How to Install WordPress (Beginners Guide)

Table Of Content

• Getting Started with WordPress
• Pre-requisites to Install WordPress
• How to Install WordPress Manually
• How to Install WordPress on WP Engine
• How to Install WordPress using FTP
• How to Install WordPress Locally
• Configuring WordPress
• Logging into WordPress
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Install WordPress Today and Create your Site

Getting Started with WordPress

WordPress is a widely recognized and highly popular content management system that powers millions of websites around the world. It’s the go-to choice for bloggers, entrepreneurs, or small business owners, including CMS development companies, providing an accessible platform to shape and control their digital presence.

WordPress is an open-source CMS that allows users to easily develop and maintain websites without the need for extensive coding knowledge. It provides a flexible and customizable framework, enabling users to create websites for various purposes, including blogs, business websites, eCommerce stores, portfolios, and more. With its intuitive interface and extensive range of themes and plugins, WordPress empowers individuals and businesses to express their creativity and achieve their online goals.

Benefits of using WordPress

The popularity of WordPress is not without reason. Here are some key benefits that make it a preferred choice for WordPress website development:

• User-Friendly: WordPress offers a user-friendly interface, making it accessible even to individuals with limited technical expertise. You can easily create, edit, and manage content using its intuitive dashboard.
• Extensive Themes and Plugins: WordPress provides a vast library of themes and plugins, allowing you to customize the look and functionality of your website. Themes offer design flexibility, while plugins enhance your site’s features and capabilities.
• SEO-Friendly: WordPress is built with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind, enabling your website to rank higher in search engine results. It offers various SEO plugins and tools to optimize your content and improve your WordPress website’s ranking and visibility.
• Mobile Responsiveness: With the increasing use of mobile devices, having a mobile-responsive website is crucial. WordPress themes are designed to be mobile-friendly, ensuring that your website looks and functions well across different screen sizes.
• Active Community Support: WordPress has a vibrant community of developers, designers, and users who actively contribute to its growth. You can find support, resources, and tutorials online, making it easier to troubleshoot issues and enhance your website.

Pre-requisites to Install WordPress

Before installing WordPress, there are a few prerequisites you need to have in place. These requirements ensure a smooth installation process and a functional website.

Here are the key pre-requisites for installing WordPress:

• Web Hosting: You will need a web hosting provider that meets the minimum requirements for running WordPress. Look for hosting plans that offer PHP (version 7.4 or higher), MySQL (version 5.6 or higher), or MariaDB (version 10.1 or higher), and sufficient storage and bandwidth for your website.
• Domain Name: A domain name is your website’s address on the internet (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com). Before installing WordPress, you need to register a domain name with a domain registrar. Make sure to choose a domain name that reflects your brand or website’s purpose.
• Database: WordPress uses a database to store your website’s content, settings, and user information. You will need to create a MySQL or MariaDB database to connect with WordPress during the installation process. Most web hosting providers offer tools like phpMyAdmin to create and manage databases.
• FTP Client (optional): Use an FTP client to transfer files between your computer and the web server. FileZilla is a popular and free FTP client that you can use.
• Updated versions of PHP and MySQL/MariaDB: Check the latest requirements specified by WordPress and ensure that your web hosting account has the recommended versions of PHP and MySQL/MariaDB installed.
• Access to your web server: You will need access to your web server to upload WordPress files and make necessary configurations. You can use either FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or a shell (command line) to access your server.
• A Text editor: Have a text editor ready for editing configuration files if needed. You can use any text editor of your choice, such as Notepad++, Sublime Text, or Visual Studio Code.
• Web Browser: Ensure that you have a web browser installed on your computer. You will use it to access the WordPress installation and manage your website.

By ensuring that you have a suitable web hosting provider, a registered domain name, a database, and optionally, an FTP client, you’re perfectly poised to install WordPress and start constructing your website. This process could be made even smoother and more efficient if you choose to hire WordPress developers. Their expertise can help expedite the building and customization of your site, making your online presence feel quicker and more effective.

Downloading WordPress from the Official Website – Latest Version

To download the latest version of WordPress, follow these steps:

• Open your web browser and go to the official WordPress website at https://wordpress.org.
• On the homepage, you will find the “Get WordPress” button. Click on it.
• You will be redirected to the WordPress download page. Here, you will see the latest version of WordPress displayed prominently.
• Click on the “Download WordPress [version number]” button to start the download. The version number will correspond to the most recent release available.
• The WordPress installation package will be downloaded to your computer as a ZIP archive file.
• Once the download is complete, locate the downloaded ZIP file on your computer. It is usually saved in your computer’s default downloads folder.

Note: It’s important to always download WordPress from the official website to ensure you are getting the authentic and secure version.

By following these steps, you will have successfully downloaded the latest version of WordPress from the official website. The downloaded ZIP file contains all the necessary files and folders needed to proceed with the installation process.

How to Install WordPress Manually

To manually install WordPress on your web hosting account, follow these step-by-step instructions:

Download WordPress and Upload WordPress Files

• Download WordPress: Visit the official WordPress website at wordpress.org and download the latest version of WordPress.
• Extract the WordPress files: After downloading, extract the WordPress zip file to a folder on your computer.
• Set up a web server: You need web server software to run WordPress. If you don’t have one already, you can install software like Apache, Nginx, or Microsoft IIS.

Create a Database

• WordPress requires a MySQL database to store your website’s data. Access your database management tool (such as phpMyAdmin) and create a new database for your WordPress installation.
• Log in to your hosting account’s control panel.
• Locate the section for MySQL or Databases.
• Create a new database, noting the database name, username, password, and host.

• Assign the created user to the newly created database, granting all privileges.

Configure wp-config.php

• In the extracted WordPress folder, locate the “wp-config-sample.php” file and rename it to “wp-config.php”.
• Open the “wp-config.php” file in a text editor and enter your database details: database name, username, password, and host.
• Replace ‘database_name_here’ with the name of the database you created.
• Replace ‘username_here’ with the username for your database.
• Replace ‘password_here’ with the password for your database.
• Replace ‘localhost’ with the hostname of your database server (usually ‘localhost’ unless specified otherwise by your hosting provider).

Note: Make sure there are no spaces before or after your database name, username, and password.

/** The name of the database for WordPress */ 
define( 'DB_NAME', 'database_name_here' ); 
 
/** MySQL database username */ 
define( 'DB_USER', 'username_here' ); 

/** MySQL database password */ 
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'password_here'' ); 

/** MySQL hostname */ 
define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );

Run the Installation

• Open your web browser and visit your domain (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com).
• You will be prompted to choose a language for the installation. Select your preferred language and click on the “Continue” button.
• On the next screen, WordPress will display some information about the installation process. Click on the “Let’s go!” button.
• Enter the database details (database name, username, password, and host) you set up earlier.
• Click on the “Submit” button.
• WordPress will now run the installation process and create the necessary tables in the database.
• On the next screen, you will be prompted to provide some basic information about your website, such as the site title, username, password, and email address.
• Fill in the required details and click on the “Install WordPress” button.
• WordPress will finalize the installation and display a success message.

Note: Depending on where you installed the script, you will be automatically redirected to either of the following URLs: If you uploaded WordPress to the domain’s root folder, you should be redirected to:

https://example.com/wp-admin/install.php

If you uploaded WordPress to a subfolder of your domain’s directory, then the URL will be in this format:

https://example.com/yoursubfolder/wp-admin/install.php

Be sure to replace ‘example.com’ with your actual domain name.

Log in to WordPress

• After the installation is complete, you can log in to your WordPress dashboard by visiting your domain followed by “/wp-admin” (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).
• Enter the username and password you set during the installation process.
• Click on the “Log In” button.
• You are now logged in to your WordPress dashboard, and you can start customizing and managing your website.

By following these steps, you have successfully installed WordPress manually on your web hosting account. You can now begin exploring the various features and options WordPress offers to build and manage your website.

How to Install WordPress on WP Engine

Installing WordPress on WP Engine is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to install WordPress on WP Engine:

Sign in to your WP Engine Account

• Go to the WP Engine website (https://wpengine.com) and click on the “Login” button at the top right corner.
• Enter your username and password, then click “Sign In” to access your WP Engine account.

Create a WordPress Environment

• After logging in, you will be taken to the WP Engine dashboard.
• Click on the “Add New Site” button to create a new WordPress environment.

Configure Your WordPress Environment

• Enter a name for your website in the “Environment Name” field.
• Choose the data center location closest to your target audience from the “Data Center” dropdown menu.
• Select the WordPress installation type you prefer. You can choose between a “Starter” or “Advanced” install.
• Click on the “Create Environment” button to proceed.

Provide Website Information

• Fill in the required information for your website, including the domain name you want to use with this WordPress installation.
• You can choose to use an existing domain or register a new one directly through WP Engine.
• Select the desired PHP version and click on the “Add Site” button.

Wait for Environment Creation

• WP Engine will now create your WordPress environment. This process usually takes a few minutes.
• Once the environment is ready, you will be directed to the “Overview” page for your newly created site.

Set Up Administrative User

• On the “Overview” page, scroll down to the “User Portal” section.
• Click on the “Set Up” button next to “Create Your First User.”
• Enter the necessary details for your administrative user, including a username, password, and email address.
• Click on the “Create User” button.

Access Your WordPress Site

• After creating the user, you can access your WordPress site by clicking on the “Admin” button next to your site’s name on the “Overview” page.
• You will be redirected to the WordPress login page.
• Enter the username and password you set up for the administrative user.
• Click on the “Log In” button to access your WordPress dashboard.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed WordPress on WP Engine. You can now start customizing your website, installing themes and plugins, and creating content to build your online presence.

How to Install WordPress using FTP

To install WordPress using FTP (File Transfer Protocol), follow these steps:

Download WordPress

• Visit the official WordPress website at https://wordpress.org and download the latest version of WordPress.
• Extract the downloaded ZIP file on your computer.

Connect to Your Web Server

• Use an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla, Cyberduck) to connect to your web server.
• Enter your FTP credentials (host, username, password, and port) to establish the connection.
• Once connected, you will see your local computer files on the left side and the remote server files on the right side of the FTP client interface.

Upload WordPress Files

• In the remote server files pane, navigate to the root directory of your website (usually public_html or www folder).
• Select all the extracted WordPress files and folders from your local computer and upload them to the root directory of your website on the remote server.

• The FTP client will transfer the files, and it may take a few minutes depending on the size of the WordPress files and your internet connection speed.

Create a Database

• Log in to your web hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel).
• Locate the “Databases” section and select “MySQL Databases” or a similar option.
• Create a new database by providing a name and clicking on the “Create Database” button.
• Create a new database user and assign it to the database, noting down the username and password.
• Assign all privileges to the database user.

Configure wp-config.php

• On the remote server, go to the root directory of your website where you uploaded the WordPress files.
• Find the file named “wp-config-sample.php” and rename it to “wp-config.php”.
• Right-click on the file and select the “Edit” or “View/Edit” option to open it in a text editor.
• Locate the database settings section in wp-config.php.
• Replace the placeholders with your database name, username, password, and host (usually “localhost” or provided by your web host).
• Save the changes and close the file.

Run the WordPress Installation

• Open a web browser and enter your website’s URL (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com).
• The WordPress installation page will appear.
• Select your language and click on the “Continue” button.
• You will be asked to provide some details about your website, such as the site title, username, password, and email address.
• Fill in the required information and click on the “Install WordPress” button.
• WordPress will finalize the installation and show a success message.

Log in to WordPress

• After the installation is complete, you can log in to your WordPress dashboard by visiting your website’s URL followed by “/wp-admin” (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).
• Enter the username and password you set during the installation process.
• Click on the “Log In” button.
• You are now logged in to your WordPress dashboard and can start customizing and managing your website.

By following these steps, you have successfully installed WordPress using FTP. Now you can begin building your website and exploring the various features and options WordPress offers.

How to Install WordPress Locally

To install WordPress locally on your computer for development or testing purposes, follow these steps:

Set Up a Local Development Environment

• Install a local server environment on your computer. You can use software like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP, depending on your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
• Follow the installation instructions provided by the local server software to set up Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, and PHP on your computer.

Download WordPress

• Visit the official WordPress website at https://wordpress.org and download the latest version of WordPress.
• Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a folder in your local server’s document root directory.

Create a Database

• Open your local server’s control panel (e.g., XAMPP Control Panel).
• Start the Apache and MySQL/MariaDB services.
• Access phpMyAdmin or a similar tool provided by your local server software.
• Create a new database by entering a name and clicking on the “Create” button.

Configure wp-config.php

• In the WordPress folder you extracted, locate the file named “wp-config-sample.php” and rename it to “wp-config.php”.
• Open the wp-config.php file in a text editor.
• Enter your local database details in the appropriate sections.
• Replace ‘database_name_here’ with the name of the database you created.
• Replace ‘username_here’ with the username of your local database.
• Replace ‘password_here’ with the password for your local database.
• Leave the ‘localhost’ as the database host.
• Save the changes and close the file.

Run the WordPress Installation

• Open a web browser and enter the URL of your local WordPress installation (e.g., http://localhost/wordpress).
• Select your preferred language and click on the “Continue” button.
• On the next screen, WordPress will provide instructions to set up your site, including site title, username, password, and email address.
• Fill in the required information and click on the “Install WordPress” button.
• WordPress will finalize the installation, and you will see a success message.

Log in to WordPress

• After the installation is complete, you can log in to your local WordPress dashboard by visiting the admin login URL (e.g., http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin).
• Enter the username and password you set during the installation process.
• Click on the “Log In” button.
• You are now logged in to your local WordPress dashboard, and you can start customizing and building your website.
• By following these steps, you have successfully installed WordPress locally on your computer. You can now develop and test your website without affecting your live site.

Configuring WordPress

Once you have installed WordPress, you can start configuring it to match your preferences and needs. Here are the key aspects to consider during the configuration process:

Site Title and Description

• Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard by visiting your website’s URL followed by “/wp-admin” (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).
• In the dashboard, navigate to “Settings” in the left-hand menu and click on “General.”
• Enter your desired site title and description in the respective fields.
• The site title is typically the name of your website or business, while the description provides a brief summary of your site’s content or purpose.
• Save the changes to update your site’s title and description.

Choosing a Theme

• In the WordPress admin dashboard, go to “Appearance” in the left-hand menu and click on “Themes.”
• Here, you will find a collection of free and premium themes available.
• You can browse through the themes and use the search or filter options to find the one that suits your website’s design and functionality requirements.
• Once you have chosen a theme, hover over it and click on the “Activate” button to make it the active theme for your website.
• You can further customize the theme by clicking on the “Customize” option under the Appearance menu. This allows you to modify various aspects such as colors, fonts, header, footer, and more.

Plugins and Customizations

• WordPress offers a vast library of plugins that extend the functionality of your website.
• In the WordPress admin dashboard, go to “Plugins” in the left-hand menu and click on “Add New.”
• Here, you can search for specific plugins or explore popular and recommended ones.
• Install and activate plugins that add features like contact forms, search engine optimization (SEO), security, social sharing, and more.
• After activating a plugin, configure its settings based on your requirements.
• Additionally, you can customize various aspects of your website using widgets, menus, and the WordPress Customizer available under the Appearance menu.
• Widgets allow you to add functionality to sidebars or other widget-ready areas on your site.
• Menus enable you to create and manage navigation menus for your website.
• The WordPress Customizer provides options to modify the site’s appearance, header, background, and other elements.

By configuring your site title and description, choosing an appropriate theme, and utilizing plugins and customizations, you can tailor your WordPress website to match your desired style, functionality, and branding. Take time to explore the available options and make adjustments as needed to create a personalized and engaging website.

Logging into WordPress

Accessing the WordPress Admin Dashboard

To access the WordPress admin dashboard and start managing your website, follow these steps:

• Open a web browser and enter your website’s URL followed by “/wp-admin” (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com/wp-admin)
• You will be redirected to the WordPress login page.
• Enter the username and password you set during the WordPress installation process
• Click on the “Log In” button.

If the credentials are correct, you will be logged in to the WordPress admin dashboard, which is the central hub for managing your website’s content, settings, and appearance.

Creating a Username and Password

During the WordPress installation process, you were prompted to provide a username and password for the administrative user. It is important to create a strong username and password combination to ensure the security of your website.

If you need to create a new username and password or update the existing ones, follow these steps:

• Log in to the WordPress admin dashboard using your current username and password.
• In the dashboard, go to “Users” in the left-hand menu and click on “Your Profile.”
• On the Your Profile page, scroll down to the “Account Management” section.
• Enter a new username in the “Username” field. Keep in mind that usernames cannot be changed once created.
• If you want to change the password, click on the “Generate Password” button to have WordPress generate a strong password for you. Alternatively, you can enter a custom password in the “New Password” field.
• Save the changes by clicking on the “Update Profile” button.
• The new username and password will be applied, and you can use them to log in to the WordPress admin dashboard going forward.

Note: It is recommended to use a unique username and a strong, complex password to enhance the security of your WordPress website. Additionally, consider using a password manager to securely store your login credentials.

By following these steps, you can log in to your WordPress website, access the admin dashboard, and create or update the username and password for the administrative user. This will enable you to start managing and customizing your WordPress site.

Install WordPress Today and Create your Site

Conclusively, installing WordPress is a hassle-free procedure suitable for all, regardless of tech-savviness. The process starts with downloading the WordPress software, then transferring it to your server. After that, you establish a MySQL database, and finally, execute the installation script. It’s critical to choose a reliable hosting service to ensure optimal website performance. Equally important is regularly updating your WordPress to its latest version, which ensures better security and features.

By following these steps, you’re not just building an online presence. You’re carving out a unique space on the web that can be tailored according to your needs. WordPress simplifies web development, making it a breeze to create and manage a website. It’s no wonder why it’s the choice of millions worldwide. You can always Get in Touch with experienced WordPress developers to understand the process.