Title: VIP MU plugins
Author: WordPress VIP Documentation
Published: September 15, 2020
Last modified: November 20, 2025

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#  VIP MU plugins

The [VIP Platform’s Must Use plugins (VIP MU plugins)](https://github.com/Automattic/vip-go-mu-plugins/)
are deployed to all VIP Platform WordPress applications. The VIP MU plugins codebase
provides WordPress applications with integration to the [VIP Platform infrastructure](https://docs.wpvip.com/vip-platform/)(
e.g. cache management), helper functions useful to developers, managed plugin options,
and commonly used performance enhancements.

All plugins built into VIP MU plugins are version-managed by VIP.

Plugins that are loaded by VIP MU plugins will appear in the WordPress Admin dashboard’s
Plugins screen within the tab labeled “**Must-Use**“. On WordPress multisite environments,
the “**Must-Use**” tab is only available within the Network Admin Plugins screen
for users with [a Super Admin role](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/roles-and-capabilities/#super-admin).

## Provisioned plugins

[The VIP MU plugins GitHub repository is public](https://github.com/Automattic/vip-go-mu-plugins/)
and can be referred to for the complete list of plugins that are provisioned for
WordPress sites on the VIP Platform.

Many of the plugins provisioned by VIP MU plugins are enabled by default. These 
plugins are enabled because they enhance the performance, security, and manageability
of WordPress sites. “Opt in” plugins can be optionally code-enabled by the customer.

 * [Akismet](https://wordpress.org/plugins/akismet/) (Enabled by default) [Akismet is automatically activated](https://docs.wpvip.com/wordpress-on-vip/)
   on all WordPress sites and registered with the `wpcomvip` machine user.
 * [Cron Control](https://github.com/Automattic/Cron-Control) (Enabled by default)
   VIP’s Cron infrastructure leverages [WordPress Cron](https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/cron/)
   provided by WordPress Core, and Cron jobs are initiated and regulated by [Automattic’s Cron Control plugin](https://github.com/Automattic/Cron-Control).
 * [ElasticPress](https://github.com/Automattic/ElasticPress/) (Opt in) The ElasticPress
   plugin will self-enable on sites that have [the Enterprise Search feature](https://docs.wpvip.com/enterprise-search/)
   enabled.
 * [Jetpack](https://wordpress.org/plugins/jetpack/) (Enabled by default and required)
   [Jetpack is automatically activated](https://docs.wpvip.com/jetpack/) on all 
   WordPress sites with the features of the [Jetpack Complete plan](https://jetpack.com/features/comparison/)
   and registered with the `wpcomvip` machine user.
 * [Lightweight Term Count Update](https://github.com/Automattic/lightweight-term-count-update)(
   Enabled by default) Optimizes the execution of term count queries in WordPress
   by using a straightforward increment/decrement method for the post count, eliminating
   the need for recalculation.
 * [NGINX HTTP Concat](https://github.com/Automattic/nginx-http-concat) (Enabled
   by default) [File concatenation and minification](https://docs.wpvip.com/vip-platform/file-concatenation-and-minification/)
   is handled by NGINX HTTP Concat.
 * [Query Monitor](https://wordpress.org/plugins/query-monitor/) (Enabled by default)
   [Query Monitor provides a developer tools panel](https://docs.wpvip.com/query-monitor/)
   for debugging database queries, PHP errors, and much more. 
 * [Rewrite Rules Inspector](https://github.com/Automattic/Rewrite-Rules-Inspector)(
   Enabled by default) Accessible within the WordPress Admin dashboard’s lefthand
   navigation: **VIP –> Rewrite Rules**.
 * [Two-Factor Authentication](https://github.com/WordPress/two-factor) (Enabled
   by default) Enforces all administrators and custom roles with the `manage_options`
   capability on the VIP Platform to [log in with two-factor authentication](https://docs.wpvip.com/restricting-site-access/two-factor-authentication/).
 * [WordPress Importer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-importer/) (Enabled
   by default) Accessible within the WordPress Admin dashboard’s lefthand navigation:**
   Tools –> Import**.

Last updated: November 20, 2025