Install And Activate Protuno
How to install the Protuno plugin from WordPress.org or a ZIP file, activate it, and confirm it is working before you build your first section.
Installing Protuno takes two minutes. Install Elementor first if you have not already, Protuno registers its widget on top of Elementor, so Elementor needs to be active before you activate Protuno.
Step 1: Install Elementor (if not already active)
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New Plugin
- Search for Elementor
- Click Install Now on the Elementor listing, then click Activate
If Elementor is already installed and active, skip to Step 2.
Step 2: Install Protuno
From WordPress.org:
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New Plugin
- Search for Protuno
- Click Install Now on the Protuno listing, then click Activate
From a ZIP file (manual install):
- Download the Protuno
.zipfile from your account or from the source you received it - In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New Plugin → Upload Plugin
- Click Choose File, select the
.zip, then click Install Now - Click Activate Plugin
Step 3: Confirm Activation
After activation, two things confirm Protuno is running:
- Protuno appears in the WordPress admin menu, look for the Protuno menu item in your left sidebar. It contains: Theme Builder, Form Submissions, Settings, and (if Pro) Role Manager, White Label, and Global Style
- The Proton widget appears in Elementor, open any page with the Elementor editor, search for "Proton" in the widget panel, and the Proton widget should appear
If the Proton widget does not appear in Elementor, verify that Elementor is active and try deactivating and reactivating Protuno.
Installing Protuno Pro
If you have Protuno Pro, install it as a second plugin alongside the free version, do not replace the free plugin with Pro.
- Download the Protuno Pro
.zipfile from your account - Go to Plugins → Add New Plugin → Upload Plugin
- Upload the Pro
.zipand click Install Now, then Activate Plugin
Once Pro is active, it takes over from the free plugin automatically. You will see additional menu items (Role Manager, White Label) and the license activation prompt.
Activate your Pro license:
- Go to Protuno → Settings
- Find the License section and enter your license key
- Click Activate
What Appears After Activation
After installing and activating Protuno (free), you will see the following in your WordPress admin:
| Menu item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Protuno (main) | Dashboard and plugin overview |
| Theme Builder | Create headers, footers, and page templates |
| Form Submissions | View and export form submissions from Proton widgets |
| Settings | Plugin settings, license key (Pro), and feature toggles |
With Protuno Pro active, additional items appear:
| Menu item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Global Style | Define site-wide CSS variables, typography, and layout utilities |
| Role Manager | Control which user roles can access each editing mode |
| White Label | Replace Protuno branding with your own |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to install both the free and Pro plugins? Yes, if you have Pro. Protuno Pro is a companion plugin that extends the free version, it is not a standalone replacement. Both need to be installed and active.
What order should I activate them in? Elementor first, then Protuno Free, then Protuno Pro. The order matters because each plugin registers itself on top of the previous one.
Can I deactivate the free plugin once Pro is active? No. Pro requires the free plugin to be active. Deactivating the free plugin will break Pro.
The Proton widget is not showing in Elementor. What do I do? Check that Elementor is active, then deactivate and reactivate Protuno. If you are on a caching host, clear the cache. If the issue persists, check the Elementor widget allow/blocklist in Elementor → Settings → Integrations.