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.
Hi,
I have also followed every step and now get a HTTP 500 Interal Server Error: The website cannot display the page
HTTP 500
Most likely causes:
•The website is under maintenance.
•The website has a programming error.
I have been up all night trying to get wordpress to work and I’m completely stuck. Hope someone still reads this.
Not exactly sure what to tell you. Perhaps check with your web host support folks.
Had an existing blog with database. My config file got messed up, so I tried to set a new one with a fresh download. I used the SQL name for the database, username and pwd…. set it at local host but it says it can not connect to the database…
Any ideas?
Likely you have a mistake in the database name, password, username or host name.
HI Michael
What if i want to install wordpress on my own machine & make it available to the world?
Please write some thing on this topic as well
Regards
What if i want to install wordpress on my own machine & make it available to the world?
Try a google search for “install wordpress locally.”
Not sure how you’d be able to share it with the world though since it’s on your own machine.
Why not just get your own domain, install wordpress and share that with the world?
Hi, I have installed loads of WP sites, no problem. Lately I experience with some installs (including WP3.01) that once installed, I have to add the www in the general settings tab for WordPress URL and Site URL.
When I add it, I get an error message and are logged out. Once logged in, it all seems fine….?
Any idea why the www are not added from the start? and what is the best procedure?
Regards
I experience the same quite often. Not quite sure why though.
Thank you so much for the clear instructions. They’ve helped me a lot.
I appreciate it
Hi there, Thanks for the instructions. Can you advise on wordpress as website and blog.
I can set them each up, but they are separate.
I exported files from my .com/blog site to the .com . Any help is appreciated.
Cristina
I am also interested in this very same setup. Any suggestions and/or helpful hints would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!!
You can set that up in your WP control panel under Settings >> Reading. See here for more info: http://codex.wordpress.org/Settings_Reading_SubPanel
Hi great job for with the detailed set up instructions, unfortunately these days there are still some servers that do not have the one click installation of wordpress…its a shame because it is so simple to install wordpress with either one click or CPanel(fantasticoDeluxe), it takes just a few seconds and you are done, I have many Blogs all have the one click installation except one and I always have problems with it, so the point of my rambling is if you do not yet have a web host choose one with one click installation, you will not have any problems and its worth its weight in gold.
Thanks for your detailed walk-through!
Thanks for the tutorial mate and recommending Hostgator. It was really helpful.
Thanks for the clear instructions, this was a great help.
Thank you for this tutorial. Worked as smoothly as you wrote it. Step by step and no hiccups. Playing in the admin panel now, never played with WordPress before.
Thanks again.
JJ
My pleasure JJ. Glad it was helpful.
Word press installation is not very easy task. These are very helpful tips. Thanks for sharing with us..
thanks for the help!!
Hi ,
Really it very helpful I instelled it & enjoying this….
Thanks for the information
helloo . i install wordpress but in step 2 i didnt see password . what should i do ?
Thanks for the tutorial I think I am ready to give it a go.
Great post, you’ve given very clear instructions that should allow virtually anyone to setup their own WordPress site.
How do I fix this error I just installed a WP Blog:
Warning: include(/homepages/22/d197766011/htdocs/mycharmbag/wp-content/plugins/sitemap-generator/lang/English.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /homepages/22/d197766011/htdocs/mycharmbag/wp-content/plugins/sitemap-generator/sitemap-generator.php on line 48
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening ‘/homepages/22/d197766011/htdocs/mycharmbag/wp-content/plugins/sitemap-generator/lang/English.php’ for inclusion (include_path=’.:/usr/lib/php5′) in /homepages/22/d197766011/htdocs/mycharmbag/wp-content/plugins/sitemap-generator/sitemap-generator.php on line 48
Looks like you fixed it. If not, it appears the error is being caused by the lack of the sitemap generator plugin.
hi,
I am interested to buy Wp Chatter, and plan to build for multiple use for my own site.
but for start i just would like to buy a single use for test, can i upgrade from single use to multiple use? only if i am satisfied with your product and service.
thanks
Yes, you can do that. We are always happy to upgrade our customers. Just send an email to us when you want to upgrade and we can make the arrangements to get you the new license.
I followed every instruction here on this blog. However, when it came to the part where it says open up web browser and type domain name/wp-admin/install.php it just says there is a broken link
hi yvonne. what’s the url you are using?