---
title: Requirements and installation
description: What your site needs to run Hive Mail, how to install and activate it, and what the plugin creates when you switch it on.
url: "https://hiveplugins.com/docs/hive-mail-requirements-and-installation/"
updated: "2026-10-28"
category: Hive Mail
---

# Requirements and installation

Hive Mail installs like any other WordPress plugin.

**Requirements:** WordPress 6.4 or newer, PHP 8.0 or newer, a normal WordPress database (the database user must be able to create tables) and an administrator account. To send real campaigns you also need an SMTP plugin, a Mailgun account or a SendGrid account, but not to install. See [How Hive Mail sends email](/docs/hive-mail-how-hive-mail-sends-email/).

## Install from the Plugins screen

1. In the WordPress admin, open **Plugins** and click **Add New Plugin**.
2. Search for **Hive Mail** and click **Install Now**.
3. Click **Activate**.

## Install from a zip file

1. Open **Plugins**, click **Add New Plugin**, then **Upload Plugin**.
2. Choose the Hive Mail zip file and click **Install Now**.
3. Click **Activate Plugin**.

![The WordPress Plugins screen with Hive Mail listed and the Activate link](https://hiveplugins.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/hivemail-start-plugins-screen-01.webp)

## Open Hive Mail for the first time

Click **Hive Mail** in the WordPress admin menu. On a new site the [setup wizard](/docs/hive-mail-setup-wizard/) opens over the Dashboard. Fill it in, or click **Skip setup** and use the [First steps checklist](/docs/hive-mail-first-steps-checklist/).

![The Hive Mail item in the WordPress admin menu](https://hiveplugins.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/hivemail-start-admin-menu-01.webp)

## What activation sets up

Activation sends nothing and shows nothing to visitors. It creates no contacts, lists, campaigns, cookies or tracking.

| What | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Database tables | Tables named with your WordPress prefix followed by `hm_`, for example `wp_hm_contacts`. They are upgraded automatically when an update needs it. |
| Permissions | All Hive Mail permissions go to the **Administrator** role. See [Settings: Roles & Permissions](/docs/hive-mail-settings-roles-and-permissions/). |
| Three pages | **Unsubscribe**, **Email preferences** and **Subscription confirmed**, each holding one shortcode. See [Unsubscribe and email preference pages](/docs/hive-mail-unsubscribe-and-preference-pages/). |
| Scheduled work | A timer that runs once a minute and a daily clean-up job. See [Scheduled sending and cron](/docs/hive-mail-scheduled-sending-and-cron/). |

If you delete one of the three pages, a button in **Settings > Compliance** can recreate it. Until then, a plain Hive Mail page answers, so links in emails keep working.

> **Warning:** Do not deactivate Hive Mail while campaigns are out. The unsubscribe, confirmation and tracked links in emails you already sent stop working while the plugin is off. Deactivating deletes no data. See [Uninstalling and Delete all data](/docs/hive-mail-uninstalling-and-delete-all-data/).

Next: [First steps checklist](/docs/hive-mail-first-steps-checklist/), [The setup wizard](/docs/hive-mail-setup-wizard/).