How To Install WordPress?

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet — and for good reason. But before you get to building pages, designing layouts, and publishing content, there’s one task to tackle first: the actual installation. If you’ve never done it before, the process can look more complicated than it really is.

This guide covers every installation method available in 2026, from the fastest one-click option in your hosting control panel to a manual setup via FTP to a local install on your desktop computer. You’ll pick the method that fits your situation, follow the steps, and end up with a working WordPress site. No coding required for the first two methods.

WordPress tutorials and guides

What You Need Before Installing WordPress

Before running any installer, you need two things: a domain name and a hosting account. The domain is the address people type into their browser — something like yourbusiness.com. The hosting account is the server that stores your website files and makes them accessible online. Think of the domain as a street address, and the hosting account as the building itself.

Most hosting providers sell both together, or you can purchase them separately. Once those are in place, the installation itself takes anywhere from two minutes to under an hour, depending on which method you use.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org — Which One Are You Installing?

This is where a huge number of beginners get tripped up before they even start. “WordPress” refers to two different products, and they work very differently.

WordPress.org is the free, open-source software you download and install on your own hosting account. You control everything — plugins, themes, revenue, design. This guide is about installing WordPress.org.

WordPress.com is a hosted service run by Automattic. You sign up, pick a plan, and WordPress handles the server, updates, and security for you. Less control, less maintenance.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org — Key Differences (2026)

Feature	WordPress.com (Hosted)	WordPress.org (Self-Hosted)
Cost	Free plan + paid from $48/year	Free software (hosting from ~$3/month)
Hosting	Included and managed	Choose and pay separately
Custom domain	Paid plans only	Yes, included with hosting
Plugin access	Business plan ($300/yr) and up	All 59,000+ plugins, free
Full control	No — platform restrictions apply	Yes — complete access
Security & updates	Managed by WordPress.com	Your responsibility
Best for	Casual bloggers, simplicity	Businesses, full customization

Pricing as of March 2026 — verify current rates at wordpress.com.

WordPress Server Requirements (2026)

Your hosting account needs to meet these technical requirements before WordPress will run. Most reputable hosts satisfy all of them automatically — but it’s worth confirming, especially if you’re on a budget plan or an older server.

WordPress Server Requirements — 2026

Component	Minimum (Legacy)	Recommended (2026)
PHP	7.2.24+	8.3 or greater
MySQL	5.5.5+	8.0 or greater
MariaDB	10.3+	10.6 or greater
Web server	Any PHP-capable	Apache or Nginx
HTTPS	Recommended	Required
PHP memory	64MB	256MB+ (512MB for WooCommerce)

Source: wordpress.org/about/requirements (verified March 2026)

The legacy versions — PHP 7.2, MySQL 5.5 — are past their end-of-life date and carry security vulnerabilities. If your host offers these as the only option, it’s worth switching hosts before you start.

Which Installation Method Is Right for You?

Not every WordPress installation looks the same — what works for a developer testing locally won’t suit a small business owner who just wants a live site up this afternoon. Three distinct paths exist, each matching a different level of access and experience. Find yourself in the table below, then skip to that section.

WordPress Installation Methods Compared

Method	Skill Level	Time	Best For	Requires
One-Click (Softaculous)	Beginner	Under 5 minutes	Most users with cPanel hosting	cPanel hosting account
Manual (FTP + Database)	Intermediate	20–45 minutes	Any host, full control	FTP client, database access
LocalWP (Local)	Beginner / Developer	5–10 minutes	Testing, development, no live hosting needed	Desktop computer (Win/Mac/Linux)

Not sure which hosting type you have? Log into your hosting account’s dashboard. If you see cPanel (a colorful control panel with icons), you almost certainly have Softaculous available. If you see a custom dashboard from providers like Kinsta or WP Engine, they typically use their own one-click WordPress installers that work similarly.

Method 1 — Install WordPress Using a One-Click Installer (Easiest)

Softaculous is an auto-installer built into the cPanel dashboards of hundreds of hosting providers — Bluehost, SiteGround, A2 Hosting, Hostinger, InMotion, and many more. It handles the database creation, file upload, and configuration automatically. You fill in a form, click install, and WordPress is ready in under a minute.

What Is Softaculous?

Softaculous is software that sits inside cPanel and lets you install WordPress (and hundreds of other web applications) without touching a database or an FTP client. It’s been the standard for shared hosting for years, and as of 2026 it’s installed on most cPanel-based hosting accounts by default.

Some hosts brand it differently — WP Toolkit (Plesk), Installatron, or their own installer — but the concept is identical.

Step-by-Step: Installing WordPress with Softaculous

1. Log into cPanel.
   Your hosting provider sent you a cPanel URL in your welcome email — it usually looks like yourdomain.com/cpanel or yourdomain.com:2083.
2. Find Softaculous Apps Installer.
   Scroll down to the “Software” section of cPanel and click the Softaculous Apps Installer icon. Alternatively, search for “WordPress” in the cPanel search bar at the top.
3. Click the WordPress icon, then click “Install Now.”
   Softaculous shows a brief overview of WordPress. Hit the “Install Now” button to open the configuration form.
4. Choose your protocol and domain.
   Select https:// if your hosting account has an SSL certificate. Choose the domain where you want WordPress installed.
5. Set the installation directory.
   Leave this blank to install WordPress at the root of your domain (yoursite.com). To install in a subfolder (yoursite.com/blog), type blog in the directory field.
6. Fill in your site settings.
   Enter a site name, site description, and the admin email. WordPress will send password resets and notifications to this address.
7. Create your admin credentials.
   Set an admin username — do not use “admin”, as it’s the first username attackers try during brute force attempts. Use a strong, unique password.
8. Click Install.
   Softaculous handles everything automatically. When it finishes (usually under 60 seconds), it displays links to your new site and the WordPress admin dashboard.

That’s it. Your WordPress site is live. Log in at yourdomain.com/wp-admin with the credentials you just created.

Method 2 — Install WordPress Manually (FTP + Database)

Manual installation gives you control over every step and works with any web host, including those without cPanel or Softaculous. It takes longer than a one-click install, but understanding the process is genuinely useful — you’ll know exactly what WordPress needs to function, which makes troubleshooting much easier later.

You’ll need: an FTP client (FileZilla is free and cross-platform), access to your hosting control panel to create a database, and about 20–45 minutes.

Step 1 — Download WordPress

Go to wordpress.org/download and download the latest version of WordPress as a .zip file. Save it to a location on your computer that’s easy to find — your Downloads folder or Desktop works fine.

Extract the zip file. You’ll get a folder called wordpress containing all the WordPress core files. Keep this folder handy — you’ll upload these files in Step 3.

Step 2 — Create a MySQL Database

WordPress stores all its content — posts, pages, settings, user data — in a database. You need to create an empty one before running the installer.

In cPanel, look for MySQL Databases or the MySQL Database Wizard. The wizard version walks you through each step:

1. Create a new database. Give it a short, descriptive name (e.g., yoursite_wp). Write this down.
2. Create a database user with a strong password. Write this down too.
3. Add that user to the database with All Privileges checked.
4. Note the database host — it’s almost always localhost, but your host’s welcome email or cPanel will confirm this.

At the end of this step you should have four pieces of information written down: database name, database username, database password, and database host. You’ll need all four in the next step.

Step 3 — Upload WordPress Files via FTP/SFTP

Open your FTP client. Enter your server address (your domain), your FTP username, password, and port (usually 21 for FTP, 22 for SFTP). Use SFTP when available — it encrypts your login credentials during transfer. Regular FTP sends them in plain text.

Navigate to your server’s root web directory. This is usually named public_html or htdocs. Anything placed here becomes accessible at your domain.

• To install WordPress at your root domain (yoursite.com): upload the contents of the wordpress folder — not the folder itself — into public_html.
• To install in a subdirectory (yoursite.com/blog): create a folder named blog inside public_html, then upload the WordPress files into that folder.

The upload takes a few minutes — WordPress contains around 1,700 files. If the upload stops partway through, delete all the uploaded files and start the upload again from scratch. A partial upload will cause errors.

Step 4 — Configure wp-config.php

Inside the WordPress files you uploaded, find the file named wp-config-sample.php. Rename it to wp-config.php, then open it in a text editor (Notepad, VS Code, or any plain text editor works).

Find the database settings section and fill in your four pieces of information from Step 2:

define( 'DB_NAME',     'yoursite_wp' );       // Your database name
define( 'DB_USER',     'yoursite_wpuser' );   // Your database username
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'YourStrongPassword' );// Your database password
define( 'DB_HOST',     'localhost' );          // Usually 'localhost'

Also find the Authentication Unique Keys and Salts section. Visit the WordPress secret key generator and paste the generated values in to replace the placeholder text. This secures your WordPress cookies. Save the file and re-upload it to your server (overwriting the old version).

Step 5 — Run the WordPress Install Script

Open a browser and navigate to your WordPress installation URL:

• Root install: https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php
• Subdirectory install: https://yourdomain.com/blog/wp-admin/install.php

WordPress walks you through the final configuration:

1. Select your language and click Continue.
2. Enter your site title, admin username (not “admin”), admin password, and email address.
3. The Search Engine Visibility checkbox: leave it unchecked if you want search engines to index your site. Check it while you’re still building, then uncheck it when you’re ready to go public.
4. Click Install WordPress.

Step 6 — Log Into Your New WordPress Site

If you see a success screen with a “Log In” button, the installation worked. Your WordPress admin dashboard is at https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin. Use the admin username and password you set during the install script.

Method 3 — Install WordPress Locally (For Testing and Development)

A local WordPress installation runs entirely on your own computer — no hosting account, no live URL. It’s invisible to the public and perfect for testing themes, plugins, or building a site before it goes live.

Why Install WordPress Locally?

Local installation serves two main purposes. First, it lets you experiment with WordPress without affecting a live site — try a new theme, break something, and nothing your visitors see gets touched. Second, it’s faster than working on a remote server because files don’t need to travel over the internet.

Option A — LocalWP (Recommended)

LocalWP (formerly Local by Flywheel) is the most beginner-friendly way to run WordPress on your desktop. It handles the web server, database, and PHP automatically, bundled into a simple desktop app. As of 2026, it’s completely free — including features that were previously paid, such as Live Links (share a public URL from your local site), Link Checker, MagicSync, and Instant Reload.

To install LocalWP:

1. Download LocalWP from localwp.com. It’s available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
2. Run the installer and open the app.
3. Click the + button (or “Create a new site”).
4. Enter a site name. LocalWP automatically configures a local domain like mysitename.local.
5. Choose “Preferred” environment (recommended for beginners) or “Custom” to select specific PHP and server versions.
6. Set a WordPress admin username and password.
7. Click Add Site. LocalWP downloads WordPress and sets everything up — takes about two minutes on most connections.
8. Click WP Admin in the LocalWP interface to open your new WordPress dashboard.

Option B — XAMPP or WAMP (Alternative)

XAMPP (cross-platform: Windows, Mac, Linux) and WAMP (Windows-only) are older local server stacks that install Apache, MySQL, and PHP on your computer. They’re more flexible for running multiple web applications but require more manual configuration than LocalWP.

With XAMPP, the process involves: install XAMPP → create a database in phpMyAdmin → download WordPress → place files in the htdocs folder → run the WordPress install script at localhost/yoursitename. The WordPress.org support forums cover this path in detail at make.wordpress.org.

For most people, LocalWP is the faster path. XAMPP makes sense if you’re already running it or need it for other projects.

What to Do Immediately After Installing WordPress

The installation is done, but a freshly installed WordPress site has default settings that aren’t production-ready. This checklist covers the most important first steps — skip these and you’re leaving your site unnecessarily exposed.

Post-Installation Checklist

1. Change the default table prefix (if using manual install).
   The default WordPress database table prefix is wp_. Automated SQL injection attacks specifically target this prefix. During a fresh manual install, change it to something random like x7k2m_ in wp-config.php. With Softaculous, the installer prompts you to set a custom prefix during setup.
2. Delete default placeholder content.
   WordPress installs with a “Hello World!” post, a “Sample Page,” and a plugin called Hello Dolly. Delete all three from your dashboard — they serve no purpose on a real site and expose version information to scanners.
3. Set your permalink structure.
   Go to Settings → Permalinks and choose “Post name” (/your-post-title/). The default numeric structure (?p=123) is bad for SEO and readability. Change this before you publish anything.
4. Install an SSL certificate if you haven’t already.
   HTTPS is now required by WordPress. Most hosting providers offer free SSL certificates via Let’s Encrypt — activate it in your hosting control panel, then update your WordPress site URL to https:// under Settings → General.
5. Change the admin username if it’s still “admin.”
   Create a new administrator account with a unique username, log in with it, then delete the original “admin” account. Attackers try “admin” first in brute-force attempts.
6. Install a security plugin.
   Wordfence, Sucuri, or Solid Security (formerly iThemes Security) adds login protection, a firewall, and malware scanning. All three have free versions that cover the basics.
7. Set up automatic updates.
   Enable automatic updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins under Dashboard → Updates. Minor/security updates are low-risk and important to apply quickly.
8. Install a backup plugin.
   UpdraftPlus is the most widely used free backup plugin for WordPress. Configure it to back up automatically to an off-site location (Google Drive, Dropbox, or Amazon S3) at least weekly.
9. Choose and install a theme.
   Go to Appearance → Themes → Add New and browse the 11,000+ free themes on WordPress.org. Or install a premium theme from ThemeForest or another marketplace.
10. Configure your reading settings.
    Under Settings → Reading, decide whether your homepage shows your latest posts or a static page. Also confirm the search engine visibility setting is correct (unchecked = visible to search engines).

Common WordPress Installation Errors (And How to Fix Them)

Most installation problems come down to three root causes: incorrect database credentials, a broken file upload, or a server configuration issue. Here’s how to identify and fix the most common ones.

“Error Establishing a Database Connection”

This is the most common error, and it almost always means one of the four database values in wp-config.php is wrong. Go back and check each one:

• DB_NAME: Copy the exact name from your hosting panel’s database list — don’t type it from memory.
• DB_USER: Make sure you’re using the database user you created, not your hosting account login.
• DB_PASSWORD: Passwords are case-sensitive. If you’re unsure, reset it in cPanel and update wp-config.php.
• DB_HOST: Usually localhost. If that doesn’t work, your host can confirm the correct hostname.

White Screen of Death After Install

A completely white page with no error message usually points to a PHP memory issue or a corrupted file. The fastest fix: delete all WordPress files from your server, create a new database, and run the installation from scratch. If the white screen happens after you’ve already been using WordPress for a while, it’s more likely a plugin conflict — disable all plugins via FTP by renaming the wp-content/plugins folder to wp-content/plugins_old.

FTP Connection Issues

If your FTP client can’t connect, try these in order:

• Switch from FTP (port 21) to SFTP (port 22) — your host may require SFTP
• Try copy-pasting your credentials rather than typing them
• Check that your domain’s DNS is pointing to the correct server — if you recently transferred domains, DNS propagation can take 24–48 hours
• Contact your host’s support — FTP connection issues are almost always server-side configuration that only they can fix

“Headers Already Sent” Error

This error usually means there’s hidden whitespace or a character before the opening <?php tag in wp-config.php. Open the file in a plain text editor (not Word), ensure the very first characters are <?php with nothing — not even a blank line — before them. Also check there’s no text after the closing ?> tag. In fact, the closing tag isn’t required at all — you can delete it.

PHP Tags Visible on Page

If you see raw <?php ?> tags when you visit your site, PHP isn’t running on your server. This is a hosting configuration issue. Verify that your hosting plan supports PHP 8.x (a modern plan should), and confirm that your files are in the correct directory. If your host can’t run PHP, you need a different host.

FAQ — How to Install WordPress

How long does it take to install WordPress?

With a one-click installer like Softaculous, under 5 minutes from login to a working WordPress site. Manual installation via FTP and database setup takes 20–45 minutes for a first-timer. LocalWP on your desktop takes about 5–10 minutes including the download.

Do I need coding skills to install WordPress?

Not for the one-click or LocalWP methods. Manual installation requires you to edit one configuration file (wp-config.php) and enter database details — it’s text editing, not coding. No programming knowledge needed.

Can I install WordPress for free?

The WordPress software itself is always free. For a live website, you’ll need hosting — shared hosting plans start at around $2.95–$5 per month. For local testing, LocalWP is completely free with no paid tiers.

What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?

WordPress.org is the free software you install on your own hosting account — full control, all plugins and themes available. WordPress.com is a hosted service from Automattic with restricted plans; free accounts get a .wordpress.com subdomain and limited customization, while paid plans start at $48/year. This guide covers WordPress.org (self-hosted).

Can I install WordPress on my local computer without hosting?

Yes. LocalWP creates a complete WordPress environment on your desktop, running entirely on your own machine. No hosting account needed, no live URL, no charges. It’s the standard tool for WordPress development and testing in 2026.

What happens if I install WordPress in the wrong directory?

Nothing is permanently broken. You can move the WordPress files to the correct location via FTP and update the site URL in wp-config.php (add define('WP_HOME','https://yourdomain.com') and define('WP_SITEURL','https://yourdomain.com')). Alternatively, delete the files and reinstall in the right place.

Do I need cPanel to install WordPress?

No. cPanel just makes it easier (Softaculous is available through cPanel). Manual installation works on any web host with PHP and MySQL, regardless of control panel. VPS and cloud servers often don’t use cPanel at all, and WordPress installs on them just as well.

What should I install first after WordPress is set up?

Start with three categories of plugins: a security plugin (Wordfence or Sucuri), a backup plugin (UpdraftPlus), and an SEO plugin (Yoast SEO or Rank Math). These cover your most critical needs — protection, recovery, and discoverability — before you start building out content or installing additional tools.

Wrapping Up

Installing WordPress is genuinely one of the more accessible parts of running a website. For most users with a standard cPanel hosting account, Softaculous handles the whole process in under five minutes. Manual installation takes longer but isn’t technically demanding — it’s methodical rather than complex. And for anyone who wants to explore WordPress without committing to a hosting plan, LocalWP makes the entire setup frictionless and free.

The real work starts after the install: choosing a theme, adding plugins, creating content, and securing the site properly. The post-installation checklist above covers the highest-priority items. Get those done, and your WordPress site is on solid footing from day one.