Installing WordPress is the foundation of building a professional website. While major hosting platforms offer 1-click autoinstallers, understanding how to configure databases, install SSL certificates, and set secure admin credentials is crucial for protecting your digital assets. In this comprehensive guide, we walk you through every method to install WordPress.
Method 1: The Modern 1-Click Autoinstaller (hPanel & cPanel)
If you chose a premium modern host like Hostinger, you do not need to deal with code or zip archives. Follow these simple steps:
- Log into your hosting dashboard (e.g. Hostinger hPanel).
- Go to the Websites section and click Auto Installer.
- Select WordPress from the options and click Select.
- Fill out the form: choose your site title, enter your administrator email, and write a strong admin password.
- Select your preferred directory path (leave blank to install on the main domain root).
- Click Install. In less than 60 seconds, your site will be live!
Method 2: Manual Installation via FTP (For Advanced Users)
If you deploy isolated VPS servers or use hosts without autoinstallers, installing WordPress manually is standard:
- Download the latest official WordPress core package from WordPress.org.
- Unzip the files and upload them to your server's
public_htmlfolder using an FTP client (like FileZilla). - Log into your server's control panel and create a new **MySQL Database** and user, securing a strong database password.
- Navigate to your domain URL. The WordPress setup wizard will open, prompting you to enter your database name, username, and password.
- Run the installation and configure your site settings.
Crucial Post-Installation Checklist
- Configure Permalinks: Go to
Settings > Permalinksand select Post name to ensure search-engine-friendly URLs. - Secure the admin Username: Never use "admin" as your login ID. Set a highly unique admin username to prevent brute-force attacks.
- Activate SSL: Ensure your URL prefix is
https://to encrypt visitor data.
