Extension Profiles
Extension Profiles lets WordPress administrators create named “profiles” that define which plugins should be active. When a profile is activated, only the plugins in that profile are loaded for your session. Other…
Consider an alternative
Extension Profiles shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 8 months ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Extension Profiles stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| development | >100 |
| profiles | >100 |
| switching | >100 |
| testing | >100 |
| troubleshooting | >100 |
About Extension Profiles
From the official readme · v1.0.0Description
Extension Profiles lets WordPress administrators create named “profiles” that define which plugins should be active. When a profile is activated, only the plugins in that profile are loaded for your session. Other plugins are filtered out without actually being deactivated in the database.
This is ideal for:
- Development and testing – Quickly switch between different configurations without activating/deactivating plugins one by one.
- Troubleshooting – Isolate conflicts by creating minimal profiles.
- Performance testing – Compare site performance with different plugin sets.
How It Works
Extension Profiles uses a Must-Use (MU) plugin that intercepts the active plugins list before WordPress loads them. This approach:
- Never actually deactivates plugins in the database.
- Only affects the current user’s session (via a secure cookie).
- Has zero overhead when no profile is active.
- Preserves all plugin settings and data.
Features
- Taxonomy-style admin page – Familiar interface for creating and managing profiles under the Plugins menu.
- Admin bar switcher – Quickly activate or deactivate profiles from the WordPress admin bar.
- Dependency support – Automatically includes required plugins when WordPress 6.5+ “Requires Plugins” headers are present.
- Per-session isolation – Each user can activate their own profile independently.
- Plugins page notice – Clear warning banner on the Plugins page when a profile is active.
Requirements
- WordPress 6.5 or higher (for dependency resolution).
- PHP 7.4 or higher.
- Write access to the
wp-content/mu-plugins/directory.
Installation
- Upload the
extension-profilesfolder to the/wp-content/plugins/directory. - Activate the plugin through the “Plugins” menu in WordPress.
- The plugin will automatically install a Must-Use plugin file to
wp-content/mu-plugins/. - Navigate to Plugins > Profiles to create your first profile.
Frequently asked questions
Does this actually deactivate plugins?
No. Plugins remain active in the database. Extension Profiles filters which plugins are loaded per user session using a cookie-based mechanism, similar to how WordPress Health Check’s troubleshooting mode works.
Will other users be affected when I activate a profile?
No. Profiles are per-session and only affect the user who activated them. Other users and site visitors will continue to see all normally active plugins.
What happens if I deactivate Extension Profiles?
The MU-plugin filter file is automatically removed, all active sessions are cleared, and your site returns to its normal configuration immediately.
What if a profile plugin causes a fatal error and locks me out?
Extension Profiles includes an emergency disable mechanism. If a profile plugin causes errors: Admin Bar Method – If you can still access the admin bar, click “Extension Profiles” > “Emergency: Force Disable” (shown in red) to immediately disable the active profile. URL Parameter Method – Add ?ep_disable=1 to any admin URL (e.g., yoursite.com/wp-admin/?ep_disable=1) to bypass profile filtering and disable your active profile. This works even if the admin bar doesn’t load. Both methods immediately clear your session and return you to the normal plugin configuration without requiring file…
Does it work with Multisite?
Yes. Extension Profiles hooks both pre_option_active_plugins and pre_option_active_sitewide_plugins to support network-activated plugins.
What about plugin dependencies?
Extension Profiles is aware of the WordPress 6.5+ “Requires Plugins” header. When you select a plugin that depends on another, the dependency is automatically included in the profile. You will also receive a warning if you try to deselect a required dependency.
Changelog
Initial release.
1.0.0
- Initial release.
- Create and manage profiles.
- Admin bar profile switcher.
- Dependency resolution (WordPress 6.5+).
- Per-session filtering via MU-plugin.
- Plugins page active profile notice.
- Emergency disable mechanism (URL parameter + admin bar link) for profile lockout recovery.
For developers
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FAQ
Extension Profiles: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 13, 2026
Is Extension Profiles free?
Yes. Extension Profiles is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Extension Profiles safe to use in 2026?
Extension Profiles shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 8 months ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Extension Profiles?
Extension Profiles is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 461 times since it launched in February 2026. It was downloaded 42 times in the last 30 days.
Does Extension Profiles work with WordPress 7.1?
Extension Profiles is officially tested up to WordPress 6.9.10, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Extension Profiles need?
Extension Profiles requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Extension Profiles last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.0, was released on February 16, 2026 (8 months ago).
Who makes Extension Profiles?
Extension Profiles is developed and maintained by David Towoju.
What are the best alternatives to Extension Profiles?
The most popular alternatives to Extension Profiles are Query Monitor (200K+ installs), Yoast Test Helper (60K+ installs) and What The File (40K+ installs).
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