To install DayTidy in WordPress, upload the DayTidy Free ZIP, activate it, and review the few site-wide settings that affect every booking. That gives you a clean foundation before you create an event, appointment, schedule, or public booking page.
Check the requirements before uploading anything
Start in a WordPress account with administrator access. DayTidy requires PHP 7.4 or newer, and DayTidy Free is the base plugin for every installation. You only need DayTidy Pro when the workflow calls for Pro modules. WooCommerce is not a general DayTidy requirement; install it only when you plan to use the WooCommerce Cart payment method.
If this is a live site, take a current backup first. It is also worth checking Dashboard → Updates so WordPress and its active plugins are in a known state before you introduce a booking workflow.
Install DayTidy Free from the WordPress dashboard
Download the DayTidy Free installation package, then use WordPress’s standard ZIP-upload flow:
- Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
- Choose the
bookup.zipfile. - Select Install Now.
- When WordPress finishes installing the plugin, select Activate.
After activation, DayTidy appears in the WordPress admin menu. You can also install an extracted bookup folder through FTP in /wp-content/plugins/, but the dashboard upload is usually faster and less error-prone for a first installation.
Review the first DayTidy settings
Activation is the point to set the defaults that would be awkward to correct later. Open DayTidy → Settings → General and review the date format, time format, currency, and data-retention preferences.
These settings do not create an offering for you; they establish the site-wide context your future schedules, prices, and records use. Use the timezone and formats that match the business operation, then save before configuring the first booking experience.
If you are unsure which setting belongs where, use the DayTidy installation and activation documentation as the detailed reference while keeping this guide focused on the installation decision path.
Add DayTidy Pro only when you need its modules
DayTidy Pro extends DayTidy Free—it does not replace it. Keep Free installed and active, then return to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin to upload bookup-pro.zip and activate it.
Next, open DayTidy → Settings → License to enter or refresh the Pro license. Then visit DayTidy → Settings → Modules, choose the relevant category, and enable only the workflows the site needs. Depending on your package and license state, modules can cover areas such as resources, coupons, notifications, payments, the customer portal, display views, and advanced booking operations.
If a Pro capability is missing, check that DayTidy Free is active, the Pro license is valid and available, and the related module is enabled before changing anything else.
Make one quick public-page check
Do this check before building out your full catalogue. After you create and publish your first offering, open its public URL in a private browser window. If WordPress returns a 404 error, go to Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes once. This refreshes the permalink rules; you do not need to change the selected permalink structure to perform the refresh.
Also confirm that you can reach DayTidy → Settings and that the plugin is listed as active in Plugins → Installed Plugins. Those two checks catch most first-install issues before they turn into confusing public booking problems.
Avoid these installation mistakes
- Installing Pro without Free: Pro needs the Free plugin to remain active.
- Enabling every module immediately: start with the workflow you will publish first, then add modules when they solve a real need.
- Ignoring date and currency defaults: these choices influence how customers and administrators read future bookings.
- Treating WooCommerce as mandatory: it is only needed for the WooCommerce Cart payment method.
- Turning on uninstall data deletion casually: DayTidy preserves business data by default. The deletion setting is permanent, so enable it only when that is genuinely the intended outcome.
Choose the first booking flow to build
With DayTidy installed and its defaults checked, you are ready to model the first thing customers can reserve. Follow the guide to building your first DayTidy booking flow to create an offering, set availability, choose a booking option, publish the form, and test the customer journey from start to finish.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need before I install DayTidy?
You need WordPress administrator access and PHP 7.4 or newer. Install DayTidy Free for every setup. DayTidy Pro is only needed for Pro modules, and WooCommerce is only needed when you choose the WooCommerce Cart payment method.
Does DayTidy Pro replace DayTidy Free?
No. DayTidy Pro extends DayTidy Free. Keep Free installed and active, then upload and activate the Pro ZIP, activate its license, and enable only the Pro modules your workflow needs.
Why do my DayTidy offering pages show a 404 error after installation?
Open Settings → Permalinks in WordPress and click Save Changes once. This refreshes WordPress permalink rules without requiring a change to the selected structure.
Will uninstalling DayTidy delete my booking data?
DayTidy preserves its business data by default. Permanently deleting DayTidy-owned data requires explicitly enabling Delete data on uninstall under DayTidy → Settings → General → Uninstall Data Retention.