What The File
by Barry Kooij · Uncategorized
Also makes 7 other plugins · 51.6K+ installs across the portfolio →
What The File is the best tool to find out what template parts are used to display the page you're currently viewing!
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
B 83/100
no flags
Active installs
40K+
≈45K estimated
Momentum
-6%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “development”, “template” and “toolbar” for “currently”, “viewing” and “template parts”. “development” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “currently” sits at #13 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “template” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “viewing” sits at #16 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “toolbar” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “template parts” sits at #21 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
83 health vs 58 average across 25,756 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →6.5%
of downloads still active
At least 40K of 618.5K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,773 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 1 release in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 255 days ago, past the ~180 days where wp.org starts discounting
Tested up to WordPress 6.9.11, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 883 reviews, smoothed to 4.86★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
29
Momentum
Losing ground
-1.3
Velocity
places per keyword, 26d
5%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 26d
-1.0
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| what | #2 | #1 | — |
| template editing your tag | #10 | #7 | down 3 |
| file your tag | #14 | #9 | down 5 |
| currently | #13 | #8 | down 2 |
| file editing | #6 | #4 | up 1 |
| viewing | #16 | #11 | down 1 |
| template parts | #21 | #9 | 0 |
| template file | #10 | #10 | 0 |
| file upload | #23 | #11 | up 1 |
| file editor | #24 | #16 | down 8 |
| development your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| template your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| toolbar your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
26 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 10 listed. 16 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 3 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “development”, “template” and “toolbar” for “currently”, “viewing” and “template parts”. “development” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “currently” sits at #13 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “template” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “viewing” sits at #16 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “toolbar” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “template parts” sits at #21 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- Slipping on “file”. Down 5 places since 2026-09-19, now #14. Check what shipped around then, and what moved above you.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 19.6K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Occasionally updatedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
1
releases in the last 12 months
9mo ago
latest release · v1.6.1 · 19 Feb 2026
21
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 81% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “40K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 16 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 1 Dec 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ matthiascon1.1y ago
I got this for one purpose, and it performs that with aplomb.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ iceshade1.5y ago
I’ve been using this plugin for years and find it very useful. Only downside is some of the new themes and plugins don’t allow it to show the exact file, just the main one, which is often just a page referencing a bunch of others.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ gabrieljrubio1.6y ago
Es un plugin muy interesante y muy útil en la fase de desarrollo para ver dónde se están ejecutando realmente las funciones hookd de wordpress.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ sl1471.6y ago
cool. very helpful !!!!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ferplie1.9y ago
This plugin is GREAT for finding out which templates are being loaded on a page. If you are using a child theme, this plugin is a MUST have!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ WebAssembler2.1y ago
This plugin is really helpful for theme development when you’re unfamiliar with the codebase. It quickly lets you know what the template is – a real time saver.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Anonymous2.3y ago
Cool plugin works well so far
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ alumigroup2.3y ago
Atende as espectativas
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 1.6.1 Tweak: Tested with the latest version of WP and meta update. 1.6.1
- — Version 1.6.0 Feature: Now correctly working with the wp_body_open tag. Full template part support is back. Tweak: Used proper add_site_option argument count. props @szepeviktor Tweak: Optimized file editing allowed function. props @s 1.6.0
- — Version 1.5.4 Version and meta update. 1.5.4
- — Version 1.5.3 Appended an extra check for the Sage starter theme, props remyvv . 1.5.3
- — Version 1.5.2 Fixed a CSS bug with admin bar. 1.5.2
- — Version 1.5.1 Fixed a bug where some themes make all images display block. 1.5.1
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
5 of 8 pass · checked 27 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "What The File is the best tool to find out what template parts are used to display the page you're currentl..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 6 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 6 of 6 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions BuddyPress.
- ! Headings and lists 1 heading and 0 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ! Enough to quote 697 characters of description; under 1,000 there is little to quote.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "development", "template editing" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-07-07 50K+ → 40K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2025-07-06 40K+ → 50K+ up after 2 days in tier
- 2025-07-04 50K+ → 40K+ down after 741 days in tier
- 2023-06-24 60K+ → 50K+ down after 1320 days in tier
- 2019-11-12 50K+ → 60K+ up after 376 days in tier
- 2018-11-01 40K+ → 50K+ up after 245 days in tier
- 2018-03-01 30K+ → 40K+ up after 359 days in tier
- 2017-03-07 20K+ → 30K+ up after 354 days in tier
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Show Current Template 100K+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A -
which template file 4K+ installs · 4.2★ · 2 shared tags C - W What Template 1K+ installs · 4.1★ · 2 shared tags D
- S Show Template 60+ installs · 4.0★ · 2 shared tags D
-
Admin Bar Tools 10+ installs · 4.0★ · 2 shared tags D -
Template Kit – Import 400K+ installs · 3.6★ · 1 shared tag B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for What The File into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/what-the-file" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="What The File — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> What The File: 40K+ active installs, 4.9★ (883 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/what-the-file
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