Install Guide
Two install paths. If your site runs WordPress, use the one-click plugin install. For any other site, download the zip. Both take under two minutes. If something doesn't work, the fixes below cover 95% of cases.
Is it safe to install?
Yes. BibleBridge is open-source and security scanned. On WordPress it installs as a standard plugin through your admin — isolated from your other files like any other plugin. On any other site it runs inside its own folder without touching your existing database or pages.
- Open-source and auditable — standalone source on GitHub, plugin source in the WordPress.org plugin directory
- No database tables created, no config files modified outside the plugin's own scope
- Clean uninstall: Deactivate and Delete in WordPress admin, or delete the folder on a standalone install
Install on WordPress (easiest)
If your site runs WordPress, install the plugin from the WordPress.org plugin directory. No download, no file upload, no config file to edit.
- In WordPress admin, go to Plugins → Add New
- Search for BibleBridge
- Click Install Now, then Activate
Your Bible is live at yoursite.com/bible. A free API key (250 requests/day) is auto-provisioned on activation — no manual key setup.
Install on any other site (zip upload)
For sites not running WordPress — static hosts, custom stacks, shared hosting with plain PHP — download the zip and upload it to your server.
Requirements
- PHP 7.4 or newer
- Apache with
mod_rewrite(or nginx with equivalent rewrites) - Outbound HTTPS allowed (to reach the BibleBridge API)
- Shared hosting, VPS, or managed host — all fine
Install in 3 steps
- Download the zip from the home page (289 KB).
- Unzip and upload the files into a subfolder named
/biblebridgeon your web server. Use cPanel's File Manager, FTP (FileZilla), or SFTP — whichever your host supports. - Visit
yoursite.com/biblebridge/setupin your browser. Enter your site name. Done.
The reader auto-provisions a free API key on first load (250 requests/day). No manual key setup.
Common issues and fixes
Setup page doesn't load — shows 404 or "Forbidden"
Likely: mod_rewrite isn't enabled on your host.
Fix: Contact your host and ask them to enable mod_rewrite. Most shared hosts have it on by default. As a workaround, visit /setup.php directly (the full file path) instead of the clean URL.
"Undefined function mb_strlen" or mbstring errors
Likely: the PHP mbstring extension isn't installed (common on x10hosting and some shared hosts).
Fix: The reader includes a polyfill in config.php that should handle this automatically. If you still see errors, contact your host and ask them to enable the mbstring PHP extension — it's standard and free.
White page or "PHP parse error"
Likely: Your host runs PHP older than 7.4.
Fix: In your hosting panel, look for "PHP Version" or "PHP Selector" and switch to 7.4 or higher (8.0+ recommended). Every modern host supports this.
"Connection failed" when setup runs
Likely: Your host blocks outbound HTTPS.
Fix: Contact your host and confirm outbound HTTPS to the BibleBridge API is reachable. If not, you may need to allow it or use a different host.
Setup finished but reader shows "reader is busy"
Likely: You've hit the Free tier's 250 requests/day cap.
Fix: This is normal — the reader will serve again at midnight UTC. If this happens regularly, upgrade to Growth or Scale on the pricing page.
Uninstalling
WordPress: Plugins → Deactivate, then Delete. Removes the plugin cleanly; nothing else on your site is touched.
Any other site: Delete the folder where you uploaded the files. That's it. No database tables created, no config files modified outside that folder.