How to Install WordPress

What Installing WordPress Involves

Installing WordPress means getting the WordPress software running on a hosting account. A database gets created, WordPress’s files get placed in the right directory, and an admin account gets set up to log in and manage the site. On WordPress hosting and most managed hosting plans this is automated by a one-click installer. On more general-purpose shared hosting it’s usually still one click through cPanel, just via a slightly different tool (Softaculous or the host’s own installer).

Prerequisites Before Installing

• An active hosting account with either a one-click installer available, or database-creation access if installing manually.
• A domain or temporary URL pointed at the hosting account, so the install has somewhere to live.
• Database credentials if installing manually — a database name, username, and password created in advance through the panel.
• A decision on where WordPress will live: the domain root, or a subdirectory/subdomain for staging or testing.

Step-by-Step: How to Install WordPress

Launch the WordPress Installer in cPanel

1. Log in to the hosting panel. Most hosts surface a “WordPress” or “Install Applications” icon directly in cPanel or their custom dashboard.
2. Launch the WordPress installer and select the domain (or subdomain) it should install to.
3. Set the site title, admin username, and admin password. Avoid the default “admin” username. It’s the first guess in most brute-force attempts.
4. Choose the install directory. Leave it blank to install at the domain root; enter a folder name to install into a subdirectory instead.

Finish the Database Setup and Log In to wp-admin

5. Submit and wait for the installer to finish. This typically takes under a minute — it creates the database, writes the config file, and installs WordPress core automatically.
6. Log in to /wp-admin using the admin credentials just created.

Set the Permalink Structure and Clean Up Defaults

7. Set the permalink structure under Settings → Permalinks. Post name is the standard SEO-friendly choice, rather than leaving the default query-string URLs.
8. Delete the default “Hello World” post and sample page, and remove any theme or plugins bundled by the installer that won’t be used.

Verifying the Install

Confirm the install worked by loading the site’s homepage in a browser, not just /wp-admin, and checking that a default theme renders without errors. Then log back into /wp-admin, go to Settings → General, and confirm the WordPress Address and Site Address both show the correct domain over HTTPS. A quick check under Tools → Site Health flags any obvious PHP or permission issues left over from the install.

Common Errors When Installing WordPress

• “Error establishing a database connection” immediately after install — usually a mismatched database name, username, or password in the config file; see error establishing a database connection for the fix path.
• Blank white screen instead of the site — typically a PHP memory limit or plugin conflict, not a failed install itself.
• Install finishes but the domain still shows the host’s default page — DNS for the domain hasn’t finished pointing at the hosting account yet.
• Permalinks return a 404 after being changed — the server’s rewrite rules need refreshing, usually fixed by re-saving the Permalinks settings page once more.

Setting Up a Staging Site First

Anyone planning real content, theme customization, or plugin testing before launch should consider installing into a staging environment first, rather than directly on the live domain. This avoids exposing a half-finished install to search engines and visitors. Many managed hosting and WordPress hosting plans include a built-in staging tool that clones the live install rather than requiring a second manual installation.

What Comes After Installing WordPress

Once WordPress is running, the next steps are usually installing an SSL certificate if it wasn’t automatic (see how to install an SSL certificate), and setting up a real backup routine before adding content (see how to back up a website). Anyone migrating an existing WordPress site rather than starting fresh should use how to migrate a WordPress site instead of a clean install, to avoid rebuilding content from scratch. Anyone still comparing providers before committing should check best WordPress hosting. The install steps above are the same regardless of host, but the starting panel and pre-tuning vary.

FAQ

Do I need FTP to install WordPress? No, not for a one-click install through the hosting panel. FTP/SFTP is only needed for manual installs or when uploading themes/plugins outside the WordPress admin.

Can I install WordPress on any type of hosting? Yes, WordPress runs on shared, VPS, dedicated, and cloud hosting. WordPress hosting plans are pre-tuned specifically for it, with caching, PHP versions, and security rules configured in advance.

How long does a WordPress install take? The automated install itself takes under a minute. Setting up permalinks, removing default content, and installing a theme typically adds another 10–15 minutes.

What if I already have a WordPress site somewhere else? Use a migration process rather than a fresh install. See how to migrate a WordPress site to move an existing site’s content, database, and settings intact.