How to Install Tutor LMS on WordPress (Step by Step)
Install Tutor LMS and Tutor LMS Pro step by step: requirements, the onboarding screen, the pages Tutor LMS creates, and what to check before you build your first course.
Checked against the plugin source: Tutor LMS 4.1.3, Tutor LMS Pro 4.1.3
Installing Tutor LMS takes a few minutes. Doing it carefully, with the right hosting, the right pages and Tutor LMS Pro on a matching version, saves hours later. This guide walks through the full process for Tutor LMS 4.
Before you start: requirements
- WordPress 5.3 or newer. Tutor LMS 4.1.3 is tested up to WordPress 7.1.
- PHP 7.4 or newer. Use a current PHP 8 version for speed and security.
- HTTPS on your domain, which payment gateways and secure logins need.
- A backup if you are installing on an existing site.
If the site will have many students, pick hosting designed for logged-in traffic. See hosting for Tutor LMS.
Step 1: Install the free Tutor LMS plugin
- In your WordPress admin, go to Plugins > Add New Plugin.
- Search for Tutor LMS. The plugin is published by Themeum.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
A new Tutor LMS menu appears in the admin sidebar, with Courses, Create Course, Categories, Tags, Students, Announcements, Quiz Attempts, Q&A, Instructors, Withdraw Requests, Addons, Tools and Settings. With native eCommerce active you also get Orders and Coupons.
Step 2: Complete the onboarding screen
After activation, Tutor LMS opens a short onboarding screen. It welcomes you, then asks you to choose a look for your learners:
- Default Learning Mode: Modern or Kids. Modern suits most audiences; Kids is a playful, colorful interface for younger learners.
- Default Theme: Light, Dark or Auto (following the visitor's system setting).
The last step offers to load sample courses. They are useful for exploring, but delete them before you launch. You can change all of these later under Tutor LMS > Settings > Design. Our setup wizard guide explains the choices.
Step 3: Check the pages Tutor LMS created
Tutor LMS creates the pages it needs and links them in its settings:
| Page | Contents | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard | The student and instructor dashboard | Settings > General > Dashboard Page |
| Student Registration | [tutor_student_registration_form] | Settings > Advanced > Student Registration Page |
| Instructor Registration | [tutor_instructor_registration_form] | Settings > Advanced > Instructor Registration Page |
| Cart and Checkout | Used by native eCommerce | Settings > Monetization > Options |
If a page is missing or was deleted, Tutor LMS > Tools lists the Tutor pages and their status, so you can spot problems quickly.
Step 4: Set permalinks
Go to Settings > Permalinks and choose a pretty structure such as "Post name", then save. This also refreshes the rewrite rules for course, lesson and quiz URLs and prevents 404 errors. Tutor LMS lets you change the course, lesson and quiz base slugs under Settings > Advanced > Base Permalink.
Step 5: Install Tutor LMS Pro (optional)
- Download the Tutor LMS Pro zip file from your Themeum account.
- Go to Plugins > Add New Plugin > Upload Plugin, choose the zip and click Install Now, then Activate.
- Activate your licence so you receive updates.
- Check the versions: Tutor LMS Pro needs the free plugin at at least the same version (Pro 4.1.3 needs Tutor LMS 4.1.3 or newer). If the free plugin is older, Pro shows a "versions are not compatible" warning and its features do not load. Keep both on the same version.
Then enable the Pro add-ons you need under Tutor LMS > Addons. Our add-on guide explains each one.
Step 6: Choose how you sell
Under Settings > Monetization, pick the eCommerce engine: Native, WooCommerce (if installed), Easy Digital Downloads (if installed) or Disable Monetization. Read every monetization option compared before deciding.
Step 7: Set up email delivery
WordPress sends email through your server by default, which often lands in spam. Install an SMTP plugin and connect a transactional email service so enrollment and password emails arrive.
Step 8: Test as a student
Create a test student account, enroll in a sample course, open a lesson, mark it complete and take a quiz. If anything fails at this stage, it is much easier to fix than after launch.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install Tutor LMS on an existing site?
Yes. Back up first, then check that your theme displays Tutor LMS pages well and that no other LMS plugin is active.
Do I need to install the free plugin if I bought Pro?
Yes. Tutor LMS Pro is an add-on; it needs the free Tutor LMS plugin installed and active.
Why do I get a 404 on course pages after installing?
Re-save Settings > Permalinks to refresh rewrite rules. See fixing 404 errors.
Prefer to have it set up for you? Our website development service handles installation, configuration and launch.
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I’m Vishavjeet Choubey, an Enterprise LMS Architect with 10+ years of experience helping businesses, coaches, universities, and online academies build and scale powerful digital learning platforms. I specialize in enterprise LMS architecture, WordPress, WooCommerce, LifterLMS, LearnDash, Moodle, custom plugin development, and AI-driven automation. I build scalable LMS platforms, high-converting eCommerce solutions, and custom WordPress applications designed to improve user experiences, streamline operations, and drive measurable business growth. My approach combines deep WordPress and LMS engineering expertise with modern AI automation to reduce manual work, improve efficiency, and help organizations launch, scale, and grow faster.
