Outdated and abandoned plugins pose a significant security threat – according to 2021 statistics, over 40% of WordPress compromises stem from vulnerable plugins. So checking that all your plugins are actively maintained is crucial.
Unfortunately, plugins often disappear from the WordPress.org repo without warning. Just this year over 1,200 plugins were removed. This article will cover how to check for missing plugins so you can take action to keep your site secure.
Top Reasons Plugins Get Removed
Before showing how to check for vanished plugins, it helps to know why they disappear in the first place:
Security flaws – By far the most common reason according to WordPress security researchers. When vulnerabilities get reported, plugins often get taken down quickly.
Licensing issues – If a plugin uses proprietary code illegally, it faces removal until fixed. These licensing problems impacted over 200 plugin removals in 2022.
Support ending – Sometimes plugin developers cease support completely. Lack of updates leaves these plugins outdated or broken by new WordPress releases.
Guideline violations – Plugins must follow detailed rules around security, licensing, etc. Breaches can trigger fast removals by WordPress.org.
So even quality plugins can suddenly vanish due to factors out of user control. Checking frequently prevents surprises.
Step-By-Step Guide to Checking for Missing Plugins
Manually reviewing your plugins would be tedious and error-prone. That‘s why the community-tested No Longer in Directory plugin is so helpful.
Installing No Longer in Directory
From your WordPress dashboard:
- Go to Plugins > Add New
- Search for "No Longer in Directory"
- Click Install, then Activate
Reviewing Your Plugins
Once activated:
- Go to Plugins > No Longer in Directory from your WP dashboard
- Review the list for any plugins marked as:
- No longer in directory
- Not updated in 2+ years
See the screenshot below for a sample report:
This scan instantly flags any deprecated plugins so you can take action to replace them or delete if not essential.
Replacing Critical Functionality from Vanished Plugins
If No Longer in Directory reports abandoned plugins you rely on, replacing the functionality should be an urgent priority.
Here are leading options in key categories to consider as replacements:
| Category | Top Alternatives |
|---|---|
| SEO | Yoast SEO, RankMath, SEOPress |
| Security | Wordfence, iThemes Security, Sucuri |
| Forms | Contact Form 7, WPForms, Formidable Forms |
| eCommerce | WooCommerce, Easy Digital Downloads, Shopify |
Carefully vet any new plugin – give preference to those actively maintained and well-reviewed by the WordPress community.
Stay Proactive With Plugin Updates
Along with periodically checking for missing plugins, staying on top of updates prevents most issues:
- Automate updates – Use a trusted auto-update plugin so all plugins apply security patches automatically. Just be sure to review add a review step before major versions go live.
- Review regularly – Even with automated background updates, review your plugins a few times per year for any replacements needed. Monitoring is key.
Proactive maintenance eliminates most surprises and keeps your site performing smoothly even as plugins come and go from WordPress.org.
Let us know if you have any other questions!
