Key takeaways
- Most hosts offer a one-click installer; manual installation takes about 10 minutes.
- After installing, configure permalinks, site title, timezone, SSL and search visibility before adding content.
- Remove default content, set up backups and security, then choose a theme and essential plugins.
Installing WordPress is easy; installing it well takes a few more minutes and saves headaches later. This guide covers both the one-click route and a manual install, followed by the settings I configure on every new site.
Before you start#
- A domain name — see how to choose a domain.
- Hosting with PHP 8.1+ (8.2 or 8.3 preferred), MySQL 8 or MariaDB 10.5+, HTTPS support — see hosting types.
- DNS pointing the domain to the host — see DNS explained.
Option 1: one-click install#
- Log in to your hosting panel (cPanel, hPanel, Plesk or the host’s dashboard).
- Find “WordPress” or an app installer such as Softaculous.
- Choose the domain, install over https://, and leave the directory empty to install at the root.
- Set an admin username that isn’t “admin”, a strong password and your real email.
- Install, then log in at
yourdomain.com/wp-admin.
Option 2: manual install#
- Download WordPress from wordpress.org and unzip it.
- Create a MySQL database and user in your hosting panel; grant all privileges and note the details.
- Upload the files to your web root (
public_html) with SFTP or the file manager. - Visit your domain — the setup wizard asks for database name, user, password and host (usually
localhost). Change the table prefix fromwp_for a little extra obscurity. - Enter site title, admin username, password and email, then install.
Developers can also use WP-CLI: wp core download, wp config create, wp core install.
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The first 15 minutes after installing#
| Setting | Where | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Permalinks | Settings → Permalinks | “Post name” (/%postname%/) — see permalinks for SEO |
| Site title and tagline | Settings → General | Your brand; a short descriptive tagline |
| Timezone and date format | Settings → General | Your city (e.g. Kolkata for India) |
| WordPress/Site address | Settings → General | Both on https:// |
| Search engine visibility | Settings → Reading | Tick “Discourage” only while building; untick at launch |
| Comments | Settings → Discussion | Hold first comments for moderation; disable if not needed |
| Language | Settings → General | Site language matching your audience |
Clean up and secure#
- Delete the sample post, sample page and “Hello Dolly” plugin; remove unused default themes except one fallback.
- Install SSL and force HTTPS — see SSL & HTTPS.
- Set up automatic off-site backups — see backup guide.
- Enable two-factor authentication for admins — see security guide.
- Create a staging site for future changes — see staging guide.
Next: theme, plugins and content#
- Choose a fast, well-maintained theme — see theme guide.
- Install only essential plugins — see plugin guide.
- Create core pages: Home, About, Services, Contact, Privacy Policy.
- Connect Google Search Console and GA4.
- Follow the WordPress SEO guide before publishing content.
Installing WordPress FAQ#
Can I install WordPress on my computer?#
Yes, with tools like Local, DevKinsta or WordPress Studio — ideal for learning and development.
Should I install WordPress in a subfolder?#
Install at the root for a main website. Use a subfolder (/blog/) only if the rest of the site runs on something else.
How much does it cost to run WordPress?#
Mainly hosting and domain. See what affects website cost.