What plugins or themes come pre-installed?

When you install WordPress for the first time, it includes a small set of default themes and plugins. This article explains which ones are included, what licenses they use, and how updates work.

Default themes

WordPress always includes the latest Twenty Twenty–series theme (e.g., Twenty Twenty-Five) and may also include a few previous yearly themes.

• Purpose: These themes are simple, accessible, and fully supported by WordPress.
• Location: You’ll find them in Appearance > Themes.

Licensing

• All default WordPress themes are licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL).
• This means you can use, modify, and redistribute them freely.

Updates

• Updates for default themes are managed directly by the WordPress core team.
• They appear in your Dashboard > Updates screen, just like plugin or core updates.

Default plugins

A fresh WordPress installation may include the following:

1. Akismet Anti-Spam
   • Helps block spam comments.
   • Requires an API key from Akismet.com to activate fully.
   • Licensed under GPL.

   • Updates: Managed through the WordPress.org plugin directory.

     Hello Dolly

   • A simple demo plugin that displays random lyrics from a song in your dashboard.
   • Mostly included for historical reasons and as an example plugin.
   • Licensed under GPL.
   • Updates: Rarely updated, but when needed, handled via the plugin directory.

💡 Tip: Some hosting providers add extra plugins (e.g., caching, SEO, or backup tools). These are not part of the official WordPress package.

Update policies

• Pre-installed plugins and themes are updated through the WordPress Updates system.

  You can choose to update them manually or enable auto-updates:

  • Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins and toggle auto-updates.
  • Go to Appearance > Themes and enable auto-updates for each theme.
• WordPress recommends keeping all themes and plugins updated for security and compatibility.

If you host with us we do plugin updates weekly so it's one less thing to worry about

Troubleshooting

• Q: Can I delete default themes or plugins?

  A: Yes. You can safely remove any theme or plugin you don’t use. Just make sure at least one default theme (like Twenty Twenty-Five) remains installed as a fallback.

• Q: Do I need Akismet or Hello Dolly?

  A: No. They are optional. Akismet is useful for spam protection, but Hello Dolly can be deleted without issue.

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