How to Install WordPress: Simple Steps

Want to install WordPress but don’t know where to start? You can install WordPress on your own website in about 5–10 minutes, even if you’ve never built a website before.

For most beginners, the easiest method is to use the one-click WordPress installer provided by your hosting company. You choose your domain, create your administrator account, click install, and WordPress does most of the technical work for you.

But installation is only the first step.

I’ve learned from working with WordPress websites that beginners rarely get into trouble because WordPress itself is difficult. The problems usually come from choosing the wrong domain, installing WordPress in the wrong directory, overlooking SSL, using a weak administrator account, or installing too many plugins immediately.

That’s why this guide doesn’t just show you where to click. I’ll show you how to install WordPress correctly, what each important setting means, what to do immediately afterward, and how to fix the common problems that can leave a new website inaccessible or unfinished.

If you’re still deciding what type of hosting you need, read my guide on Shared Hosting, VPS, or Cloud Hosting before you buy.

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Quick Answer: What Do You Need to Install WordPress?

For a normal self-hosted WordPress website, you need:

• A domain name
• Web hosting
• An active hosting account
• A few minutes to complete the installation

WordPress itself is free and open-source. You generally pay for the domain and hosting rather than for the WordPress software.

If your hosting company provides a one-click installer such as Softaculous or a WordPress Manager, the basic process is:

Domain → Hosting → WordPress installer → Select domain → Create login → Install → /wp-admin

That’s the simple version.

Now let’s make sure you do it correctly.

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WordPress.org vs WordPress.com: Which One Do You Need?

Before installing WordPress, there’s one distinction you should understand.

WordPress.org

WordPress.org provides the open-source WordPress software used for self-hosted websites.

You purchase your domain and hosting separately and install WordPress on your hosting account.

This gives you significant control over your website.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a hosted service where your website runs on the WordPress.com platform.

Both are legitimate options, but they work differently.

If you’ve already purchased web hosting and you’re looking for cPanel, Softaculous, WordPress Manager or File Manager, you’re probably looking to install self-hosted WordPress.

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What You Need Before Installing WordPress

1. A Domain Name

Your domain is your website address.

For example:

yourbusiness.com

yourchurch.org

yourname.com

If you haven’t chosen a domain yet, read How to Choose the Perfect Domain Name for Your Business Website.

Choose something that’s:

• Easy to remember
• Easy to spell
• Relevant to your brand
• Not unnecessarily long

You don’t need to find the perfect name forever. You need a domain that is appropriate for the website you’re building.

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2. Web Hosting

Your hosting account provides the server space where your WordPress files and database are stored.

Think of it this way:

Domain = your address

Hosting = the building

WordPress = the system you use to manage the building

If you’re a small business owner in Lagos, for example, you might register a .com domain and purchase hosting from a provider located anywhere in the world. Your visitors don’t need to know where the physical server is located.

What matters more is the quality, reliability, security and performance of the hosting service.

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3. HTTPS/SSL

Your website should use HTTPS.

You may see it as:

https://yourdomain.com

rather than:

http://yourdomain.com

WordPress currently recommends HTTPS support as part of its hosting requirements.

Many hosting providers include an SSL certificate at no additional cost, but don’t assume it is working simply because your hosting plan says “free SSL.”

Test the actual website.

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Which WordPress Installation Method Should You Use?

Installation method	Best for	Difficulty	Typical time
One-click installer	Most beginners	Easy	2–10 minutes
Softaculous/cPanel	Shared hosting users	Easy	A few minutes
Manual installation	Advanced users or special setups	Moderate	15–30+ minutes
Local installation	Learning and testing	Moderate	10–30+ minutes

My recommendation: If your hosting provider offers a reliable WordPress installer, use it.

There’s no advantage in making a simple installation unnecessarily complicated.

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How to Install WordPress Using cPanel or Softaculous

This is the easiest method for most beginners.

Your hosting dashboard may look different from the screenshots or instructions you find online. That’s normal.

Some providers use cPanel. Others use hPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk or their own dashboard.

The names may change, but the basic process is similar.

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Step 1: Log Into Your Hosting Account

Sign in to the hosting account where your domain is connected.

Open the control panel.

If you’re using cPanel, look for something similar to:

Software → Softaculous Apps Installer

You may instead see:

WordPress

WordPress Manager

or

Install WordPress

Click the WordPress option.

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Step 2: Start the WordPress Installation

Look for:

Install

or

Install Now

Click it.

You’ll now see several fields.

Don’t rush through them.

Some of these settings can affect where your website appears and how you access it later.

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Step 3: Select the Correct Protocol

You may see a field called:

Choose Protocol

If SSL is already active, select:

https://

For example:

https://yourdomain.com

If your hosting provider has not activated SSL yet, resolve that before treating HTTP as the permanent version of your website.

A common beginner mistake is to see an SSL problem and simply ignore it.

Don’t.

Your final public website should normally use HTTPS.

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Step 4: Select Your Domain

If you have more than one domain on your hosting account, make sure you select the correct one.

For example, if you want WordPress installed on:

creativityexample.com

don’t accidentally select:

anotherexample.com

This sounds obvious, but it’s an easy mistake when one hosting account contains multiple websites.

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Step 5: Pay Attention to the “In Directory” Field

This is one of the most important details in the entire installation process.

Suppose your domain is:

mybusiness.com

and you want visitors to see your website at:

mybusiness.com

If the installer asks for:

In Directory

you would normally leave that field empty.

If you enter:

wp

you could end up with:

mybusiness.com/wp

Softaculous documentation also specifies leaving the directory field blank when WordPress should be installed at the domain’s root.

There are legitimate reasons to install WordPress in a subdirectory, but don’t accidentally do it because you didn’t understand this field.

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Step 6: Enter Your Website Name

Enter your website title.

For example:

Johnson Plumbing Services

You may also see a field for a site description or tagline.

For example:

Professional Plumbing Services in Houston

Don’t worry if you aren’t completely satisfied with the wording yet.

You can change these settings later from your WordPress dashboard.

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Step 7: Create Your Administrator Account

This is a security-sensitive part of the installation.

You’ll normally need:

• Administrator username
• Password
• Administrator email

Don’t use “admin” as your username

Avoid obvious usernames such as:

admin

administrator

or your full name if it makes the account easy to identify.

Choose something unique.

Create a strong password

Don’t use:

password123

admin123

your birthday

your business name

or another predictable password.

Use a long, unique password and preferably store it in a password manager.

Don’t copy the example passwords you see in tutorials and use them on your actual website.

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Step 8: Enter an Active Email Address

Use an email account you can access.

This can be important for:

• Password recovery
• Website notifications
• Administrator communication
• Important WordPress messages

I recommend using an email address that you actually monitor rather than creating an address and forgetting about it.

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Step 9: Review the Installation

Before clicking Install, check:

• Correct domain
• Correct protocol
• Directory field
• Website title
• Administrator username
• Administrator email
• Password

If everything is correct, click:

Install

The installer will create the WordPress files and database for you.

The actual process can take only a few minutes.

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Step 10: Log Into WordPress

After installation, you’ll normally receive your website address and administration URL.

Your WordPress dashboard is usually available at:

yourdomain.com/wp-admin

For example:

https://mybusiness.com/wp-admin

Enter the username and password you created.

You’re now inside WordPress.

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What Does the WordPress Dashboard Do?

The dashboard may look complicated the first time you see it.

Don’t worry.

You only need to understand the main sections initially.

Posts

Create and manage blog articles.

Pages

Create permanent website pages such as:

• Home
• About
• Services
• Contact

Media

Upload images, PDFs and other media.

Appearance

Manage your site’s theme and design.

Plugins

Add functionality to your website.

Users

Manage administrators, editors and other user accounts.

Settings

Control important WordPress configuration.

You don’t need to understand every menu before you start.

Learn the parts you need as you build.

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10 Things to Do Immediately After Installing WordPress

Installing WordPress isn’t the finish line.

It’s the starting point.

These are the first things I recommend checking.

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1. Confirm Your Website Uses HTTPS

Visit your website using:

https://yourdomain.com

Look for the browser’s security indicator.

If you see a certificate warning, don’t ignore it.

Check your hosting SSL settings or contact your hosting provider.

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2. Check Your Website URL

Go to:

Settings → General

Check:

WordPress Address (URL)

and

Site Address (URL)

Make sure they point to the correct domain.

If you’re using HTTPS, verify that the URLs use the HTTPS version.

Be careful when changing these fields manually. Entering an incorrect address can make the website inaccessible.

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3. Set Your Permalink Structure

Go to:

Settings → Permalinks

For many blogs and business websites, Post name provides simple, readable URLs.

For example:

yourdomain.com/how-to-install-wordpress/

is easier to understand than:

yourdomain.com/?p=123

This doesn’t mean changing your permalink structure automatically makes your content rank higher.

The main benefit is that your URLs become cleaner and easier for visitors to understand.

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4. Delete Unnecessary Default Content

Check:

Posts → All Posts

and

Pages → All Pages

Remove default content such as:

• Hello World
• Sample Page

if you don’t need them.

You don’t want visitors discovering unfinished placeholder content.

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5. Install Only the Plugins You Need

This is where many beginners get carried away.

You install WordPress and suddenly think:

“Let me add every plugin I can find.”

Don’t.

Start with the functionality your website actually needs.

Depending on your project, that may include:

• SEO
• Backup
• Security
• Contact forms
• Performance/caching
• Analytics

For example, you might use Rank Math or Yoast for SEO, but you don’t need both simply because they are popular.

The same principle applies to security and backup plugins.

Your hosting provider may already provide some of these features.

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6. Choose a Mobile-Friendly Theme

Your theme controls much of the website’s appearance.

Look for one that is:

• Mobile-friendly
• Regularly maintained
• Compatible with your required plugins
• Easy to customize
• Appropriate for your website

You don’t need an expensive theme to create a professional website.

A clean, fast and useful website is usually better than one overloaded with visual effects.

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7. Create Your Essential Pages

At minimum, many websites need:

• Home
• About
• Services
• Contact
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use

Depending on the website, you may also need:

• FAQ
• Portfolio
• Blog
• Pricing
• Shop
• Booking page

If you are building from scratch, continue with my guide on How to Create a Website in 2026.

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8. Set Your Timezone

Go to:

Settings → General

Find the timezone setting.

Choose the timezone appropriate for your website operations.

This matters if you schedule posts, events or other automated website activity.

For example, if you’re managing a website from Lagos and schedule an article for 8:00 a.m., the site’s timezone determines when WordPress considers that 8:00 a.m.

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9. Set Up Backups

Before you spend hours designing your website, establish a backup system.

Your hosting provider may provide backups, or you may use a reputable backup solution.

The important thing is to understand:

Where is my backup stored, and how would I restore my website if something went wrong?

A backup you cannot restore is not a strategy you should rely on blindly.

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10. Test the Website on Your Phone

This is one of the simplest tests you can perform.

Open your website on your smartphone.

Check:

• Navigation
• Text size
• Images
• Buttons
• Contact forms
• Menus
• Page loading
• Links

A website can look excellent on a desktop and still be frustrating to use on a phone.

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Don’t Forget Search Engine Visibility

WordPress installation does not automatically guarantee that Google will rank your website.

There is a difference between:

having a website

and

having a website that search engines can discover and users find useful.

Once your site is ready, pay attention to:

• Useful original content
• Clear page titles
• Descriptive URLs
• Internal links
• Mobile usability
• Website performance
• XML sitemap
• Google Search Console
• Analytics

If you’re still developing the site privately, you may temporarily discourage search engines from indexing it.

But when you’re ready to launch, make sure you haven’t accidentally left a setting that prevents search engines from crawling the finished website.

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How to Install WordPress Manually

What happens if your hosting provider doesn’t have Softaculous or another automatic installer?

You can install WordPress manually.

The basic process is:

1. Download WordPress.
2. Upload the WordPress files.
3. Create a database.
4. Create a database user.
5. Give the user the required database privileges.
6. Configure the database connection.
7. Run the WordPress installation.
8. Create your administrator account.

WordPress’s official documentation provides the manual installation process, while cPanel also documents installing WordPress manually through its hosting environment.

Step 1: Download WordPress

Download WordPress from the official WordPress website.

Avoid downloading WordPress files from unknown third-party websites.

Step 2: Upload the Files

Use your hosting File Manager, FTP or SFTP to upload the WordPress files to the correct website directory.

Step 3: Create the Database

Create:

• Database
• Database user
• Database password

Then assign the appropriate permissions.

Step 4: Configure the Database

WordPress needs the correct database information to communicate with the database.

Incorrect credentials can produce:

Error establishing a database connection

Step 5: Run the Installation

Visit your domain.

WordPress should guide you through the remaining setup.

Manual installation gives you more control, but if your hosting company provides a reliable one-click installer, I’d use it as a beginner.

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Why Isn’t My Website Showing After Installing WordPress?

You completed the installation.

You type your domain.

Nothing looks right.

Don’t panic.

Before reinstalling WordPress, check your domain and DNS.

Your domain must point to the correct hosting server.

This becomes particularly important when you buy your:

Domain from Company A

and your:

Hosting from Company B

You may need to update your domain’s nameservers or DNS records.

DNS changes can also take time to become visible across different networks.

So if you’ve just changed your nameservers and your website doesn’t appear immediately, don’t assume WordPress installation failed.

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Common WordPress Installation Problems

Error Establishing a Database Connection

Check:

• Database name
• Database username
• Database password
• Database host
• Database user permissions

If you’re using an automatic installer and the problem appears immediately, contacting your hosting provider may be the quickest solution.

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WordPress Installed at /wp

If your website appears at:

yourdomain.com/wp

instead of:

yourdomain.com

check the installation directory.

If the website is brand new and contains no important work, reinstalling correctly may be simpler.

If you’ve already built the website, don’t start moving WordPress files randomly.

Back up the site first.

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SSL/HTTPS Error

If you receive an SSL warning:

1. Check whether SSL has been issued.
2. Check whether the certificate covers your domain.
3. Confirm your domain points to the correct hosting account.
4. Contact your hosting provider if the certificate isn’t active.

Don’t simply ignore the warning.

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404 Errors

If WordPress pages produce 404 errors, try:

Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes

This can refresh WordPress’s permalink rules.

If that doesn’t work, investigate your server configuration and rewrite rules.

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White Screen

A blank or white page can be caused by several things, including:

• Plugin conflicts
• Theme problems
• PHP errors
• Resource/memory limitations

If it happens immediately after activating a plugin or theme, that recent change is worth investigating first.

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Can’t Log Into WordPress

Start with:

yourdomain.com/wp-admin

If you’ve forgotten your password, use the password recovery option.

If you recently moved the website or changed the site URL, the problem may require additional troubleshooting.

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Can You Install WordPress on Your Computer?

Yes.

You can install WordPress locally using development tools such as:

• Local
• XAMPP
• MAMP

A local WordPress installation is useful when you want to:

• Learn WordPress
• Test themes
• Experiment with plugins
• Develop a website before publishing it

However, a website installed on your computer isn’t automatically accessible to the public internet.

For a live website, you’ll eventually need a suitable hosting environment.

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How Much Does It Cost to Install WordPress?

WordPress itself is free and open-source. Your actual website costs depend on the services you choose.

For example, suppose:

Hosting = $8/month

Domain = $15/year

Your simple annual calculation would be:

$8 × 12 = $96

Then:

$96 + $15 = $111/year

So your example first-year cost is approximately:

$111

That’s only an illustration. Hosting prices, domain registration, introductory offers, renewal prices, SSL, premium themes and plugins vary.

If you’re comparing the wider cost of creating a website, read Website Design Cost for Small Businesses.

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How Long Does WordPress Installation Take?

The installation itself can take only a few minutes with an automatic installer.

But there’s an important difference between:

Installing WordPress

and

Building a website.

A realistic workflow might look like this:

Task	Typical time
Install WordPress	2–10 minutes
Basic configuration	15–30 minutes
Install/configure essential tools	30–60+ minutes
Create a simple website	Several hours or more
Build a professional business website	Several days or more

The exact time depends on your experience and the complexity of the website.

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Should You Install WordPress Yourself or Hire a Professional?

If you’re creating a personal blog, learning WordPress or building a simple website, I’d encourage you to try the installation yourself.

It’s not as difficult as it first appears.

But if you’re launching a business, church, professional service, author brand or online store, the installation is only a small part of the project.

You may also need:

• Website architecture
• Professional design
• Mobile optimization
• Contact forms
• SEO setup
• Speed optimization
• Security
• Analytics
• Search Console
• Business email
• Conversion-focused pages
• Ongoing maintenance

This is something I’ve learned from working with websites: the biggest difference between a website that merely exists and one that actually helps an organization is usually what happens after WordPress is installed.

Don’t feel that you have to become a developer before you can have a professional website.

At the same time, don’t pay someone simply because you’re afraid to click the WordPress installation button.

If you’re comfortable learning, install WordPress yourself.

If your time is better spent running your business, let a professional handle the technical work.

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My Practical Advice for Your First WordPress Website

If this is your first website, resist the temptation to build everything at once.

I’ve seen how easy it is to start with a simple WordPress installation and quickly end up with:

• Too many plugins
• An unnecessarily complicated theme
• Multiple page builders
• Heavy animations
• Unused features
• Poor mobile performance

Start with the basics.

Get your domain working.

Get HTTPS working.

Install WordPress.

Create the important pages.

Make navigation simple.

Then add features when there’s a genuine reason for them.

For example, a small service business in Lagos might initially need nothing more complicated than:

Home → About → Services → Portfolio → Contact → WhatsApp

A business serving customers in Houston, London or another market may need a different structure.

The principle remains the same:

Build around what your visitor needs to do—not around how many features WordPress can provide.

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WordPress Installation Checklist

Before you consider your setup complete, run through this list.

Before installation

• Domain connected correctly
• Hosting account active
• Hosting meets WordPress requirements
• SSL/HTTPS available
• Correct domain identified

During installation

• Correct protocol selected
• Correct domain selected
• Installation directory checked
• Unique administrator username created
• Strong password created
• Active email address entered

After installation

• HTTPS tested
• Website URL checked
• Permalinks configured
• Default content removed
• Theme selected
• Essential pages created
• Only necessary plugins installed
• Backup system established
• Mobile version tested
• Search visibility checked
• Contact forms and important links tested

If you’ve completed those steps, you’re ready to move from WordPress installation to actually building your website.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Installing WordPress

Is WordPress free?

Yes. WordPress is free and open-source software. You’ll normally pay separately for things such as your domain and hosting.

Do I need coding skills to install WordPress?

No. A one-click installer can handle most of the technical work for you.

What is the easiest way to install WordPress?

For most beginners, use the WordPress installer provided by your hosting company, such as Softaculous or a WordPress Manager.

Can I install WordPress without cPanel?

Yes. You can use another hosting control panel or install WordPress manually using FTP/SFTP and a database.

Can I install WordPress without hosting?

You can install WordPress locally on your computer for development and testing. A public website normally needs web hosting.

Where do I log into WordPress?

Usually:

yourdomain.com/wp-admin

Why was WordPress installed in /wp?

You may have entered wp in the installation directory field. If you want WordPress at the root domain, that field is normally left empty.

How long does WordPress installation take?

A one-click installation can take only a few minutes. Configuring and building the website takes considerably longer.

Can I change my WordPress theme later?

Yes. You can change themes later, although you should test the website carefully after changing a theme because design and functionality can be affected.

Is WordPress good for small businesses?

Yes. WordPress can be a practical option for small businesses because you can start with a relatively simple website and expand its functionality as your needs grow.

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Installing WordPress isn’t nearly as complicated as it sounds.

For most beginners, the process is simply:

Buy hosting → Connect your domain → Open the WordPress installer → Select your domain → Create your administrator account → Install → Log in to /wp-admin.

The important part is not just getting WordPress installed.

It’s getting the foundation right.

Use HTTPS. Choose the correct domain. Don’t accidentally install WordPress in the wrong directory. Use a strong administrator account. Set up backups. Test your website on mobile. Then build only the features your visitors actually need.

If you’re ready to go beyond installation, continue with How to Create a Website in 2026.

And once your website is live, don’t forget maintenance. My guide on How to Maintain a Website covers the ongoing work required to keep a website secure, updated and functional.

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Need Help Building Your WordPress Website?

You can absolutely install WordPress yourself.

But if you’d rather spend your time running your business instead of dealing with themes, plugins, mobile layouts, speed and technical configuration, Creativity Publications can help you build and set up your website professionally.

We provide WordPress website services for businesses, churches, organizations, authors and personal brands, including website design, redesign, basic SEO setup, speed optimization and maintenance.

Contact us for a free consultation if you’d like help turning your WordPress installation into a professional website.