# Get Started with WordPress
This guide takes you from a fresh download to a WordPress site that's automatically protected — no code required.
## Before you begin
You'll need:
- A WordPress site compatible with WordPress up to version 7.0, running **PHP 8.1 or later**.
- Admin access to the WordPress dashboard, to upload and activate the plugin.
## Step 1 — Download the plugin
The plugin isn't distributed through the WordPress Plugin Directory, so it's installed manually. Download the latest `altcha.zip` from the [GitHub releases page](https://github.com/altcha-org/altcha-wordpress-next/releases).
Download altcha.zip
## Step 2 — Upload and activate
1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to **Plugins → Add Plugin → Upload Plugin**.
2. Choose the `altcha.zip` file you downloaded and click **Install Now**.
3. Go to **Plugins**, find **ALTCHA: Anti-Spam Protection**, and click **Activate**.
A new **ALTCHA** menu appears in your admin sidebar.
## Step 3 — Confirm it's protecting your site
The plugin protects WordPress login, registration, and comment forms automatically — no configuration needed. Open one of those forms and check your browser's developer console; you should see a log line from the ALTCHA Interceptor when the form is submitted. See [Troubleshooting](/docs/wordpress/troubleshooting/#checking-if-altcha-is-verifying) if you don't.
## Step 4 — Protect a custom form (optional)
Most popular form plugins (WPForms, Gravity Forms, Contact Form 7, WooCommerce, and more) are protected automatically too — see the full list on the [Advanced](/docs/wordpress/advanced/#plugin-integrations) page.
To add ALTCHA to a custom form or template, drop in the shortcode:
```
[altcha]
```
See [Advanced](/docs/wordpress/advanced/#shortcode) for shortcode attributes.
## Next steps
- **[Features](/docs/wordpress/features/)** — what the plugin protects and how.
- **[Configuration](/docs/wordpress/configuration/)** — modes, verification bypass, and the firewall.
- **[Advanced](/docs/wordpress/advanced/)** — shortcodes, hooks, and plugin-specific setup.