> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rankforce.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install and Configure the Rankforce WordPress Plugin

> Install the Rankforce WordPress plugin to let AI agents read your pages and apply SEO, GEO & AEO optimizations directly to your WordPress site.

The Rankforce WordPress plugin is the fastest way to give Rankforce's AI agents direct access to your site's content. Once installed and connected, agents can read your page copy, meta fields, and structured data — then write approved optimizations back without you touching a single file. Everything happens through the same WordPress admin you already use.

## Prerequisites

Before you install the plugin, confirm that your environment meets the following requirements.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="WordPress 5.0 or later" icon="wordpress">
    Rankforce uses the WordPress Block Editor API and REST endpoints introduced in WordPress 5.0. Earlier versions are not supported.
  </Card>

  <Card title="PHP 7.4 or later" icon="php">
    The plugin relies on PHP features available from version 7.4 onward. Check your host's PHP version in **Tools → Site Health → Info → Server**.
  </Card>

  <Card title="WordPress admin access" icon="lock">
    You need an account with the **Administrator** role to install and activate plugins. Editor or lower roles cannot complete this setup.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rankforce account" icon="key">
    You need an active Rankforce account and an API key. If you don't have one yet, sign up at [rankforce.ai](https://rankforce.ai) and follow the quick-start guide.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Install the plugin

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the plugin installer">
    Log in to your WordPress admin panel and navigate to **Plugins → Add New Plugin** in the left sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Search for Rankforce">
    Type **Rankforce** into the search box in the top-right corner of the page. The official Rankforce plugin will appear in the results, published by Rankforce AI.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Install the plugin">
    Click **Install Now** next to the Rankforce plugin. WordPress will download and unpack the plugin files automatically. Wait for the button to change to **Activate**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Activate the plugin">
    Click **Activate**. WordPress will enable the plugin and redirect you back to the Plugins list. You'll see Rankforce listed as active with a new **Settings** link beneath it.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Configure the plugin

With the plugin active, you need to connect it to your Rankforce account using an API key.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Rankforce settings">
    In your WordPress admin sidebar, navigate to **Settings → Rankforce**. This page contains the connection configuration for your site.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Retrieve your API key">
    In a new browser tab, open your Rankforce dashboard and go to **Settings → API Keys**. Click **Create new key**, give it a descriptive name such as "My WordPress Site", and copy the key that appears. You will not be able to see this key again after you close the dialog, so copy it now.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste the API key">
    Return to the WordPress tab and paste your API key into the **API Key** field on the Rankforce settings page.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save and verify">
    Click **Save Settings**. Rankforce will immediately attempt a test connection to verify the key. A green **Connected** badge confirms the integration is live. If you see an error, double-check that you copied the full key with no leading or trailing spaces.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Each WordPress site needs its own API key. If you manage multiple sites, create a separate key for each one in **Settings → API Keys** so you can revoke access per-site without affecting the others.
</Note>

## What the plugin enables

Once the plugin is connected, Rankforce agents gain the following capabilities on your site:

* **Read page content** — agents crawl your posts, pages, and custom post types to analyze copy quality, keyword targeting, heading structure, and internal linking.
* **Write meta fields** — agents update SEO title, meta description, focus keyword, and Open Graph fields managed by Rank Math, Yoast SEO, or AIOSEO (see [SEO Plugin Integrations](/integrations/seo-plugins) for details).
* **Apply content optimizations** — when you approve a recommendation, the agent patches the relevant post content or meta data directly through the WordPress REST API.
* **Read your sitemap** — Rankforce parses your XML sitemap to discover pages and prioritize crawling by traffic potential.
* **Inject structured data** — the AEO agent can add or update Schema.org markup on individual posts and pages to improve your visibility in AI-generated answers.

<Tip>
  Rankforce never publishes changes without your explicit approval unless you have enabled **Autopilot** mode in your Rankforce dashboard. In manual or review mode, every optimization is queued for your sign-off first.
</Tip>

## Keep the plugin up to date

Rankforce releases plugin updates regularly to add new agent capabilities and maintain compatibility with the latest WordPress versions. WordPress will surface available updates in **Dashboard → Updates** and in the **Plugins** list.

To update:

1. Go to **Plugins → Installed Plugins**.
2. If an update is available, you'll see an **Update now** link beneath the Rankforce entry.
3. Click **Update now** and wait for the process to complete.

<Info>
  Enabling automatic updates for the Rankforce plugin is recommended. Click **Enable auto-updates** next to the plugin in the Plugins list to let WordPress apply updates in the background.
</Info>

## Troubleshooting

### The plugin doesn't appear in search results

WordPress.org search can occasionally lag behind new releases. If you don't see the Rankforce plugin in **Plugins → Add New**, try the following:

* Clear your browser cache and reload the search page.
* Search for "Rankforce AI" as an alternative term.
* Download the `.zip` file directly from the [Rankforce documentation](https://rankforce.ai/docs) and install it via **Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin**.

### API key errors on the settings page

If you see an **Invalid API key** or **Authentication failed** error after saving:

* Confirm you copied the entire key — keys are long strings and partial copies are a common cause of failure.
* Check that the key is still active in **Rankforce Dashboard → Settings → API Keys**. Keys can be revoked manually or expire if your plan lapses.
* Ensure your server can make outbound HTTPS requests to `api.rankforce.ai`. Some hosts block outbound connections by default; contact your host to whitelist the domain.

### Connection test passes but agents aren't running

* Verify that your Rankforce plan is active and that you have at least one site added in the Rankforce dashboard under **Sites**.
* Check that the domain entered in Rankforce matches the domain WordPress reports in **Settings → General → WordPress Address**.
* Review the **Activity Log** in your Rankforce dashboard for any error messages related to your site.

<Warning>
  If your WordPress site is behind a firewall, VPN, or password protection (e.g., a staging environment locked with HTTP auth), Rankforce agents may not be able to reach your pages. Allowlist Rankforce's crawler IP ranges or temporarily remove the access restriction while running a crawl.
</Warning>