How to Install WordPress
This is a thorough step-by-step tutorial that will show you how to install WordPress on your own server.
Assuming you already have a domain name and web hosting account, you’re ready to go ahead. If you don’t have a domain name and web hosting yet, visit Getting Started tutorial here.
You can also watch the How to Installvideo.
If you host offers the Auto-Install service, watch the How to Install WordPress With Auto-Install video instead.
1. Download WordPress
The very first thing you’ll want to do is download a copy of the software. So, go to the WordPress site here, and look for the link that says “DOWNLOAD.ZIP.” You should see it on the right side of the page with a dark blue background. When you see the link, click on it, and save the file to your desktop so it’s easy to find going forward.
2. Unzip the Folder
After you download the program, you’ll need to unzip the files into their own folder on your desktop. Most computers have a built-in zip/unzip application when you buy them, and if you’re not sure about your system, right-click on the file you just downloaded, and look for the menu option that says “Extract All …” Select that option if you see it. If you don’t have an unzip feature already installed, you can download a free program called Stuffit Expander (for PC or Mac).
3. Set Up Your FTP Program
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, and an FTP program will allow you to copy files from your own computer to your web hosting account. There are many FTP programs available, and one of the more popular ones is free program called FileZilla. You can download it here.
4. Get Your FTP Access Information
You’ll need to enter this information into your FTP program to access and upload files to your web host. Specifically, you’ll need to enter the the domain name, username and password for your FTP account. You can get this information from your web host if you don’t have it already.
5. Set Up Your MySQL Database With Your Web Host
This isn’t as scary as it may sound. Well, not if you have a good web host. You can usually find a link in your web hosting control panel to set up a MySQL database. Once the database is set up, you’ll need the database name, database password, database username and database hostname The hostname is usually “localhost,” but not always, so check with your web host to be sure. If you use Hostgator, it is localhost.
6. Enter Your Database Information into Your Config File
Remember when you downloaded and unzipped the WordPress program on your computers desktop? Open that folder, and you’ll see another folder labeled “WordPress.” Open that folder, and find a file named wp-config-sample. Open this file in a text editor such as Notepad or Wordpad. When you open the file you’ll see some text, much of which looks like gibberish, but it’s not. Look specifically for the lines that read:
// ** MySQL settings - You can get this info from your web host ** //
/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define('DB_NAME', 'putyourdbnamehere');
/** MySQL database username */
define('DB_USER', 'usernamehere');
/** MySQL database password */
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'yourpasswordhere');
/** MySQL hostname */
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
This is the place to enter the database information you saved from the previous step. So whatever the database name is, enter that information in place of ‘putyourdbnamehere.’ Just be sure to leave the ‘ marks before and after as it appears above. Do the same for the DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD and DB_HOST. When you’re done, save the file, but save it as wp-config.php rather than wp-config-sample.
7. Upload WordPress to Your Server
Okay. We’re in the homestretch. The next thing you want to do is upload the entire program from your computer to you host’s server. So, first, open your FTP program and connect to your host’s server. Back in step 5, you tracked down your FTP information. If you haven’t already entered it into your FTP program, go ahead and do that now. Again, you’ll need to enter you domain name, your username and your password. After you enter the information, go ahead and connect to your host’s server.
At this point, you’ll need to make a decision about where you’ll place the program. You can put it in – either – the root directory of your host server or a sub-directory. Personally, I place mine in a subdirectory because I run several different websites on the same server, and it just makes things a lot easier by keeping them separate. After you make your decision, go ahead and upload all the files and directories located in the WordPress folder you unzipped to you desktop, excluding the folder itself.
8. Run the Install Script
- If you installed WordPress in the root directory of your server, open your web browser and type the following: http://www.mydomain.com/wp-admin/install.php (replace “mydomain.com” with your own domain name).
- If you installed WordPress in a sub-directory, open your web browser and type the following: http://www.mydomain.com/subdirectory/wp-admin/install.php (replace “mydomain.com” with your own domain name and “subdirectory” with the name of the sub-directory you created).
After you go to this page, WordPress will do the rest. Just follow the onscreen directions, and then you’ll be all done.
Update: If you use 1and1.com for your web hosting, you may have one final step. See this comment.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Hi I’m Michael, a business coach and a creative entrepreneur. I inspire and empower people to make a difference in the world while they create an amazing life for themselves and those they love.
cheers for the extra step for 1&1 installation
Thanks Michael for producing these step by step instructions – found them easy to follow and v helpful
My pleasure
Hello Michael and thanks for this tutorial ! I just did every step you said, but…when I type http://www.mydomain.com/wp-admin/install.php , appears 404 not found. Can you give me a little help please?
For individualized support, we offer an install service here: http://www.solostream.com/turnkey-wordpress-theme-installations/
Hi Chris, Make sure you replace the “mydomain” with your actual domain.
Hi Michael,
It is fortunate that there is a light (Micheal) at the end of the tunnel. I found your wordpress installation steps very promising and instructive so I started immediately and followed the video step for step until the uploading process in step 7 using File Zilla. I was just highlighting all the folder to upload, suddenly something happened and I saw a pop-up window saying 308 files from /wp moves to /wp-inludes. I trid to stop it but could not. After that disappeared wp-admin folder. What did I do wrong that triggered this problem?
I am new to the subject so any expert help from you is greatly appreciated.
Thanks & Best Wishes
in advnace
M.A
Hi Michael
Correction:
It is /wp-includes not /wp-inludes
It says “your comment is awating moderation”. What do it means?
My website address is just a domain name.
Any answer is greatly appreciated.
Not sure what you did wrong. If you need some help with installation, we offer a service here: http://www.solostream.com/turnkey-wordpress-theme-installations/
Hi Michael ,
thanks for the wonderful documentation.
I ve followed the steps, but some of the images and the formatting on the page mis missing , Could u please take a look and let me know what is the issue here.
http://www.goldi.co.in/
Thanks,
If you need help installing wordpress, you can hire someone on our stafff to assist here: http://www.solostream.com/turnkey-wordpress-theme-installations/
Thank you, thank you, thank you and if it’s not too redundant… Thank you.
This was exactly what I needed, on-point, accurate and concise.
This was incredibly helpful. Thank you very much.
it is an excellent experience for installing wordpress on my domain. I followed these step and successfully install. I am So happy thanx alot
hey man thanks a lot, made it really easy!!
Michael
This is excellent. I’ve got my site up and running thanks to this. Much more straightforward than the documentation on the WordPress site itself. Thanks so much
hi Micheal,
thanx setting up a complete tutorial on WordPress installation.
I hope you can help me.Following your tutorial installed WAMP on my PC and tried installing WordPress.But WAMP seems to go automatically offline after a few secs just after starting.I actually noticed it when I tried installing WordPress.So I tried cleaning all files from my previous installation of MySQL(I had uninstalled it before installing WAMP).But I have encountered the same problem again.
thanx in advance…
I don’t know anything about a WAMP setup.
my web hosting scheme does not provide my sql database …and waht username and pasword shoul i put when they ask in file zilla
If you don’t have mysql database, you can’t use wordpress. For FTP login info, you’ll need to get that from your host.
I’m just curious…why would you not just use the easy install via the c-panel using fantastico instead of this method? It just seems to make much more sense. Am I missing something?
Agreed!
I went through all the instructions and ended up with a 404 Not Found error. Seeing your comment directed me to Fantastico which installs WordPress without any bother.
If you’re having any trouble and you’re using C Panel, find and use Fantastico to install WordPress.
That being said, much appreciation to the author for getting me most of the way.
michael,
you seem so knowledgeable about the wordpress environment and i wanted to reach out to see if you could help this not so techie creative find the solution to the error received when you visit http://www.givemelibertyburger.com/main
this morning i was trying to modify the theme to use http://givemelibertyburger.com/main/?page_id=303 as the “home” page. in doing so, something has created a mixup and is throwing an error when you try to view any page of the theme.
i was searching for wordpress index.php issues and install suggestions when i ran across your wealth of information and thought to reach out.
thank you in advance.
I’m not seeing an error.
Hello!
I have a question – I am currently on the step where I have to upload the wordpress files to the root directory (where I want them) but on my web host’s file manager page I don’t have the option of uploading more than 1 file at a time. I just uploaded all the files (one by one..) in the first map and realized there has got to be like a million other ones in the other folders in the wordpress map. I take that all files are necessary but is this the only solution? Do I have to upload these files from my computer one by one or the last step won’t do it..?
A thanks in advance
You can use an FTP program to upload all the files at once. See steps 3 and 4.
Just realized my question was ot of stupidity when I started mixing my web hosts web manager into this whole story. thanks for the tutorial anyway! bless
Thanks so much for this tutorial. I’m not so technical, but this was easy to follow.
One suggestion (and I saw in another comment that I wasn’t the only one who had this issue): maybe mention in the body of the tutorial that the root directory might not be just /, but /public_html, etc. I uploaded all the files to /, and only when I spoke to Hostgator support (after the install URL 404ed) did they tell me that it needed to be uploaded to /public_html.
Thanks again!
Aviva
Thank you very much! It was very useful
Hi Micheal,
I am very new to this, how will I know what is my root directory and subdirectory?
Maybe watch the video as that should make it more clear. Depending on your web host, the root directory might be public_html or perhaps httpdocs. If still not sure, ask your hosting provider.
I wanted to get a ftp connections free eg the ftp host and username and passward free pliz help me
Darn, found this AFTER struggling through my first manual WP install. I have to say, having done both a 1-click using a hosting company which supported it, and the manual way, i do think that doing it manually is quite a challenge for anyone not comfortable with getting their hands dirty on a server! I did get there in the end but the process was definitely nailbiting. Great tutorial though, and will kepp this by me next time!
Hi Kate. Yes, the 1-click install is the way to go. Glad the tutorial was useful for you.
If i don’t have domain or server space. Can i use wordpress and also run it on my personal computer.
You’d have to do a local install. Try a google search on install wordpress locally.
sir,
Is it must that mandatory that only after getting domain name and got it hosted can i start my design with word press or can i complete my design first and then can make it work with my hosting company.please clarify.
thank you in advancefor any reply from you .
You can do your design first if you like.
Hi Michael,
If we do the design before before we up load – do we have to do a local install on our computer first?
Not sure I’m following you. You’d have to convert your design to a wordpress theme, and you’d need a wordpress site to test the theme. You can a local install or an online install.
Question: If I have no web host and no server and signed up with WordPress to build my blogging site and purchased a domain name. Am I able to use FTP? Or is FTP only if you have an outside webhost? I ask this because of the limitations on code editing using WordPress’s “Dashboard” tools.
Thank you.
No FTP on wordpress.com; only on self-hosted wordpress sites.
I see there is one additional step if you are loading to a 1and1 hosted site, which I am. The link is broken to that step or that page has been taken down. I’m dead in the water and can’t figure out why I can’t install wordpress. Maybe you have the key. Maybe I’m an idiot. But I’d like to see what that step is, in case it could help. Thanks.
-John
I believe the additional step is to remove the index.html file from the directory. It’s a file that 1and1 places in the directory as a fallback file.
Hi michael, where do i find this directory? (I am with 1and1). The only index file i can find is the index.php from the wordpress file. Yes, I am a beginner so any help is greatly appreciated, your a blessing. thanks
If you don’t see an index.html file in the root directory, then you have nothing to worry about. If you’re not sure, contact 1and1 support.
Michael, thanks for the great article. I talk to people all the time who want instructions for installing WordPress on their own account. These instructions you’ve put together are worth referring people to.
I haven’t read through every comment, so I hope this isn’t a repeat, but you can actually skip editing the wp-config.php file and just upload the files to the server. Once uploaded if you visit your domain you’ll get a WordPress installation page and you can actually enter the database connection settings there. I find this advantageous for the layman, because there’s no need to open any specific files and edit the php code (even if it’s just a db name, user and password).
Anyway, thanks again!
thnxs
its really nice…. 
thnxs again
Hi ~ I’m hoping you can help me. I’ve been searching around the web and I think your tutorial might be my answer. I’ve had a blogger blog with it’s own domain and now I’m wanting to make the switch to wordpress. The nameservers are already pointing to my new host company. I am wanting to set up my wordpress with theme/child, etc before my readers see it, but I’m afraid that if I do the install through my host that it will no longer have my blog showing? Should I download wordpress through wordpress then instead of my host? Can I not connect it to my .com then for now?
Thank you in advance for any help!
Not really sure how to answer that. Maybe check with your web host.
Thanks Michael – will do!
Hello Micheal,
thank you for posting a step-by-step WP installation guide. I guess you’re the only one I was able to follow…. except the last step.
You see, I am new to do websites and was trying for weeks now to get a connection with FileZilla to my web host. This is done now.
So, having a data base created with a user and a password, which exact host address is it, I need to fill into the wp-config? Is that the usual host address or a special address leeds right to the new data base.
So far I can actually can follow every step on the remote side, when it comes to “install.php” I get an error about: file not known or existing.
Any idea?
Thank you
Manix
Check that you are typing the proper URL … i.e. http://www.sitename.com/wp-admin/install.php.
If it still doesn’t work, make sure you have uploaded the file correctly.