How to install an extension in Magento 2 - WeltPixel Guides

What Magento is (quick refresher)

Magento is an open‑source ecommerce platform written in PHP. It uses frameworks like Laminas and Symfony and is licensed under OSL v3.0.

Magento 2 editions at a glance

• Magento Open Source – free and fully customizable.
• Magento Commerce – enterprise features, available on‑prem or as a managed cloud PaaS.

(Older editions such as Magento Professional and Magento Go are discontinued.)

Why Magento 2 (vs. Magento 1)

• Better performance (PHP 7+, MySQL improvements, FPC + Varnish).
• jQuery replaces Prototype.js.
• Stronger security (SHA‑256 password hashing).
• Smoother checkout (Instant Purchase, guest‑to‑account flow).
• Ajax Add to Cart, improved admin UX, richer reports.
• Built‑in payment integrations (PayPal, Braintree, Authorize.net, etc.).
• Native B2B features (2.2+).
• Elasticsearch support.
• Easier product authoring (including videos).

Ways to install a Magento 2 extension

Choose one of the methods below. For any method, first verify compatibility and install on a staging site before production.

Method 1 — Install via Composer (CLI)

1) Ensure your Magento Marketplace authentication keys are configured on the instance.

2) From your Magento root, run:

composer require weltpixel/module-advance-category-sorting
php bin/magento setup:upgrade
php bin/magento setup:di:compile
php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy -f

That’s it — the module is installed.

Method 2 — WeltPixel 1‑Minute GUI installer

1) Confirm compatibility on a staging environment first.

2) Copy files into your Magento 2 instance (create folders if missing):

app/code/WeltPixel/Backend
app/code/WeltPixel/AdvanceCategorySorting

3) Copy the weltpixel-extension-installation folder to your Magento web root (on some setups this is under /pub).

Open in your browser:

https://www.yourmagentostore.com/weltpixel-extension-installation/

4) Follow the on‑screen steps to complete the install.

Video: 1‑Minute Module Installation via browser GUI — https://vimeo.com/339572179

Done — the extension is now installed.

Method 3 — Manual install via SSH

1) Copy files into your Magento 2 instance:

app/code/WeltPixel/Backend
app/code/WeltPixel/AdvanceCategorySorting

2) Enable and register the modules:

php bin/magento module:enable WeltPixel_Backend --clear-static-content
php bin/magento module:enable WeltPixel_AdvanceCategorySorting --clear-static-content
php bin/magento setup:upgrade

3) Flush Magento caches (and any server‑side caches) after enabling.

Method 4 — Web Setup Wizard (deprecated)

The Web Setup Wizard is deprecated. If it’s still present on your instance, you can use it, but prefer Composer/CLI.

1) In Magento Marketplace → My Profile → Purchase History, click Install for the purchased extension.

2) Ensure you have Access Keys (Public/Private) under My Profile → Access Keys.

3) In your Magento Admin, go to System → Web Setup Wizard (Deprecated) → Extension Manager, sign in with your keys, and Refresh to sync purchases.

4) Select the module → Install → pass Readiness Check → take a backup if prompted → proceed through Steps 1–3 until you reach Success.

If the Readiness Check fails, verify cron is running and resolve any reported PHP extension or permissions issues.

Post‑install notes

• Always clear Magento and application caches after installation.
• For production, deploy static content and recompile DI if you installed on a running site.
• Keep extensions up to date to maintain compatibility and security.

Summary

Magento 2 is faster, more secure, and more scalable than Magento 1. Use Composer/CLI as your primary installation method, or the WeltPixel GUI for a quick, guided setup. Avoid the deprecated Web Setup Wizard unless necessary.

Updated on: 18/09/2025