---
title: edit_plugins
description: "## What is the edit_plugins permission in WordPress? The edit_plugins permission allows users access to the \"Plugin Editor\" screen in WordPress. The edit_plugins permission can not be used by itself. Before you can edit plugins you also need the [activate_plugins](https://publishpress.com/links/activate-plugins)…"
url: "https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/edit-plugins/"
updated: "2026-10-14"
category: WordPress Permissions / WordPress Permissions
---

# edit_plugins

## What is the edit_plugins permission in WordPress?

The edit_plugins permission allows users access to the "Plugin Editor" screen in WordPress.

The edit_plugins permission can not be used by itself. Before you can edit plugins you also need the [activate_plugins](https://publishpress.com/links/activate-plugins) permission. 

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/plugin-editor-1024x435.png)

This screen is very dangerous because you can directly edit the files for any plugin on your WordPress site. Any user with the edit_plugins permission can quickly bring down a WordPress site.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/classic-editor-plugin-editor-1024x375.png)

---

## Who has the edit_plugins permission?

The edit_plugins permission is available on single WordPress sites and on multisite networks.

By default, the edit_plugins permission is only given to [Super Admins](https://publishpress.com/links/super-admin), and Administrators.

Users not in these roles are not allowed to edit plugins.

---

## Control who has the edit_plugins permission

You can control who has the edit_plugins permission by installing [the PublishPress Capabilities plugin.](https://publishpress.com/capability-manager/)

- After installing [PublishPress Capabilities](https://publishpress.com/links/capabilities), go to "Capabilities" in your admin menu.
- Using the dropdown in the top-left corner, choose the role you want to edit.
- Click the "Plugins" area.
- Check or uncheck the "edit plugins" box.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/edit-plugins-1024x497.png)

---

## All plugin permissions in WordPress

- [activate_plugins](https://publishpress.com/docs/activate-plugins/)
- [delete_plugins](https://publishpress.com/docs/delete-plugins/)
- [install_plugins](https://publishpress.com/docs/install_plugins/)
- [edit_plugins](https://publishpress.com/docs/edit_plugins/)
- [update_plugins](https://publishpress.com/docs/update-plugins/)