Guide
How to install WordPress: one-click and manual methods
The quickest way to install WordPress is the one-click installer in your hosting account, which creates the database, files and admin login in a couple of minutes. A manual install takes longer but gives you full control. Every plan with us includes one-click WordPress, free SSL and unlimited MySQL databases, so you can start with either method.
Two routes
One-click or manual: which should you use?
One-click installer
- Fastest route, usually a few minutes
- Creates the database and user for you
- Sets up the site address and admin account from a short form
- Easy to repeat for extra sites
- Best for nearly everyone starting out
Manual install
- You download WordPress yourself from wordpress.org
- You create the database and user by hand
- You upload the files and run the setup screen
- Useful when you want a custom table prefix or folder
- Good for learning how the pieces fit together
Before you start
What you need before installing WordPress
WordPress is free, open source software that runs on a web server with PHP and a MySQL database. You do not buy WordPress itself. You pay for the hosting that runs it and for the domain name that points to it. Before you install anything, make sure you have three things: a hosting account, a domain name pointing at that account and a working email address that you can use for the administrator login.
If you have not chosen a domain yet, read our guide to choosing a domain name first, then register it. If the domain is registered elsewhere, you will need to point it to your hosting. DNS changes can take a while to spread, so do this early. You can usually still install WordPress while you wait, and look at the site using a temporary address.
It also helps to decide on a few things in advance. What will the site be called? Is it a brochure site, a blog or a shop? Which address will you use, with or without www? Will visitors reach it over HTTPS? On our plans, free SSL is included, so the answer to the last one should always be yes. Having these answers ready turns the install into a five minute job rather than a puzzle.
The easy way
Installing WordPress with the one-click installer
Log in to your hosting account
Open the client area, go to your hosting service and sign in to the control panel for your plan.
Find the WordPress installer
Look for the one-click WordPress or application installer in the control panel and choose to install a new site.
Choose the domain and folder
Pick your domain. Leave the folder box empty if you want WordPress at the main address, or enter a folder name such as blog if you want it in a subdirectory.
Set the site name and admin account
Enter a site title, an administrator username that is not "admin", a long unique password and your email address.
Select HTTPS and install
Choose the HTTPS version of your address, tick any options you want, then start the install and wait for the confirmation message.
Log in and look around
Visit your address followed by /wp-admin/ and sign in with the details you chose. You should see the WordPress dashboard.
One-click WordPress on every plan
Free SSL, LiteSpeed and Redis included, from 84p a month (£10.03 billed yearly).
The manual way
How a manual WordPress install works
A manual install does by hand what the one-click installer does for you. First you create an empty MySQL database and a database user with a strong password, and give that user full rights to the database. Write down the database name, user name, password and the host, which is normally localhost. Our plans include unlimited MySQL databases, so you will not run out.
Next you download the latest WordPress zip from the official wordpress.org website, unzip it on your computer and upload the files to the web root of your domain, using the file manager in the control panel or an SFTP client. Upload the contents of the wordpress folder, not the folder itself, unless you want the site in a subfolder.
Finally you visit your domain in a browser. WordPress detects that it is not configured and starts a setup screen. Enter the database details, choose a table prefix, then give the site a title and create the administrator account. WordPress writes a file called wp-config.php with your database details and finishes the install. If the setup screen cannot write the file, create wp-config.php yourself from the sample file included in the download.
Glossary
The terms you will see during an install
| Term | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Web root | The folder your domain serves files from | WordPress files must be placed here to appear at your main address |
| Database | Where WordPress stores posts, pages, settings and users | Without it the site cannot run |
| Database user | A login that lets WordPress talk to the database | Use a strong password and keep it private |
| Table prefix | A short label added to the start of database table names | Lets several sites share one database if ever needed |
| wp-config.php | The file holding your database details and secret keys | Treat it as sensitive and include it in backups |
| Permalink | The format of your page addresses | Choose a readable structure early |
| Administrator | The user role with full control of the site | Protect it with a strong password and two-factor login |
Afterwards
What to do straight after installing WordPress
The install is only the beginning. Open the dashboard, go to Settings and check that the site title, tagline, WordPress address and site address are correct and use HTTPS. Under Settings, then Permalinks, choose the post name structure, which gives readable addresses. Under Reading, make sure the option that discourages search engines is switched off once you are ready to be found. It is often ticked while a site is being built, and forgetting to untick it is a classic reason a finished site never appears in search.
Delete the sample page, sample post and the Hello Dolly plugin that come with a fresh install. Create the pages you actually need, such as Home, About, Services and Contact, and a privacy page. If you collect any personal data through forms or analytics, you need a privacy notice. Our general guidance is not legal advice, so check the Information Commissioner's Office website for UK requirements.
Then set up the basics of protection and speed. Install the free LiteSpeed Cache plugin for page caching, and connect Redis object caching if you want a faster admin area. Remove themes you do not use, apart from one default theme as a fallback. Finally, take a backup, so that you have a clean starting point you can return to if an experiment goes wrong.
Checklist
Post-install checklist
- Site loads over HTTPS with no browser warning
- Administrator username is not "admin"
- Password is long, unique and stored in a password manager
- Permalinks set to post name
- Search engine visibility setting is correct for launch
- Sample content deleted
- Unused themes and plugins removed
- Caching plugin installed and tested
- Timezone set to London in Settings
- A first backup taken
Problems
Common install problems and fixes
Error establishing a database connection
The database name, user, password or host in wp-config.php is wrong. Check each value against what you created.
Domain shows a parked page
DNS may not have updated yet, or the domain points elsewhere. Check where it points and wait for propagation.
Browser says not secure
The address may be set to http. Change both addresses in Settings to https once SSL is active.
Old default page still showing
An index.html file in the web root can override WordPress. Remove or rename it.
Install seems to hang
Wait a minute, refresh, and check whether it actually finished before starting again.
Still stuck
Contact live chat (open 24/7) with the exact error message and we will take a look.
Choosing
Installing in a folder, on a subdomain or on a new domain
Most sites should live at the main address of the domain, but there are good reasons to do otherwise. A subdomain such as shop.example.co.uk is a neat way to keep a separate site tied to your brand. Subdomains are unlimited on every plan with us. A subfolder such as example.co.uk/blog keeps everything on one address, which some people prefer for search reasons. Either is easy to set up in the installer.
If you run more than one website, additional domains can be added to the same account as addon domains, within the limit of your plan. Very Small includes one addon domain, Small two, Medium four, Large six, and the two largest plans have unlimited addon domains. Each one can have its own WordPress install and its own database.
Think about the long term before you pick. Moving a WordPress site from a folder to the main domain later is possible, but it is a small project involving search and replace in the database and redirects. Choosing carefully on day one avoids that. If you are moving an existing site instead of starting afresh, our guide to moving a website is the better starting point, and free migration is available on Small and higher plans billed yearly.
Want us to get you started?
Ask live chat any install question, day or night.
FAQ
Common questions
Is WordPress free to install?
Yes. The software is free. You pay for hosting and your domain. Some themes and plugins are paid, but you can build a good site with free ones.
How long does a WordPress install take?
The one-click installer usually takes a few minutes. A manual install is often 15 to 30 minutes the first time.
Can I install more than one WordPress site on one account?
Yes, within your plan's addon domain limit. Subdomains and MySQL databases are unlimited on every plan.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. The installer and the dashboard need no coding, and most sites are built with themes and plugins.
Can you move my existing WordPress site instead?
Yes. Free migration is included on Small and higher plans billed yearly. See our migration page for details.
Keep reading
Related pages
Install WordPress in minutes
One-click WordPress, free SSL and UK servers on every plan.