How to install and uninstall a module in Drupal CMS?

Drupal Modules are great way to extend your Drupal website. A Drupal module is a collection of files containing some functionality and is written in PHP. It can be installed and uninstalled. In this post, we will see how to install Drupal modules the standard way and to uninstall Drupal Modules.

How to install modules in Drupal?
There are basically three common ways to install Drupal modules which is popular, besides using "drush". One can install Drupal Modules by either of the following ways:

• Install Drupal Modules from FTP
• Install Drupal Modules by uploading downloaded zip/tar files
• Install Drupal Modules by unpacking downloaded zip/tar files in the sites/all.modules directory and then enabling the modules from the admin's modules page.

The standard way is to install modules from the "Modules" page. In the modules page, the list of modules are displayed, some are enabled and some are disabled. In the same page we have the "Install a new module" link, from which we can install new modules. 

There is no "install a new module" link on the Drupal Modules page?
If you do not see a link which says "Install a new module", enable the following module - "Update Manager". It should be available in the list as it is include in Drupal Core by default, but may be disabled. 

• Login as admin and navigate to "Modules" page
• From the list of modules,enable the "Update Manager" module. 
• After enabling the "Update Manager" module, you should have a link called "Install a new module". 
• Click on it and upload the module if you have downloaded it or provide the FTP link to the module to install. 
• After installing, activate the module. While activating the modules, check the dependencies.

How to uninstall Drupal Modules?
Deactivating Drupal Modules and Uninstalling are different things. While we can deactivate Drupal Modules if not in use and reactivate the same modules when required, uninstalling the modules will remove the modules and the module files. If the uninstalled modules are required again, the same have to be installed as discussed above. 

To disable a Drupal Module:

• Login as admin and navigate to "Modules" page
• From the list of modules, disable the module intended by unchecking or if you are using, modules filter, click to turn it off.
• Save configuration

To uninstall a Drupal Module:

• Login as admin and navigate to "Modules" page
• In the modules page, click on the "Uninstall" tab
• Check the module to uninstall and click "Uninstall".

•  Confirm the module uninstall
  

The module files should also have been deleted from the "site/all/modules" directory. If not, it can be manually deleted.