Callout>

### Step 3: Confirm Activation

After activation, two things confirm UiChemy is running:

1. **UiChemy appears in the WordPress admin menu.** Look for the UiChemy menu item in your left sidebar. It contains: Theme Builder, Performance, Form Submissions, Settings, and (if Pro) Role Manager, White Label, and Global Style.
2. **The Composer widget appears in your builder.** In Elementor, search for "Composer" in the widget panel. In Gutenberg, search for "Composer" in the block inserter. In Bricks, look for it in the elements panel. It should appear in whichever builder you have active.

<Callout kind="tip">
If the Composer widget does not appear, verify that your builder (Elementor, Gutenberg, or Bricks) is active and try deactivating and reactivating UiChemy.
</Callout>

### Installing UiChemy Pro

UiChemy Pro is a second plugin that extends the free version, it never replaces it.

1. In your WordPress admin, open **UiChemy**.
2. At the bottom of the UiChemy sidebar, find the **UiChemy Pro Plugin** card:
   - Click **Install & Activate** if Pro isn't on your site yet.
   - Click **Activate** if the card says "It's already installed on this site, it just needs switching on."
3. A confirmation appears at the bottom right: **"UiChemy Pro installed and activated"** or **"UiChemy Pro activated"**, followed by "Version [x.x.x] is ready. Pro features are unlocked on this site."

Once Pro is active, its features are unlocked immediately. **Role Manager** and **White Label** lose their crown icons and open their real settings right away.

### What Appears After Activation

After installing and activating UiChemy (free), you will see the following in your WordPress admin:

| Menu item | What it does |
|---|---|
| UiChemy (main) | Dashboard and plugin overview |
| Theme Builder | Create headers, footers, and page templates. See [Theme Builder](/uichemy-plugin/theme-builder/overview) |
| Performance | Speed up pages built with Composer widgets: critical CSS, unused and third-party script handling, lazy-loaded images, and trimming Elementor assets. See [Performance](/uichemy-plugin/performance/overview) |
| Form Submissions | View and export form submissions from Composer widgets. See [Form Submissions](/uichemy-plugin/forms/overview) |
| Role Manager | Requires Pro to configure, on Free it shows a crown icon and an upgrade screen instead. See [Role Manager](/uichemy-plugin/role-manager/overview) |
| White Label | Requires Pro to configure, on Free it shows a crown icon and an upgrade screen instead. See [White Label](/uichemy-plugin/white-label/overview) |
| Settings | Plugin settings and feature toggles. See [General Settings](/uichemy-plugin/settings/general-settings) |

<Callout kind="tip">
Role Manager and White Label are already visible in the sidebar on Free, marked with a crown icon, clicking either one shows an upgrade screen rather than the real settings. See [Role Manager Overview](/uichemy-plugin/role-manager/overview).
</Callout>

With UiChemy Pro active, one additional item appears that isn't in the sidebar at all on Free:

| Menu item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Global Style | Define site-wide CSS variables, typography, and layout utilities |

### Use Cases

- **Setting up UiChemy on a brand-new WordPress site**, install your builder first, then UiChemy.
- **Adding UiChemy to an existing Elementor site** that already has content and other plugins.
- **Rolling Free and Pro out across an agency's client sites**, the same two-plugin install repeated per site.

### Frequently Asked Questions

<ExpandableGroup>
  <Expandable title="Do I need to install both the free and Pro plugins?" default-open="false">
    Yes, if you have Pro. UiChemy Pro is a companion plugin that extends the free version, it is not a standalone replacement. Both need to be installed and active.
  </Expandable>

  <Expandable title="What order should I activate them in?" default-open="false">
    Your page builder first (if you're using Elementor), then UiChemy Free, then UiChemy Pro. The order matters because each plugin registers itself on top of the previous one.
  </Expandable>

  <Expandable title="Can I deactivate the free plugin once Pro is active?" default-open="false">
    No. Pro requires the free plugin to be active. If you deactivate the free plugin, Pro's features stop working until Free is active again.
  </Expandable>

  <Expandable title="The Composer widget is not showing in Elementor. What do I do?" default-open="false">
    Check that Elementor is active, then deactivate and reactivate UiChemy. If you are on a caching host, clear the cache. If the issue persists, check the Elementor widget allow/blocklist in **Elementor → Settings → Integrations**.
  </Expandable>
</ExpandableGroup>

### Related

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Requirements" href="/uichemy-composer/getting-started/requirements">
    Check the WordPress, PHP, and builder versions UiChemy needs.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Dashboard Tour" href="/uichemy-composer/getting-started/dashboard-tour">
    See where everything lives once UiChemy is installed.
  </Card>
  <Card title="Quickstart" href="/uichemy-composer/getting-started/quickstart">
    Build your first section now that UiChemy is active.
  </Card>
  <Card title="What Is Composer?" href="/uichemy-composer/getting-started/what-is-uichemy-composer">
    Understand what you'll actually be editing once it's installed.
  </Card>
</Columns>