Fresh Install Assistant (FIA)
Automates WordPress initial setup by cleaning default content, creating essential pages, and optionally installing popular themes.
Consider an alternative
Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Is rated 5/5 and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 37/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (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 Fresh Install Assistant (FI… stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| cleanup | >100 |
| fresh install | #19 |
| remove sample post | >100 |
| setup | >100 |
| wordpress setup | >100 |
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews
About Fresh Install Assistant (FIA)
From the official readme · v1.0.3Description
Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) is a WordPress plugin designed to streamline the initial setup process of new WordPress installations. It automates common cleanup tasks, creates essential pages, and optionally installs popular themes, significantly reducing the time needed to prepare a fresh WordPress site for development or production.
What This Plugin Does
Essential Cleanup (8 tasks):
* Removes the default “Hello World” post
* Removes the default “Sample Page”
* Changes the name and slug of “Uncategorized” category to “Blog”
* Sets the permalink structure to /%postname%/
* Removes “Hello Dolly” plugin
* Removes “Akismet” plugin
* Disables comments and pingbacks site-wide
* Hides dashboard widgets (Quick Draft, At a Glance, Activity, etc.)
Initial Site Setup (5 tasks):
* Sets custom site title and tagline
* Creates starter pages: Home, Services, About, Contact, and Blog
* Sets the Home page as the front page
* Sets the Blog page as the posts page (optional)
* Creates a main navigation menu with these pages
Theme Installation (Optional):
Choose to install and activate one of these popular themes:
* Astra
* GeneratePress
* OceanWP
* Blocksy
* Neve
* Hello Elementor
* Kadence
Smart Detection
The plugin intelligently checks before making changes:
* Verifies if default posts/pages exist before attempting deletion
* Checks if plugins are present before removal
* Detects if pages already exist before creation
* Confirms current settings before making updates
This prevents errors and provides clear feedback about what actions were actually necessary.
How It Works
- Activation: Upon plugin activation, you’ll be automatically redirected to the setup page
- Configuration: Select which tasks you want to perform (all are selected by default)
- Execution: Click “Run Setup” to start the automated process
- Results: View detailed results showing completed, skipped, and failed tasks
- Auto-deactivation: The plugin automatically deactivates itself after successful completion
Perfect For
- Developers who frequently set up new WordPress installations
- Agencies managing multiple client sites
- Anyone wanting to quickly clean up and configure a fresh WordPress installation
Installation
- Upload the plugin files to the
/wp-content/plugins/fresh-install-assistantdirectory, or install the plugin through the WordPress plugins screen directly. - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ screen in WordPress
- You will be automatically redirected to the setup page
- Select your desired options and click “Run Setup”
- The plugin will process your selections and display the results
- After completion, the plugin will automatically deactivate itself
Frequently asked questions
Will this plugin work on existing sites?
Yes, but it’s designed primarily for fresh installations. The smart detection system will skip tasks that aren’t applicable (e.g., won’t delete pages that don’t exist).
Can I run the plugin multiple times?
Yes, the plugin checks before making changes, so it’s safe to run multiple times. However, it will skip tasks that have already been completed.
What happens after the setup is complete?
The plugin displays detailed results and then automatically deactivates itself after 5 seconds to keep your plugins list clean.
Is it safe to use?
Yes, the plugin includes security measures like capability checks, nonce verification, and data sanitization. It only performs the specific tasks listed and nothing more.
Changelog
Improved checkbox behavior for better user experience when selecting pages.
1.0.3
- Fixed “Create starter pages” checkbox behavior to remain checked when any pages are selected
- Improved user experience for partial page selection
1.0.2
- Changed plugin abbreviation from FIS to FIA (Fresh Install Assistant)
- Updated all references throughout the plugin for consistency
1.0.1
- Improved “Create starter pages” option with individual page selection
- Fixed bug where Blog page was automatically created even when not selected
- Fixed issue with setting Blog page as posts page when not created
- Updated plugin name to include (FIA) abbreviation
- Enhanced user control over page creation process
1.0.0
- Initial release
- Essential cleanup tasks
- Page and menu creation
- Theme installation options
- Smart detection system
- Auto-deactivation feature
Screenshots
For developers
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FAQ
Fresh Install Assistant (FIA): quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 17, 2026
Is Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) free?
Yes. Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) safe to use in 2026?
Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Is rated 5/5 and was last updated 1 year ago, and scores 37/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Fresh Install Assistant (FIA)?
Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 1,413 times since it launched in August 2025. It was downloaded 143 times in the last 30 days.
Does Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) work with WordPress 7.1?
Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) is officially tested up to WordPress 6.8.11, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) need?
Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) requires PHP 7.2 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.3, was released on September 21, 2025 (1 year ago).
Who makes Fresh Install Assistant (FIA)?
Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) is developed and maintained by Thushara Lakshan.
What are the best alternatives to Fresh Install Assistant (FIA)?
The most popular alternatives to Fresh Install Assistant (FIA) are WP-Sweep (100K+ installs), Simple Revisions Delete (10K+ installs) and Delete Duplicate Posts (10K+ installs).
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