--- title: "How to customize a WordPress site and the Nexcess MAPPS MU (must-use) plugin" source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/managed-woocommerce/plugin-management/customize-mu-plugin/" description: "Learn how to customize a WordPress site! Leverage the Nexcess MAPPS MU (must-use) plugin to enhance your site's performance, design, features, support, integrat…" vertical: "Sites & Stores" date: "2023-03-01" last_modified: "2026-07-02" --- # How to customize a WordPress site and the Nexcess MAPPS MU (must-use) plugin Let’s start with the **WordPress** basics. Then, we will see how to customize WordPress site. Understanding the **Nexcess MAPPS MU (must-use) plugin** is an essential part of the process. What is a plugin, anyway? ## What is a plugin in the context of WordPress? > A plugin in **WordPress** is a software component that makes it possible for developers to add features and customization to their websites. ### About the WordPress plugin directory There is a multitude of plugins available that extend **WordPress** functionality to meet the demands of each user. The best way to find safe plugins for your website is with the [**WordPress plugin directory**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/). ### About the plugins installed with Managed WordPress by Nexcess Many of the plugins we install with our [**Managed WordPress**](https://www.liquidweb.com/wordpress-hosting/managed-wordpress/) and **[Managed WooCommerce](https://www.liquidweb.com/woocommerce-hosting/managed-woocommerce/)** platform include [**Akismet,**](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/managed-magento/store-management/dev-site-for-magento-2/) [**Redis Cache**](https://www.nexcess.net/_questions/814067), **[CDN Enabler](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/performance/content-delivery-networks-cdns/nexcess/wordpress-and-cdn-enabler/),** and the [**Nexcess Managed Applications (MAPPS) MU (must-use) plugin**](https://gist.github.com/lukecav/43bcc7e73f1684b60de3e0c4fd0de01c). as documented on [**GitHub Gist**](https://www.liquidweb.com/blog/what-is-a-github-gist/). ## Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin and its features With the help of our **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin,** you can easily install several licensed plugins that **Nexcess** provides for you as part of your [**Managed WordPress**](https://www.liquidweb.com/wordpress-hosting/managed-wordpress/) and **[Managed WooCommerce](https://www.liquidweb.com/woocommerce-hosting/managed-woocommerce/)** experience. Add and install plugins with the simple click of a button! Please ensure that when installing plugins, you are only picking those that best fit your website’s setup and do not conflict with any existing plugins already on your site. This minimizes bloat, plugin conflicts, and helps ensure your site is running as optimized as possible. The plugins provided to you in the **Nexcess MAPPS MU Plugin** should add to your experience should you need them, but if you prefer existing plugins already on your site, that is perfectly fine as well. Use what works best for you and your team! ## Licensed Nexcess WordPress plugins To get an idea of some of the valuable licensed plugins provided by **Nexcess**, review the [**Nexcess-provided WordPress plugins for ecommerce and sites**](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/managed-woocommerce/plugin-management/ecommerce-plugins/) article: > **Managed WordPress** and **Managed WooCommerce** sites on **Nexcess** come with multiple plugin options. For **Managed WordPress** and **WooCommerce** plans, this includes **Astra Pro**, **Beaver Builder**, and several premium plugins. > > The **[Nexcess Installer](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/managed-woocommerce/plugin-management/installer-plugin/)** plugin makes it easy to install and manage the plugins that are included with your **Managed WordPress** or **Managed WooCommerce** plans. > > **How Do You Access Them?** > > 1\. Log in to your **WordPress Admin Panel**. > > 2\. From the admin panel, select **Nexcess > Install Plugins**. > > 3\. In the **Performance** section, use the checkboxes to select the plugins you want to install. > > 4\. In the **Features** section, use the checkboxes to select the plugins you want to install. > > 5\. Click **Activate.** > > 6\. A success message will appear once your chosen plugins have been installed. ## How to customize your WordPress site using the Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin Some of the plugins provided in the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** are based on several categories. Those categories are **Performance**, **Design**, **Features**, **Support**, **Integrations**, **Security**, and **Revenue**. Here are the most common ones provided on our standard [**Managed WordPress**](https://www.liquidweb.com/wordpress-hosting/managed-wordpress/) and **[Managed WooCommerce](https://www.liquidweb.com/woocommerce-hosting/managed-woocommerce/)** plans. Pick and choose the plugins that best suit your needs. ### Performance — how to customize WordPress site The performance-related plugins provided are as follows: - [**Async JavaScript**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/async-javascript/) - [**Autoptimize**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/autoptimize/) - [**BJ Lazy Load**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/bj-lazy-load/) - [**Compress JPEG and PNG Images**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/compresswp-optimize-and-compress-jpeg-and-png-images/) - [**Lazy Load for Comments**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/lazy-load-for-comments/) - [**Nexcess Plugin Performance Monitor**](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/managed-wordpress/plugin-management/performance-monitor/) - [**Object Cache Pro**](https://objectcache.pro/) ### Design — how to customize WordPress site The design-related plugins provided are as follows: - [**Elementor**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/elementor/) - [****Kadence Blocks****](https://wordpress.org/plugins/kadence-blocks/) - [****Qubely Pro****](https://wordpress.org/plugins/qubely/) - [**Starter Templates by Kadence WP**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/kadence-starter-templates/) - [**WordPress Gallery Plugin – NextGEN Gallery**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/nextgen-gallery/) ### Features — how to customize WordPress site The features-related plugins provided are as follows: - [**Beaver Builder Lite**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/beaver-builder-lite-version/) - [**Classic Editor**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/classic-editor/) - [**Ninja Forms**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/ninja-forms/) - [**Solid Central**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Pretty Links**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/pretty-link/) - [**SliceWP**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/slicewp/) - [**Weglot Translate**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/weglot/) - [**WPForms Lite**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wpforms-lite/) - [**Yoast SEO**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wordpress-seo/) ### Support — how to customize WordPress site The support-related plugins provided are as follows: - [**Accessibility Checker**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/accessibility-checker/) ### Integrations — how to customize WordPress site The integrations-related plugins provided are as follows: - [**Braintree for WooCommerce**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce-gateway-paypal-powered-by-braintree/) - [**Fast Checkout for WooCommerce**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/fast-checkout-for-woocommerce/) - [**HubSpot**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/leadin/) ### Security — how to customize WordPress site The security-related plugins provided are as follows: - [**Site Password/Password Protected**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/password-protected/) - [**Solid Security Pro**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) ### Revenue — how to customize WordPress site The revenue-related plugins provided are as follows: - [****Nexcess Sales Performance Monitor****](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/managed-woocommerce/plugin-management/sales-performance-monitor/) - [**Recapture for WooCommerce**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/recapture-for-woocommerce/) - [****Recapture for Easy Digital Downloads****](https://wordpress.org/plugins/recapture-for-edd/) - [**Recapture for Restrict Content Pro**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/recapture-for-restrict-content-pro/) ### WooCommerce — how to customize WordPress site The WooCommerce-related plugins provided are as follows: - [**AffiliateWP**](https://affiliatewp.com/) - [**AffiliateWP + Direct Link Tracking**](https://affiliatewp.com/pricing/) - [**Astra Pro**](https://wpastra.com/pro/) - [**Braintree for WooCommerce**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce-gateway-paypal-powered-by-braintree/) - [**Convert Pro**](https://www.convertpro.net/) - [**Custom Product Tabs for WooCommerce**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/yikes-inc-easy-custom-woocommerce-product-tabs/) - [**Fast Checkout for WooCommerce**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/fast-checkout-for-woocommerce/) - [**Glew**](https://www.glew.io/) - [**Iconic WP Flux Checkout for WooCommerce**](https://software.liquidweb.com/) - [**Iconic WP Sales Booster**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Iconic WP Wishlists for WooCommerce** ](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Iconic WP WooCommerce Attribute Swatches**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Iconic Wp WooCommerce Bundled Products**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Iconic WP WooCommerce Custom Fields for Variations**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Iconic WP WooCommerce Delivery Slots**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Iconic WP WooCommerce Linked Variations**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Iconic WP WooCommerce Product Configurator**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Iconic WP WooCommerce QuickTray**](https://www.liquidweb.com/help-docs/software/kadence/iconic/quicktray/) - [**Iconic WP WooCommerce Quickview**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Iconic WP WooCommerce Show Single Variations**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Iconic WP WooThumbs for WooCommerce**](https://www.liquidweb.com/software/kadence/add-ons/) - [**Jetpack Professional**](https://jetpack.com/) - [**Purchased Items Column for WooCommerce**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/purchased-items-column-woocommerce/) - [**Ultimate Addons for Beaver Builder Lite**](https://www.ultimatebeaver.com/) - [**Validar for WooCommerce**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/validar-for-woocommerce/) - [**WooCommerce**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce/) - [**WooCommerce Custom Thank You Pages**](https://woocommerce.com/products/custom-thank-pages/) - [**WooCommerce PayPal Checkout Gateway**](https://woocommerce.com/document/woocommerce-paypal-payments/) - [**WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce-pdf-invoices-packing-slips/) - [**WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce-gateway-stripe/) - [**WP101 Tutorials**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp101/) - [**WP All Import**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-all-import/) - [**WP All Import + WooCommerce addon**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocommerce-xml-csv-product-import/) - **[WP All Import Pro](https://www.wpallimport.com/pricing/)** ## More details about licensed Nexcess WordPress plugins You can view descriptions for the plugins provided with our [**Managed WooCommerce**](https://www.liquidweb.com/woocommerce-hosting/managed-woocommerce/) and [**Managed WordPress**](https://www.liquidweb.com/wordpress-hosting/managed-wordpress/) plans in the **[Nexcess-Provided WordPress plugins for ecommerce and sites](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/managed-woocommerce/plugin-management/ecommerce-plugins/)** article. Besides being able to install plugins with the click of a button, the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** can do so much more. The **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** features also include **Page Cache** and **Performance Monitoring,** helping you develop and customize your **WordPress** site to the next level. ### Full page cache The **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** has been integrated with a full-page cache. This eliminates the need for extra fluff or external plugins that might blog down your system. For example, you could use the **Integrated Page Cache** instead of the **Cache Enabler** plugin. Meaning you can now manage page caching directly from the **Nexcess MAPP MU plugin** out of the box. You can manage these features, including enabling and disabling page cache via the options located at **Nexcess > Page Cache** within **WP Admin**. ### Plugin performance monitoring The **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** also comes outfitted with the [**Nexcess Plugin Performance Monitor**](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/managed-wordpress/plugin-management/performance-monitor/) where you can view automated performance tests to run daily on your site. It will display test results at the top of the page and make recommendations on how you can improve your site performance. ### Sales performance monitoring The **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** also comes with the [**Nexcess Sales Performance Monitor plugin**](https://www.liquidweb.com/open-source-hosting/sales-performance-monitor/) for your online store. It delivers weekly insights to your inbox to keep you aware of slowdowns and demand. Review revenue trends to help you stay profitable. ### How to customize WordPress plugins There are times when you can’t seem to find the right plugin to do the job. Or you will have a plugin that could use a little tweaking to fit your needs better. Welcome to the world of plugin customization! Before we start customizing the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin**, let’s talk briefly about **WordPress** and its customizability. **WordPress** is a highly customizable **Content Management System (CMS)** with thousands of [**plugins to choose from**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/) to get the functionality you want to incorporate into your site. Are you just getting started customizing **WordPress**? You can learn more about it by reading relevant articles on the **[Liquid Web WordPress site](https://www.liquidweb.com/wordpress/build/).** If you can’t find a plugin that meets your needs, you can develop your own or customize one that already contains similar functionality to what you want. Taking this step allows you to add specific features and customizations to your website. A specific class of plugins called **Must-Use (MU)** plugins get activated when **WordPress** runs. This feature is for functionality that can’t be changed once **WordPress** is running, and the **MU** plugin will not stop running until it is uninstalled entirely. As a part of your subscription to **Managed WordPress** with **Nexcess** hosting, the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** is installed to help you manage your site with better insights into your site’s performance. As a **[Managed WordPress customer](https://www.liquidweb.com/wordpress-hosting/managed-wordpress/)** or a [**Managed WooCommerce customer**](https://www.liquidweb.com/woocommerce-hosting/managed-woocommerce/), you have access to easy installation of a number of plugins via the **Nexcess Installer**. To see the full list of available plugins in the **Nexcess Installer** broken down by function, sign into the Admin Panel of your website, then hover or click on **Nexcess** and then click on **Install Plugins:** ![To see the full list of available plugins in the Nexcess Installer broken down by function, sign into the Admin Panel of your website, then hover or click on Nexcess and then click on Install Plugins:](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/48e5887a6f8dcc06ed06eff42158460480f18732-1094x426-1.jpg)### Plugins available from the Nexcess Installer From the **Nexcess Installer**, you can install plugins from multiple categories. Those categories with a few examples include, **Performance** (Async JavaScript, BJ Lazy Load), **Features** (Classic Editor, Pretty Links), **Integrations** (PayPal for WooCommerce, Jetpack Professional), **Revenue** (Affiliate WP), **Design** (Ninja Forms, Elementor), **Security** (Solid Security Pro, Password Protected), **Support** (Solid Central), and **Themes** (Kadence). In addition to the plugins available for easy installation in the **Nexcess Installer**, the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** also provides a built-in **Performance Monitor**, **Full Page Cache** solution, and for [**Managed WooCommerce**](https://www.liquidweb.com/woocommerce-hosting/managed-woocommerce/) customers, **Automated Testing.** Having these options built-in allows the elimination of other plugins that might slow down your site’s performance. Additionally, this allows you to manage all three from the same dashboard within the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin**: ![This allows you to manage all three from the same dashboard within the Nexcess mu-plugin.](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/028c23fbcfdf62c472574e8c3f601511a5663130-795x167-1.jpg)## WordPress custom plugin development vs. extending the Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin All of this is great, but what if it isn’t quite what you need? There are two options ahead of you. You can move forward with a custom **WordPress** plugin, or you can extend the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin**. ### Developing a custom WordPress plugin There are also plugins available that allow you to customize your store if you are a **WooCommerce** user, like [**StoreCustomizer (formerly WooCustomizer)**](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocustomizer/), without touching code. Be sure to check plugins like these closely to make sure they are not a security risk. If you decide to go the route of developing your own **WordPress** plugin, there are a few things to do. Of course, if you are not comfortable with writing it yourself, you can hire a developer to create what you are looking for. It’s worth hiring someone if you are able — someone with experience is less likely to send your site into a bad state and cause issues for you and your customers. However, if you’d like to forge ahead writing it yourself, here are some tips and tricks to remember while writing your customized plugin. #### Taking a backup No matter your path, take a backup of your site before you get started. Backups allow you to reset the site if things get into a state that seems irreversible or unfixable. Also, don’t forget to back up your database as well as the files and folders in your root folder (the folder containing the **public\_html** folder, or just the **public\_html** folder, depending on how you’re set up). [**Remember that your backup process should entail creating an on-demand backup in the Nexcess Client Portal**](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/managed-woocommerce/store-management/backups/) and not storing GZ files and MySQL dumps (including GZIP compressed files) in the **public\_html** folder of the site server. #### Using a development environment It is highly recommended that you do not try customizing on a live site where you might have active users or customers. Instead, setting up a development environment on either your computer or at a separate location on your server is the best way to avoid disruption for your users. #### Options in the customization process Commonly used to customize the **WordPress** experience, your plugin may use one or all of these options. So let’s take a closer look: - **Hooks** are defined places that guide how and where plugins and themes can interact and change how the **WordPress Core** works. There are two types of **Hooks** — **Actions** and **Filters**. - **Actions** allow you to run your code at specific times in the execution of other plugins, themes, and the core of **WordPress** itself. An **Action** takes information from the running process(es) and acts on it but doesn’t return any data to the process that ran it. - **Filters**, on the other hand, allow you to change data during the running of **WordPress.** It takes in information from the **Hook**, modifies it, and returns it to the **Hook** for use later in the process. - **Callback Functions** are a required second parameter that executes when the hook is active. The **Callback** is where you should put the code to act on the information received. This **Callback Function** can go in **functions.php** or another location that is callable from where you place your **Action**. An example of an action would be if I wanted to show a greeting on the admin page: > **add\_action( ‘admin\_notices’, ‘helloAdmin’ );** > **function helloAdmin() { > // code to say hello here. > }** There is plenty more information on [**Hooks**](https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/hooks/), [**Actions**](https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/hooks/actions/), [**Filters**](https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/hooks/filters/), and [**Callbacks**](https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/hooks/actions/#create-a-callback-function) in the **WordPress** documentation if you have further questions on how to implement them. ### Customizing the Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin Another option to customize your **WordPress** and **Nexcess** experience is to customize the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin**. There are several filters available to allow you to change various presentations of the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin**. The full documentation of the [**Filters can be found on the corresponding ReadMe webpage**](https://gist.github.com/lukecav/43bcc7e73f1684b60de3e0c4fd0de01c#file-readme-md). A few highlights are covered in the sections below. #### Disabling the environment indicator ![Disable the environment indicator](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/7fe64b5a5b0dd8e27ab7e44163693e60b3c7e665-659x108-1.jpg)#### Disabling the Nexcess MAPPS dashboard ![Disable the Nexcess MAPPS dashboard](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/da296dbe4ffb91babe3f77d90625fa9c8f2f6191-550x117-1.jpg)#### Hiding the Nexcess plugin installer ![Hide the Nexcess Plugin Installer](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ad2a87a6c85823475f757a969e94ea677b58a608-598x104-1.jpg)There is much more available [**in the documentation**](https://gist.github.com/lukecav/43bcc7e73f1684b60de3e0c4fd0de01c#file-readme-md) to ensure you’re presenting the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** to your team how you desire. However, keep in mind that some of these **Filters** will need to be applied before the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** loads. To do this, you will have to create your own **MU** plugin. **WordPress** loads the **MU** plugins in alphabetical order. So to ensure your **MU** plugin is loaded before the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** (**nexcess-mapps**), you’ll want to name your **MU** plugin something like **aaa-change-nexcess-mapps** which will ensure that it loads before the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin**. ### More about creating a backup plan It’s important to note that plugin customization is not for the faint of heart. You want to make sure you are making a backup before implementing any changes to your site. You will probably also want to start in a development environment to ensure you are not creating downtime for the site or customers. If this is your first time customizing a plugin and you want to get your feet wet, reach out to your plugins developer and see if you can collaborate. That way, any changes you implement may improve the product for everyone. For example, ask if a new feature can be added or an old one removed. You also have the option of hiring a developer to create a supporting plugin to extend the current plugin’s features and functionality. ### Hooks, Actions, Filter, and Callbacks If you’re ready to dive in, then using **Hooks**, **Callbacks**, **Actions**, and **Filters** can make your plugins work for you! It’s recommended that you do not edit your theme or plugin files directly. Instead, you want to create a child theme or use a plugin like the [****StoreCustomizer/WooCustomerizer Plugin****](https://wordpress.org/plugins/woocustomizer/) that is a little more forgiving if it’s your first time. ### Hooks **WordPress** customer development tools such as **Hooks** are a way for one piece of code to complement and work in harmony with another piece of code simultaneously. For example, this how plugins and themes talk to each other or “hook in” with **WordPress** core code. #### Actions (Action Hooks) **Actions** perform a given task. They can change how **WordPress** behaves and allow you to add data using your **PHP** code. However, they do not return any data back. Their purpose is to perform an action. There are a lot of predesigned **Actions** available within **WordPress**. They will allow you to set variables and integrate your code. #### Filters (Filter Hooks) **Filters** do return data. They can also accept variables and return them. They can then send that modified data to the user. You can use them to affect how content is displayed on your site. However, they are not meant to change global variables. To leverage **Filters** use the [**add\_filter**](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/add_filter/) function. ### Callback (Callback Functions) A **Callback** is a function that is created to run after the action it is hooked to is set to run. They provide a way for running a function at a specific time during the execution of your themes, core data, or plugins. Below is an example using the **add\_action** function: > // In this example, your function will run after the name of the action you want to hook into is detected. > > add\_action ( ‘name\_of\_action\_you\_want\_to\_hook\_into’ , ‘your\_callback\_function’ ); > > function your\_callback\_function() { > \*\*\*your code here \*\*\* > > } To review existing [****Action Hooks created by WordPress, you can use the corresponding WordPress code reference page****](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/hooks/). You can use **Action Hooks,** or you and your development team can create your own. ## How to customize your WordPress Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin using Hooks Let’s use what we know. Below are some simple **WordPress Filters** you can use with our **Nexcess MAPPS MU Plugin**. Please create a backup before you make any changes to test these features out first before committing. Everyone’s setup is different so remember to use what works for you. Be sure you’re reading the comments above each function to get a clear idea of what it does. ## Customizing WordPress Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin behavior Should you need to hide or disable **Nexcess MAPPS MU Plugin** features, use the following **Filters**: > /\*\* > \* Disable the Nexcess MAPPS dashboard. > \*/ > add\_filter( ‘nexcess\_mapps\_show\_dashboard’, ‘\_\_return\_false’ ); > /\*\* > \* Disable the Nexcess plugin installer. > \*/ > add\_filter( ‘nexcess\_mapps\_show\_plugin\_installer’, ‘\_\_return\_false’ ); If you need to hide some select templates from the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin,** use the following **Filters**: > /\*\* > \* Disable the Nexcess MAPPS dashboard tab. > \*/ > add\_filter( ‘nexcess\_mapps\_branding\_enable\_dashboard\_template’, ‘\_\_return\_false’ ); > /\*\* > \* Disable the Nexcess MAPPS support page tab. > \*/ > add\_filter( ‘nexcess\_mapps\_branding\_enable\_support\_template’, ‘\_\_return\_false’ ); > /\*\* > \* Disable the Nexcess MAPPS feedback tab. > \*/ > add\_filter( ‘nexcess\_mapps\_branding\_enable\_feedback\_template’, ‘\_\_return\_false’ ); If you need to override Individual **Nexcess** templates with your own, use the following **Filters**: > add\_filter( ‘nexcess\_mapps\_branding\_template\_file’, ‘example\_custom\_template\_files’, 10, 2 ); > /\*\* > \* Change the displayed company name across the entire plugin. > \* > \* @param string $file The complete file path to the template file. > \* @param string $template Which template was requested. > \*/ > function example\_custom\_template\_files( $file, $template ) { > switch ( $template ) { > case ‘admin’ : > return ‘/path/to/template/file.php’; > break; > > default : > return $file; > break; > } > } ## Override default Visual Regression URLs This section discusses the **Managed WordPress** feature in which we take a snapshot of each site before an automatic system update is made in our environment. That can be a theme, plugin, or **PHP** update. You can tweak which pages are captured in the snapshot at **Nexcess > Dashboard > Visual Comparison** screen in **WP Admin**. Should you wish to turn these regression URLs off, use the following **Filter**: > use NexcessMAPPSSupportVisualRegressionUrl; > > /\*\* > \* Override the default visual regression testing URLs. > \* > \* @param VisualRegressionUrl\[\] $urls An array of VisualRegressionUrl objects. > \* > \* @return VisualRegressionUrl\[\] The filtered $url array. > \*/ > add\_filter( ‘nexcess\_mapps\_default\_visual\_regression\_urls’, function ( $urls ) { > return \[ > new VisualRegressionUrl( ‘/’, ‘Homepage’ ), > new VisualRegressionUrl( ‘/shop’, ‘Shop page’ ), > new VisualRegressionUrl( ‘/some-important-page’, ‘Super important page’), > // … > \]; > } ); It’s important to note that this **Filter** will only override the **default** regression URLs. Once a site has provided custom URLs, its values are stored in and read from the **“nexcess\_mapps\_visual\_regression\_urls”** area. ## Extending the Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin See the [**Building on Nexcess MAPPS**](https://gist.github.com/lukecav/43bcc7e73f1684b60de3e0c4fd0de01c) article to understand the details involved with extending the **Nexcess MAPP MU plugin**: > **Building on Nexcess MAPPS** > > Thank you for choosing to build on **Nexcess Managed Applications (MAPPS)**! > > This document is designed to explain the **Nexcess MAPPS MU plugin** and how it integrates with our platform, as well as outline the **Hooks** provided by the **MU** plugin for customers who require more control. > > **What is the MU Plugin?** > > The **Nexcess MAPPS MU Plugin** is designed to be a central place for all of **Nexcess’** customizations to **WordPress** at the application level. From cache configurations to the custom dashboard, this **MU** plugin is the entry point for everything **Managed WordPress/WooCommerce**. > > The **MU** plugin is maintained by the **Managed Applications Product Team** within **Liquid Web/Nexcess**, with new releases about once a month. Our systems automatically update the **MU** plugin, so every site on our network will be running the same version of the plugin. > > **Extending the MU Plugin** > > Considering the amount of functionality in the **MU** plugin and the fact that it’s guaranteed to be present on sites running on **Nexcess’ Managed WordPress/WooCommerce** plans, it may be tempting to (for instance) extend a class define within the **MU** plugin for your own purposes. > > However, it is not advised to rely on any existing APIs declared within the **MU** plugin, as these may change at any time. > > The exceptions to this rule are the **Hooks** outlined in this document, to which we commit to supporting for the foreseeable future. ## What to do when WordPress plugin customization goes wrong You’ve made a backup and run tests but still can’t seem to get that plugin to work how you want it. Or even worse, you’re faced with the dreaded white screen of death. The first step is not to panic. A **PHP** error usually causes this. If you just made a change, go ahead and undo it. If you made a backup of the plugin folder before edits you should grab a default copy. If you are not sure what is causing the issue, go ahead and start by disabling all your plugins. Then slowly, one at a time, turn them back on until you find the plugin responsible. If all seems correct, try increasing memory limits on your server and checking your file permissions. You want also to make sure your [**.htaccess file is correct**](https://www.nexcess.net/help/category/htaccess/). You can get to the root of the issue with a little backtracking usually. As a fallback option, you always have those backups to pull from. It’s a great idea to create your own backups, so they are as up to date as possible before you make any changes. But should the unthinkable happen and your backups are lost or unrecoverable, **Nexcess** and the **Liquid Web** family has your back! Our [**Managed WordPress**](https://www.liquidweb.com/wordpress-hosting/managed-wordpress/) platform takes nightly backups every 24 hours for 30 days on a separate drive so you can restore from. This is included free of charge to all our **[Managed](https://www.liquidweb.com/wordpress-hosting/managed-wordpress/)**[ **WordPress**](https://web.archive.org/web/20250427094306/https://www.nexcess.net/wordpress/) customers. Here at **Nexcess** and **Liquid Web** we want to provide you with all the custom plugin development tools you need so you can focus on your site-building activities.