Title: Load order of plugins
Author: WordPress VIP Documentation
Published: September 14, 2020
Last modified: December 31, 2025

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 1. [Plugins](https://docs.wpvip.com/plugins/)
 2. Load order of plugins

#  Load order of plugins

The order in which plugins load is dependent on the method that is used to activate
each plugin. The WordPress load order hook that is used to activate a plugin determines
which point within the load process that plugin will load.

 1. **On the `muplugins_loaded` hook:** Plugins that are activated via `wpcom_vip_load_plugin('
    plugin-name' )` from `client-mu-plugins`. This method of [code-activating plugins](https://docs.wpvip.com/plugins/activate-plugins-through-code/)
    is recommended.
 2. **Before the `after_setup_theme` hook:** Plugins that are activated via `wpcom_vip_load_plugin('
    plugin-name' )` in a theme’s `functions.php`. This method is supported, but code
    activation from `client-mu-plugins` is preferred.
 3. **Before the `plugins_loaded` hook:** Plugins that are manually activated from 
    the WordPress Admin dashboard Plugins screen. This method is supported, but activating
    plugins through code is recommended.

Sometimes plugins have dependencies on running before specific hooks. To hook on
very early actions or filters, load the plugin’s code from [the `/client-mu-plugins` directory](https://docs.wpvip.com/wordpress-skeleton/client-mu-plugins-directory/).

Last updated: December 31, 2025