Introduction

WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet, making it one of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMS) available today. Whether you’re a blogger, a business owner, or someone looking to build an eCommerce website, WordPress provides the tools to help you achieve your goals. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of installing WordPress on your web hosting server, using two different methods: cPanel & Softaculous and Manual Installation via FTP.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a fully functional WordPress site ready for customization!

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

  • A domain name (e.g., yourwebsite.com).
  • A web hosting account (many popular providers include one-click WordPress installation options).
  • Basic understanding of cPanel or FTP (depending on the method you choose).

Different Ways to Install WordPress

There are two popular ways to install WordPress on your web hosting:

  1. Using cPanel & Softaculous (Quick and easy method).
  2. Manual Installation via FTP (More control over the installation process).

We will cover both methods, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Method 1: Install WordPress Using cPanel & Softaculous

This is the easiest and quickest method, as most modern hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation through Softaculous or similar tools in cPanel. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Log in to Your cPanel Account

  • Go to your web hosting account and log in to cPanel. You will typically find the cPanel login link in your hosting provider’s dashboard.

Step 2: Locate Softaculous or WordPress Installer

  • Once in cPanel, scroll down to the “Software” section and look for Softaculous or “WordPress Installer”. Click on the icon to launch the installer.

Step 3: Start the WordPress Installation

  • In the Softaculous dashboard, select WordPress from the list of available scripts. Click the “Install” button.

Step 4: Fill in Installation Details

  • Choose the domain where you want WordPress to be installed.
  • Enter the Site Name, Site Description, Admin Username, Password, and Email. Keep this information secure as you will use it to log into your WordPress dashboard.
  • Optionally, select the theme you want to install, or you can choose one later.

Step 5: Click Install

  • Once all the information is filled out, click the “Install” button. Softaculous will automatically install WordPress on your domain in a few minutes.

Step 6: Access Your WordPress Admin Dashboard

  • Once installation is complete, you can access your WordPress dashboard by visiting yourdomain.com/wp-admin. Log in using the credentials you created earlier.

Method 2: Manual Installation of WordPress via FTP

If you prefer more control over your WordPress installation, or if your hosting provider does not offer one-click installation, you can manually install WordPress via FTP.

Step 1: Download WordPress

Step 2: Upload WordPress Files to Your Server via FTP

  • Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your web hosting server.
  • Once connected, navigate to the root directory (usually public_html) and upload all the files from the WordPress folder that you downloaded earlier.

Step 3: Create a MySQL Database

  • Log in to cPanel and go to the MySQL Databases section.
  • Create a new database and user, and assign full privileges to the user for the newly created database.
  • Keep the database name, username, and password handy as you will need them in the next step.

Step 4: Configure the wp-config.php File

  • In the WordPress files you uploaded via FTP, locate the wp-config-sample.php file and rename it to wp-config.php.
  • Open this file in a text editor and enter the database name, username, and password you created in the previous step.

Step 5: Run the WordPress Installation Script

  • In your browser, navigate to your domain (e.g., yourdomain.com), and WordPress will prompt you to complete the installation.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your site name, admin account, and password.

Step 6: Complete the Installation

  • Once the setup is complete, log into your WordPress dashboard by going to yourdomain.com/wp-admin.

Post-Installation Steps

Now that WordPress is successfully installed, there are a few important things to do:

Step 1: Configure Basic Settings

  • Go to Settings > General to set your site title, tagline, and time zone.
  • In Settings > Permalinks, choose a URL structure that is SEO-friendly, such as “Post name.”

Step 2: Install Essential Plugins

  • Some key plugins to install include:
    • Wordfence or Sucuri (for security).
    • Yoast SEO (for search engine optimization).
    • W3 Total Cache (for caching and improving site speed).

Step 3: Choose and Customize a Theme

  • Navigate to Appearance > Themes and select or upload a theme that matches your site’s vision.
  • Customize it to suit your needs, using the Theme Customizer.

Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues

Here are a few common errors you may encounter during installation and how to resolve them:

  • Error Establishing a Database Connection: Check the credentials in your wp-config.php file to ensure the database name, username, and password are correct.
  • 404 Not Found After Installation: This can often be fixed by resetting the permalinks under Settings > Permalinks.
  • FTP Timeout Issues: If you experience timeouts, make sure your internet connection is stable, or try reducing the number of concurrent connections in your FTP client settings.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed WordPress on your web hosting server. Whether you chose the one-click installation method via cPanel or the manual installation via FTP, your WordPress site is now ready for customization. From here, you can explore themes, install plugins, and start creating amazing content for your audience.

Categorized in:

Web Development, WordPress,

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