Did you know many web hosts offer a one click QuickInstall of the latest WordPress software release?
If your web host doesn’t offer this then you may need to install WordPress manually, the old fashioned way.
In this wordpress tutorial we’ll cover the complete process starting with:
- Downloading the latest version of WordPress
- Creating a new database using Cpanel
- Creating and editing your wp.config file
- Uploading your files using FTP to the root directory of your public_html folder on your web host
- Following the wordpress installation script until you have successfully completed your installation
I have already written several wordpress tutorials on how to install WordPress however, this is the first post detailing the full manual installation covering the complete process from start to finish.
These days, our hosting partners offer an easy one click install that automatically completes this full process in less than one (1) minute.
Start WordPress Installation Process
Step 1) Download the latest stable release of wordpress and unzip the folder using winzip or another program.
If you have no idea what to do with this download, we recommend signing up with one of our web server partners that offers a one click install of WordPress or getting a free installation here.
Step 2) Create a new database, username and password using Cpanel (if you don’t have Cpanel then you will need to ask you host to help you with this step or find a new host).
Save the new database details to notepad as you will need to paste this info into the config file to tell your site that you have a new database to connect data from. Simply follow the 3 step process to completion
Login to your new hosts Cpanel and scroll down to databases
Click on MySql database wizard and enter a name for the database
Follow the simple steps and enter a username and password to create your new database
Add user to database and Select all privileges and your done.
Step 3) Upload your unzipped wordpress folder to your hosts public_html root directory using FTP
- Login to FTP and locate the wordpress folder you downloaded and unzipped in step 1 which will be on the local side of your FTP screen
- On the right hand side of your FTP screen is the remote computer which is your server. You need to upload (transfer) the full contents of your unzipped wordpress folder to your public_html which is your root directory on your hosts server.
- You can right click on your public_html folder and create a new folder(directory) then upload the contents only, not the folder itself to this new folder which you should name after your website domain. I named my folder, wordpresssites.
- Or, you can simply drag the whole folder containing the contents of your wordpress download across to your public_html root directory and rename it to your website domain after the upload is complete. (this is the easiest, fastest and safest way).
You will need to create an FTP account with your web host so that you have authority to transfer files from your local computer to your web hosts server
Make sure you take note of the following:
Do NOT transfer(upload) the folder containing your new wordpress download from your local computer into a folder named your website domain which is already inside your public_html folder or your site will not work and the installation script will not start.
You only need one directory(folder) inside the public_html root directory. You do not need a sub directory as this will become your posts categories or something else depending on your URL Permalink structure choice.
4). Start the WordPress installation script
- Go to the address bar in your browser and type in your full website domain name.
- If you uploaded your WordPress files into your public_html root directory, then the full address to your installation script will be: http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php
- If you uploaded your WordPress files into a sub directory of your root directory, then the full address to your installation script will be: http://yourdomain.com/subdirectory/wp-admin/install.php
WP.Config file
WordPress will generate a new wp-config.php file which will require you to edit your wp-config.php file by entering the database details that you created in step 2.
If WordPress has a problem creating the config file, you may enter wp-admin/setup-config/php into the address bar of your browser and try again otherwise you will need to start all over again and create the wp.config file with your new database details before you upload all the contents of your wordpress folder to your remote host (public_html) root directory.
Finish the installation process off by following the process through after entering your:
- Site Title
- Username
- Password
- E-mail address
Then click install wordpress and you should see a success page.
Note: It is probably better to avoid creating and editing your wp.config file unless you are a seasoned professional as this is where lots of little mistakes happen that cause big problems. You only need one space to many or a missed character and you’ll get an error message.
If you have no idea what to do with this download, we recommend signing up with one of our web hosting partners that offers a one click install of WordPress or getting a free installation here.
What’s Next?
With the 5 Step installation, setting up WordPress for the first time is fairly simple. If you are moving your installation over from another host and on a budget, we have a tutorial that covers the complete process.
If you’re migrating your existing installation to a new host and want a simple, fast solution using a premium plugin, we’ve got a guide for that, too.
Brad Dalton
@wpsitesdotnet
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