How to manually install a WLW plugin
A good number of Windows Live Writer plugins come as one or more files. Now what? How do you install a Windows Live Writer plugin without an installer? How do you install it manually?
Locate the Windows Live Writer folder
On most installations Windows Live Writer will be installed in C:\Program Files\Windows Live Writer\ (click to securely open this location on your computer).
If you need to find out where Windows Live Writer is installed, find the shortcut to Windows Live Writer.
Right-click on it and choose Properties. The installation folder can be seen in two places (marked with a red border in the screenshot on the left): Target and Start In. Start In will give you the best path to the folders where Windows Live Writer is installed. Remember this location.
Copy the plugin files
If needed, extract the ZIP or RAR file you downloaded. See if there are any instructions or caveats, often posted in a file named readme.
Highlight all the file, right-click and choose Cut.
Go to the Windows Live Writer plugins folder
Using My Computer, navigate to the Windows Live Writer installation folder.
Once there, click on the Plugins folder. This is where the files you just “cut” need to be placed. If your system supports this action you can click on C:\Program Files\Windows Live Writer\Plugins to open the plugins folder right now.
Paste the plugin file(s)
Once in the folder, right-click in an empty space and choose Paste to put the files in place.
(Re)start Windows Live Writer
If Windows Live Writer was running during this process, close all Windows Live Writer windows.
Now click your shortcut to start Windows Live Writer. Most often your new plugin option will appear in the Insert menu in the sidebar and in the Insert dropdown. Sometimes, depending on what you already have installed, it will only appear in the Insert dropdown.
Other plugins may appear in other places in Windows Live Writer.
tags: windows live writer, wlw, windows live writer plugins, walkthroughs, tutorials
