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How to Use and Troubleshoot the WordPress.org Plugin Favorites Feature

22 threads Sep 16, 2025 Core → Requests and feedback

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If you've ever found a promising plugin on WordPress.org and wished you could save it for later, you're not alone. Many users are unaware that the platform offers a built-in 'Favorites' feature for this exact purpose. This guide will explain how the feature works, address a common caching delay issue, and show you how to access your saved list.

What is the WordPress.org Favorites Feature?

The 'Requests and Feedback' team has implemented a system that allows logged-in users to bookmark plugins and themes they are interested in. This is done by clicking the heart icon (♥) found next to the download button on any plugin or theme page on WordPress.org. Once clicked, the item is added to a personal list tied to your account.

A Common Point of Confusion: The Caching Delay

The most frequently reported issue with this feature is that favorited items do not appear immediately. A user might click the heart icon but then find their Favorites list empty or outdated when they check it moments later.

Why does this happen? The WordPress.org website handles an enormous amount of traffic. To ensure the site remains fast and stable for everyone, it relies on a powerful caching system. This system saves static versions of pages to reduce server load. When you favorite an item, the change is recorded in the database, but it can take some time—anywhere from a few minutes up to a full day—for the cache to refresh and for your updated Favorites list to become publicly visible on your profile.

How to Use Your Favorites

  1. Log In: Ensure you are logged into your WordPress.org account.
  2. Favorite Items: Browse the Plugin or Theme directories and click the heart icon on any item you wish to save. The icon should change color (often to red) to indicate it has been added.
  3. Access Your List: Navigate to your public profile page. The URL follows this format: https://profiles.wordpress.org/[your-username]/. Scroll down to the "Favorites" section to see your saved plugins and themes.

Troubleshooting and Limitations

  • Be Patient: If your favorites don't show up right away, wait a few hours and check again. The delay is almost always due to caching.
  • Profile vs. Dashboard: It's important to understand that your favorites list on WordPress.org is separate from your WordPress dashboard. You cannot see or install your WordPress.org favorites directly from your site's admin panel; the feature is for the repository website only.
  • Repository Items Only: This system only works for free plugins and themes hosted in the official WordPress.org directory. It cannot be used to track premium plugins from other marke

While the caching delay can be frustrating, it is a necessary trade-off for keeping the WordPress.org repository fast and reliable for its millions of users. By understanding how the feature works, you can effectively use it to curate your own list of must-try plugins and themes.

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