Better Subscription Switcher Installation & activation instructions

Complete step-by-step guide for installing and activating the Better Subscription Switcher plugin.

System Requirements

WordPress Requirements

  • WordPress Version: 5.0 or higher (recommended: 6.0+)
  • PHP Version: 7.4 or higher (recommended: 8.0+)
  • MySQL Version: 5.6 or higher (recommended: 8.0+)
  • Memory Limit: 128MB minimum (recommended: 256MB+)

Required Plugins

  • WooCommerce: 3.0 or higher (recommended: 7.0+)
  • WooCommerce Subscriptions: 2.0 or higher (recommended: 4.0+)

Browser Support

  • Chrome: 90+ (recommended)
  • Firefox: 88+
  • Safari: 14+
  • Edge: 90+
  • Mobile browsers: iOS Safari 14+, Chrome Mobile 90+

Installation Methods

Method 1: WordPress Admin Upload (Recommended)

Best for: Most users, easiest method

  1. Download Plugin
    • Download `better-sub-switcher.zip` from your purchase location
    • Keep the ZIP file intact (don’t extract)
  2. Access WordPress Admin
    • Navigate to: WordPress Admin → Plugins → Add New
  3. Upload Plugin
    • Click “Upload Plugin” button at top of page
    • Click “Choose File” and select `better-sub-switcher.zip`
    • Click “Install Now”
  4. Activate Plugin
    • After installation completes, click “Activate Plugin”
    • Or go to Plugins → Installed Plugins → Activate “Better Subscription Switcher”
  5. Verify Installation
    • WordPress Admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins
    • “Better Subscription Switcher” should show as active

Method 2: FTP/SFTP Upload

Best for: Advanced users, large files, upload restrictions

  1. Extract Plugin Files
    • Extract `better-sub-switcher.zip` on your computer
    • You should see a `better-sub-switcher` folder
  2. Connect via FTP/SFTP
    • Use FileZilla, WinSCP, or hosting file manager
    • Navigate to your WordPress installation directory
  3. Upload Plugin Folder**
    • Upload to: /wp-content/plugins/
    • Final path: /wp-content/plugins/better-sub-switcher/
  4. Set File Permissions (if needed)
  5. Activate in WordPress
    • WordPress Admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins
    • Find “Better Subscription Switcher” → Click “Activate”

License Activation

Step 1: Obtain License Key

  1. Purchase Confirmation
    • Check your purchase confirmation email
    • License key should be provided with purchase
  2. Account Dashboard
    • Log into your account on the vendor’s website
    • Look for “Downloads” or “License Keys” section
  3. Support Contact
    • If you can’t find your license key, contact support
    • Have your purchase receipt ready

Step 2: Activate License

  1. Access License Settings
    • WordPress Admin → Settings → Better Sub Switcher → License Tab
  2. Enter License Key
    • Paste your license key in the “License Key” field
    • Click “Save Changes”
  3. Activate License
    • Click “Activate License” button
    • Wait for confirmation message
  4. Verify Activation
    • ✅ Status shows “Active” with green checkmark
    • ✅ “Deactivate License” button appears
    • ✅ Updates become available

License Troubleshooting

License Won’t Activate:

  • ✅ Check license key for typos
  • ✅ Ensure key isn’t already used on maximum sites
  • ✅ Verify internet connection
  • ✅ Check if license has expired

Invalid License” Error:

  • ✅ Copy and paste license key (don’t type manually)
  • ✅ Remove any extra spaces before/after key
  • ✅ Contact support to verify license status

Common Installation Issues

Issue: Plugin Won’t Upload

Error: “The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive”

Solutions:

1. Increase Upload Limits

// In wp-config.php or .htaccess

ini_set('upload_max_filesize', '64M');

ini_set('post_max_size', '64M');

ini_set('max_execution_time', 300);

2. Use FTP Method

  • Extract ZIP file locally
  • Upload via FTP/SFTP instead

3. Contact Hosting Support

  • Ask them to increase upload limits
  • Or have them install the plugin for you

Issue: White Screen After Activation

Symptoms: WordPress admin or frontend shows blank white page

Solutions:

1. Check Error Logs

# Check WordPress error log

tail -f wp-content/debug.log

# Check server error log

tail -f /var/log/apache2/error.log

2. Deactivate Plugin

# Via FTP: rename plugin folder
mv better-sub-switcher better-sub-switcher-disabled

# Via database
# Update active_plugins option to remove plugin

3. Check Compatibility

  • Verify WordPress and PHP versions
  • Check for plugin conflicts
  • Test with default theme

Issue: “Plugin Could Not Be Activated”

Common Causes:

  • Missing dependencies (WooCommerce, WooCommerce Subscriptions)
  • PHP version too old
  • Memory limit too low
  • File permission issues

Solutions:

1. Install Dependencies

Install and activate:

  • WooCommerce
  • WooCommerce Subscriptions

2. Check PHP Version

  • WordPress Admin → WooCommerce → Status → System Status
  • PHP Version should be 7.4+

3. Increase Memory Limit

// In wp-config.php
ini_set('memory_limit', '256M');

Issue: Settings Page Not Accessible

Symptoms: Settings page returns 404 or access denied

Solutions:

1. Check User Permissions

  • Ensure user has administrator role
  • Test with different admin user

2. Flush Rewrite Rules

  • WordPress Admin → Settings → Permalinks
  • Click “Save Changes” (refreshes rewrite rules)

3. Check Plugin Conflicts

  • Deactivate other plugins temporarily
  • Test if settings page becomes accessible