Goal: get the plugin running without changing anything on your site yet.
Steps
- In WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New.
- Search for Password Protected Site and Store, or upload the plugin ZIP.
- Click Install Now, then Activate.
- A Password Protected entry appears in your admin sidebar.
What just happened
Nothing on your public site changed. Protection is off until you turn it on.
Behind the scenes the plugin created two database tables — one for passwords, one for the activity log — and registered its default settings.
Check it worked
Open Password Protected → Settings. You should see Enable global protection switched off, with Administrator and Editor already ticked under Role bypass.