Quick answer: The easiest way to install WordPress is the one-click installer in your hosting control panel: choose your domain, set a site title, username and strong password, and click Install — it takes about five minutes. You can also install it manually: download WordPress from WordPress.org, upload it to your server, create a database and run the famous five-minute install. To practise first, install WordPress locally on your computer.
Before you start
- A domain name pointing to your host.
- Hosting that meets the requirements: PHP 8.3+ and MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.11+ are recommended by WordPress.org — see our hosting guide.
- An SSL certificate (most hosts include free SSL) so your site uses HTTPS.
Method 1: One-click install (recommended)
- Log in to your hosting account (cPanel, hPanel, Plesk or the host’s own dashboard).
- Find WordPress, Website builder/installer or an app installer such as Softaculous.
- Choose your domain and leave the directory empty to install at the root (
yoursite.com). - Enter a site title, an admin username (not “admin”), a strong password and your email.
- Click Install and wait a minute or two.
- Open
yoursite.com/wp-adminand log in.
Many hosts also offer a setup wizard that installs WordPress automatically when you buy hosting.
Method 2: Manual installation
Manual installation gives you full control and is useful if your host has no installer.
- Download WordPress from the official site — see how to download WordPress safely — and unzip it.
- Create a database and a database user in your hosting panel (MySQL Databases). Give the user all privileges on the database and note the database name, username and password.
- Upload the files with an FTP/SFTP client (or the host’s file manager) into your site’s root folder, often
public_html. - Visit your domain. The WordPress setup screen appears. Choose your language.
- Enter the database details: database name, username, password, host (usually
localhost) and table prefix (you can changewp_to something unique). - Run the installation: enter site title, admin username, password and email.
- Log in at
yoursite.com/wp-admin.
The official walkthrough is in the WordPress.org installation guide.
Method 3: Install WordPress on your computer (local)
A local install lets you learn and test without hosting. Popular free tools create a local server and install WordPress for you. Once it’s running, the dashboard is usually at an address like localhost/wordpress/wp-admin or a local domain the tool creates. See our guide to accessing localhost/wordpress/wp-admin.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Time | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-click | ~5 minutes | Easy | Most people |
| Manual | 15–30 minutes | Medium | Hosts without installers, learning how WordPress works |
| Local | 10–20 minutes | Easy–medium | Practising, testing themes and plugins |
10 things to do right after installing
- Set your time zone and site title in Settings → General.
- Change permalinks to Post name (Settings → Permalinks).
- Delete the sample post, page and comment.
- Delete unused default themes and plugins.
- Choose and activate a fast theme.
- Install an SEO plugin.
- Set up automatic backups.
- Add security basics — see our security guide.
- Create your key pages (About, Contact, Privacy Policy).
- Make sure the site loads over HTTPS.
What gets installed on your server
A WordPress installation has three main parts. The core files (folders like wp-admin and wp-includes) are the software itself — never edit these, because updates replace them. The wp-content folder holds everything that is yours: themes, plugins and uploaded media. Finally, the database stores your posts, pages, settings and users. The file wp-config.php connects the files to the database and holds important settings. Knowing this makes backups and troubleshooting much easier: a full backup always means both the files and the database.
Secure your admin account from day one
- Use a unique username — not “admin” or your domain name.
- Use a long password from a password manager.
- Turn on two-factor authentication with a security plugin.
- Use your real email address so password resets reach you.
www or no www?
Decide whether your site will use www.yoursite.com or yoursite.com, set it in Settings → General, and make sure the other version redirects to it. Either choice is fine for SEO — consistency is what matters.
Common installation problems
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| “Error establishing a database connection” | Check database name, user, password and host — see our fix guide |
| Setup screen doesn’t appear | Files may be in the wrong folder, or DNS hasn’t updated yet |
| “Not secure” warning | Install or activate SSL in your hosting panel |
| Blank white page | See white screen of death fixes |
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to install WordPress?
About five minutes with a one-click installer, and up to half an hour manually.
Is installing WordPress free?
Yes, the software is free. You pay for hosting and your domain.
Can I install WordPress without hosting?
Yes, locally on your computer — but only you can see it until you move it to a host.
Can I install WordPress in a subfolder?
Yes, by choosing a directory (for example /blog) during installation.
Final thoughts
Use the one-click installer unless you have a reason not to, then spend ten minutes on the setup checklist. Next: learn how to use WordPress.
After installation: your first 10 settings
A fresh WordPress install works straight away, but a few settings make a big difference. Set your site title, tagline and time zone in Settings → General. Choose “Post name” in Settings → Permalinks for clean URLs. Delete the sample post, page and comment. Update your user profile with a display name and short bio. Decide whether comments should be open. Install a lightweight theme and an SEO plugin. Set up automatic backups. Turn on two-factor authentication for your admin account. Create your Privacy Policy page from the template in Settings → Privacy. Finally, make sure “Discourage search engines” in Settings → Reading is unticked when you’re ready to launch.
Check your server is secure
WordPress runs on PHP, so your server’s PHP version matters for speed and security. After installing, go to Tools → Site Health and check for warnings. If your PHP version is old or unsupported, ask your host to upgrade it. This became urgent in October 2026, when the PHP2Shell vulnerabilities affected unpatched servers worldwide. A supported, patched PHP version is one of the simplest ways to keep a new site safe.
Common installation problems
- “Error establishing a database connection” — the database name, user or password in wp-config.php is wrong. See our fix guide.
- Site shows a directory listing or host page — WordPress was installed in the wrong folder, or DNS hasn’t updated yet.
- Not secure warning — install the free SSL certificate in your hosting panel and update your site address to https.
Next steps
Once WordPress is installed and configured, learn the basics in our beginner’s guide, explore the admin dashboard and pick a theme from our best free themes list. Take it one step at a time.
There’s no rush — a well-planned site beats a hurried one.
WordPressPrime.com is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the WordPress Foundation, WordPress.org or Automattic. Always back up your website before making changes, and check official sources for the latest details.
