---
title: Install Personizely on WordPress and WooCommerce
slug: install-wordpress
description: Install Personizely on WordPress or WooCommerce with the plugin or a script tag: connecting, the async setting, caching plugins, shortcodes and checks.
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-10-16T19:34:38.387Z
---

To install Personizely on a WordPress or WooCommerce site, install the Personizely plugin from the WordPress plugin directory and connect it to your account. The plugin adds the snippet to the `<head>` of every front-end page. You can also paste the script tag into your theme instead; both give the same result.

**Available on:** WordPress 3.1 or later, including WooCommerce stores.

## Install the plugin

1. In WordPress admin, go to **Plugins → Add New**, search for **Personizely** and click **Install Now**, then **Activate**.
2. Open **Personizely** in the admin menu.
3. Click **Create an Account and Connect** if you're new, or **Connect an Existing Account** if you already use Personizely.
4. Sign in and confirm. You're sent back to WordPress, where the page reads "The plugin is connected to your Personizely account. You're all set."

### Connect with a website key instead

If the connect flow doesn't suit you (for example, the WordPress site uses a different domain than the one in Personizely):

1. In Personizely, open **Settings → Website** and copy your website key: the part of the snippet URL between `https://static.personizely.net/` and `.js`.
2. In WordPress, open **Personizely**, click **Toggle Advanced Settings**, paste it into **API Key** and click **Save Changes**.

## Plugin settings

| Option  | What it does                                     | Default                 |
| ------- | ------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------- |
| API Key | The website key the plugin loads the snippet for | Set by the connect flow |
| Async   | Adds the `async` attribute to the script tag     | On                      |

The plugin's **Async** checkbox controls loading on WordPress. The **Asynchronous script loading** setting in Personizely doesn't change it. If you run content A/B tests, turn **Async** off to prevent flicker. See [Performance and flicker](docId\:sgD1BsYNMvpjqHqp_qcdi).

## Install without the plugin

Copy the snippet from **Settings → Website** in Personizely and paste it just before `</head>` in your theme, with a header-scripts plugin, or with your theme's custom code setting. See [Install with a script tag or Google Tag Manager](docId\:HzXT4v0LX4gGBbEWmEtFf). Don't use the plugin and a manual tag at the same time.

## Caching and optimization plugins

Optimization plugins that combine, delay or defer JavaScript can stop the snippet from running early, or at all. The Personizely plugin automatically excludes the snippet from:

- SiteGround Optimizer (JavaScript combining)
- WP Rocket (JavaScript minification)
- Jetpack Boost (render-blocking JavaScript)
- WP Meteor

With any other optimization plugin, or if you install the script tag manually, exclude `static.personizely.net` from combining, minifying, delaying and deferring.

## Embedding widgets in content

The plugin adds two shortcodes for [Embedded widgets and placeholders](docId\:jRubqMsuzAHPTOBPLwFSW):

```text
[ply-widget WIDGET_ID]
[ply-placeholder PLACEHOLDER_ID]
```

## WooCommerce purchases and cart events

WordPress and WooCommerce don't have a native Personizely store connection. To track purchases, add to cart and checkout starts, either:

- turn on the [Google Analytics 4 and GTM](docId\:NwHWpmwoIntBLz7-PTe3q). If your site pushes GA4 ecommerce events (`purchase`, `begin_checkout`, `add_to_cart`) to the `dataLayer`, Personizely records them as its own purchase, checkout start and add to cart events; or
- send events yourself with the [JavaScript API (window.ply)](docId\:d64TegyOiwNA2GFG1eXPm).

See [Goals](docId\:XSkE1LjM1yiNhLBzpr1B1).

## Verify it works

1. Open your site's front end in a normal browser window. The snippet isn't loaded in WordPress admin or on the login page.
2. Open the developer console. You should see `Personizely initialized. Startup time: <n>ms`.
3. View the page source and check that `static.personizely.net` appears once, in the `<head>`.
4. In Personizely, click **Check code** in **Settings → Website**.

## Troubleshooting

- **Snippet missing from the page source** → the plugin isn't connected (the Personizely admin page shows the connect buttons), or a full-page cache is serving old HTML. Clear the cache.
- **Snippet present but nothing in the console** → an optimization plugin is delaying or blocking it. Exclude `static.personizely.net` as described above.
- **Widgets and campaigns appear late** → **Async** is on, or an optimization plugin defers the script.

## Related

- [Install Personizely](docId\:fLX7cCmHhCf5QIV_3gGvF)
- [Install with a script tag or Google Tag Manager](docId\:HzXT4v0LX4gGBbEWmEtFf)
- [Performance and flicker](docId\:sgD1BsYNMvpjqHqp_qcdi)
- [Google Analytics 4 and GTM](docId\:NwHWpmwoIntBLz7-PTe3q)
- [Verify and troubleshoot your installation](docId\:fM8b-wlEZqwZo2lSY7r4i)