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.
Great post. Why couldn’t wordpress have done an installation guide like this?
finally got it with adobe reader 9 now i only need to buy a hosting plan from 1on1 and hope to succeed
i was kinda scared to set up WP by myself since i’m not a programmer, and i do have 1and1 as my host as well, but thanks to your help, i’m confident i can do this on my own. thank you.
Your steps are very methodical and logical. Thanks for sharing how to install wordpress on your own server in such a simple way.
cheers Michael,
I referred to this when putting together a video how-to. hope it’s handy…
http://www.guvnr.com/web/blogging/video-how-to-install-wordpress-nice-n-simple/
Cheerio.
thanks for this great video, i am switching for blogger to wordpress.
Thanks, that was quick and painless!
Very useful info and easy to follow instructions. Only problem is SmartFTP is no longer free and i followed your link and downloaded the application and it’s only a 29 day free trial, so i now either have to remove or pay for this…
Hi,Great video!!
I have 2 computor servers of my own with windows on which I host about 28 websites. Can I install it all on one of my servers and access it from a different computor. In your video you only deal with 1 and 1 as your host.
But I would like to do it all here.
Thanks,
Robert Maley
I’m a total newbie to wordpress. I’ve spent the day trying to install wordpress on my site. These instructions were the easiest by far to follow and understand, but when I run the install process, I continue to get an error that says, “Error establishing a database connection.” Cannot find anythign that helps me though I’ve tried about a hundred different things. Any chance someone might know of some place I could get help with this? It’s driving me crazy.
See how to install WordPress by watching a free step-by-step video at the link below. Lots of other WordPress video tutorials available on the same site.
http://educhalk.org/blog/?p=1
The video was helpful beyond words!
can we do this on free web host?
any reply will be appreciated
best regards
Thanks, this is great, but I would love to hear the pros and cons for using a sub-domain or a new webdomain?
Hi Michael,
I found your blog post via a Google search. For me too it was exactly what I was looking for.
Your step-by-step instructions made the installation a breeze. Your text instructions were explicit enough. I didn’t even need the video.
Thank you this informative post.
In your posts you keep recommending the webhost services of 1and1.com.
I am also a customer of 1and1 for a while now, since when I started with them, I was impressed by their system and their prompt and knowledgeable service.
However, now that they have outsourced their technical support to the Philippines, their support downright sucks. Any question that is not listed on the tech-support crib sheets causes immediate confusion to the teenagers who answer the phone there. Frequently they just don’t understand what is being asked, and then come up with some useless and vague half-answers.
I am now looking for a company with real tech support.
This tutorial is great except for some reason I get error 404 and I don’t have a index.html 1and1 hosting page to delete… help? I’m so close yet so far!! :p
Hi Michael
Great tutorial really helped a couple of setup newbies through the jargon.
Although we have followed the instructions you have given our screen is coming up with a 404 error, i have tried numerous re-installs with the same result. We are using streamline.net as our hosts have you or anyone come accross this problem and do you have any suggestions on how to resolve the problem.
Great themes as well by they way. Are you able to create any bespoke designs for wordpress projects that we are working on?
I look forward to your response.
Duncan & Mel
I just wanted to say thanks so much for this Michael – I keep coming back to it to use it
HI
THANK YOU!!! Even though I havent yet actually uploaded wordpress, or even got it working, just watching your video has helped hugely – I have somewhere to start! We are not webby people and the “Guide” from wordpress was just too hard! (My girlfriend was actually crying as she was so frustrated!) So, a bit of a life story there, but all that to say thank you – not lets hope I can get it working!!!
Hello,
Thank you very much for the video-tut on how to install the wordpress blog.
Your video is way more clear than the wordpress guidance.
Thanks!!
jactive.nl/wordpress
Unfortunately, we are very limited in what we can do for this type of error since it is WordPress hosting related. Our best advice is to contact your hosting provider for set up help. Good luck. Bye the way, we have successfully used 1and1 for a few sites so I’m sure they will be able to assist you.
You’ll have to ask the host your talking about if they support WordPress. They would know the answer to your question.
Good point. You can use Google to try other ftp clients. We also recommend FileZilla. We have updated the post based on your observation. Thanks.
Nothing Complicated, Shubham.
That’s the same way. Only difference to create config file manually or let it for wordpress.
Rest of the things are compulsory.