Installation
Requirements
| Requirement | Minimum |
|---|---|
| WordPress | 5.3+ |
| PHP | 7.4+ |
Installing the Plugin
Simple WP Helpdesk is not listed on the WordPress.org plugin directory. Install it manually via ZIP upload through the WordPress dashboard.
- Download
simple-wp-helpdesk.zipfrom the latest GitHub release. - In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New.
- Click Upload Plugin at the top of the screen.
- Click Choose File, select
simple-wp-helpdesk.zip, then click Install Now. - Click Activate Plugin once installation is complete.
A Tickets menu item will now appear in the left-hand dashboard sidebar.
Setting Up the Frontend
Combined layout (simplest)
Create a single WordPress page (e.g. “Support”) and add:
[submit_ticket]
This page handles both the ticket submission form and the client portal. Go to Tickets → Settings → Assignment & Routing and set Helpdesk Page to this page.
Separate form and portal pages
Create two pages:
| Page | Shortcode | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| e.g. “Submit a Ticket” | [submit_ticket] | Submission form and ticket lookup |
| e.g. “My Tickets” | [helpdesk_portal] | Client portal only (no submission form) |
Set Helpdesk Page to the portal page ([helpdesk_portal]). All secure portal links in emails will point there.
See the Shortcode Reference for all available attributes on both shortcodes.
Automatic Updates
The plugin includes a built-in GitHub auto-updater. When a new release is published, WordPress will display the standard “Update Available” notice in Plugins and allow one-click updating — no manual ZIP download required.
Uninstalling
To remove the plugin and optionally all its data:
- Go to Tickets → Settings → Tools.
- Check Delete all plugin data on uninstall if you want tickets, attachments, and settings permanently removed.
- Go to Plugins, deactivate, then delete Simple WP Helpdesk.
If the delete-on-uninstall option is not checked, WordPress tables and options are left intact so reinstalling restores all data.