> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ctracker-docs.keywordrush.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ctracker-docs.keywordrush.com/start-here/requirements-and-installing.md).

# Requirements and installing

### What you need

* **WordPress 7.0** or later
* **PHP 8.0** or later
* WordPress cron working normally

Cashback Tracker does a lot of its work in the background — importing orders, refreshing shops, sending the summary email. If cron is disabled or blocked on your host, those jobs never run. See [Scheduled tasks](/running-your-site/scheduled-tasks.md) if you are not sure.

You will also need an account with at least one affiliate network. You do not need one to install the plugin and look around — [the sandbox](/running-your-site/sandbox.md) gives you a fake network with fake shops and orders to practise on.

### Installing

1. In WordPress, go to `Plugins` → `Add New` → `Upload Plugin`.
2. Choose the ZIP file you downloaded and press **Install Now**.
3. Press **Activate**.

A **Cashback Tracker** menu appears in the left sidebar.

{% hint style="info" %}
If you are replacing version 2, read [Upgrading from version 2](/start-here/upgrading-from-v2.md) **before** you activate. The upgrade is one-way.
{% endhint %}

### What activation sets up

You do not have to do any of this yourself — it happens the moment you activate:

* A **Cashback shop** post type, where your shop pages live
* A **shop category** taxonomy for grouping them
* A **member account page**, created as a normal WordPress page
* The plugin's own database tables, for orders, coupons, balances and the log
* Permalinks are refreshed, so shop URLs work straight away

![The Cashback Tracker menu in wp-admin](https://3545740495-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-M69sU0hfZj3QsteYxmI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5d3adc0828ac4a1877d7241e3f534ebde853e8a6%2Fmenu-sidebar.webp?alt=media)

### First things to do

In this order:

1. **Enter your license key.** `Cashback Tracker` → `License`. Until you do, there are no automatic updates. See [License and updates](/start-here/license-and-updates.md).
2. **Set your site currency.** `Settings` → `General` → **Currency and cashback**. See [Currency and exchange rates](/how-cashback-works/currency.md).
3. **Connect a network**, or switch the sandbox on to practise. See [Adding a network](/affiliate-networks/adding-a-network.md).
4. **Work through** [Quick start](/start-here/quick-start.md).

{% hint style="warning" %}
**The site currency is a one-time choice.** Every piece of cashback is converted into it, so it cannot be meaningfully changed once real money is recorded. Pick the currency you will actually pay your members in.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Upgrading from version 2 rather than installing fresh? You will also be asked to initialize the cashback ledger before anything is recorded — see [Upgrading from version 2](/start-here/upgrading-from-v2.md). A new site skips that: with no order history to bring across, the ledger records from the first order.
{% endhint %}

### If shop pages show "Page not found"

Go to `Settings` → `Permalinks` and press **Save Changes** without altering anything. That rebuilds WordPress's URL rules. Activation does this for you, but some setups — particularly a plugin restored from a backup or copied between servers — can end up with stale rules.

### Removing the plugin

Deactivating stops all background work and leaves everything else alone, so you can deactivate and reactivate safely.

Deleting the plugin removes its tables and settings. **Your shop pages, coupons and member balances go with them.** Take a database backup first if there is any chance you will want them back.