How do I install WordPress?
WordPress is a great tool for distributing content. It provides a user-friendly approach to building and maintaining a website through different plugins and helpful features. You can choose to install WordPress in a few ways, either manually or through either of our easy-to-use tools.
For cPanel hosting customers, installing WordPress is easy. Use either the in-built WordPress toolkit or the Softaculous installer.
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The WordPress toolkit is an easy-to-use management tool. It has great functions, including a built-in installer and features that allow managing multiple WordPress sites. All this without needing to log in to the WordPress admin area. This is great for a reseller hosting customer who resells WordPress or a developer working with WordPress that needs quick access to client sites.
- Log in to cPanel.
- After, under the domains area, click on WordPress Toolkit.
Tip: Check for a previous WordPress installation using the scan button.
- From here, click install. This will start the installation wizard, it should pop out from the left side of your browser. Find each area of the installation wizard explained in the sections below.
If any of the configuration fields are blank, they will be automatically filled with random details. This prevents installation errors, as WordPress requires these options to function.
General WordPress install options
- Firstly, configure the installation path for WordPress. This is where core WordPress files, themes, and, plugins will go. It can be left blank, which will install WordPress in the root directory or the public_html folder. If you want a multisite install, you might want to create a separate directory that uses the websites’ domain.
- Afterwards, set a website title for your WordPress install. This will be the site title, not the domain.
- Once that’s completed, you can select a plugin/theme set. Leave it blank for a fresh installation.
- Moving on, you will need to set your website language. This should match the language used on the site; This is best practice for SEO, getting you the best search engine results.
- Finally, you can use the version drop-down to select which WordPress version you want to use. You should always try to use the most up-to-date version to keep your site secure from any vulnerabilities.
After you have completed the general installation options above, start configuring your administration area. This will determine the default admin users for the WordPress install.
- First, enter a username in the username field. This should be something both unique and memorable.
- Afterwards, create a password to fill the password field. You can use the generate button to create a strong, unique password for you.
- Finally, enter your email address you want associated with this account in the email field.
The MySQL database is central to WordPress, without it; it would not work. Your WordPress install will connect to the database using the wp-config.php file. When the WordPress toolkit runs, it will create a new database for you automatically, removing the need to manually create one.
- You can edit the automatic configuration, but this isn’t recommended. See the different options below.
Automatic update settings
The WordPress toolkit allows you to set parameters for automatic forced updates. These ensure that your WordPress website remains up-to-date, running the latest version of WordPress and any add-ons, including your WordPress theme.
- Again, these can be edited, but we suggest keeping the default settings. Disabling this feature could lead to malware issues and forced updates could cause compatibility issues.
Install with Softaculous
- Log into your cPanel account using your username and password.
- Navigate to the Software section and click Softaculous Apps Installer
- If WordPress is visible you can install it by hovering over it and clicking install.
- Alternatively, use the search feature to find WordPress and then click install.
- After clicking install you will be prompted to select a protocol, Enter a domain name and choose a directory to install WordPress too (Leaving blank will install in the root directory).
- Set a site name, set description, and ensure that multisite is disabled.
- Set an admin username, password, and email [Ensure that you remember these as you will need them to access your WP-admin dashboard].
- It is recommended in this section that you enable all auto-upgrade features as they will help protect your site. You can also use advanced options to change the name and table prefix if you desire to.