So you see a theme you like on our free wordpress themes page, but have no clue how to even install WordPress in the first place? Not to worry, we’ve written a little tutorial, complete with screenshots, so even a total newbie can figure it out! After five easy steps you’ll have a freshly installed WordPress installation, ready to start blogging.
There are a few ways of installing WordPress using autoinstaller scripts such as Fantastico, but in this tutorial we will be focusing on installing WordPress the old fashioned way - manually. This tutorial assumes you already have hosting configured for the URL you plan on having your installation of WordPress set up.
Step 1: Download WordPress
This may seem pretty obvious, because it is. First step, navigate on over to the download page at WordPress.org. Do not download WordPress on any other third party site. At WordPress.org you can be assured you’re getting the latest stable version direct from the official website.
It’s your choice, download either the .zip or .tar.gz file, both contain the same files. You’d probably rather download the .zip if you’re a Windows user. Once you have extracted the files you’ll be ready to upload the files to your hosting account. Go ahead and click the link below to see the next page in the tutorial.
Step 2: Extract the files
Okay, so you should have extracted all the files in the latest.zip or latest.tar.gz and have them all ready to go in a nice directory on your local machine. I use Windows XP, and it should look something like this.
Please note some of the icons may look slightly different for you depending on the default programs you’ve chosen for the filetypes.
Next you’ll need an FTP client to upload the files to your web host. If you still don’t have a host at this point, we highly recommend HostGator for affordable shared and reseller solutions. They even have Fantastico on all accounts, so you don’t even need this manual installation tutorial. Okay, enough plugging HostGator, back to the FTP client. We recommend using either FileZilla or SmartFTP. Both are free and relatively straightforward to use. Make sure you download the Client and not the server. We’ll be using FileZilla for the next part of our tutorial.
Step 3: Upload files to your host
Using FileZilla, it’s easy to upload files directly from your computer to your hosting account. Open it up, type in your login details at the top and click the Quickconnect button.
So far you should have a screen like you see above. Make sure you’re uploading within the public folder, which is usually called /public_html/. If you want to install to a subdirectory, that’s fine as well. Once you’ve uploaded all the WordPress files and folders in the same structure as in the .zip or .tar.gz file, you’re ready to set up your database.
Step 4: Set up the database
This is where it may get a little tricky. We’ll be using cPanel for the example. When you login to your cPanel account, you should see something like this below.
Different versions may differ, the important thing is to navigate to the MySQL® Databases page. You should now be at a page which looks like this.
On this page you will create the MySQL database, and the user that connects to it. Please note that this not related to the WordPress admin login, we’ll get to that step next. First, type in the name you want to call your database. For this example, we’ll simply call it wordpress. The next step is to create a user which will connect to the database. For purposes of the example we’ll use dbuser as the username and you can use your imagination for the password. Please make sure you write down the password you use temporarily, because it is needed for the next step. You’ll then need to add that user to the database you just created with All privileges. You should now have something that looks like this.
Notice the prefix of yourusername_ in the database name and username. This is your username for your hosting account. You will need to use the database name and username as you see it on this page, or it won’t work. Next we will actually start installing WordPress via the web-based installation script.
Step 5: Install WordPress …finally
We’re almost done now. You’ve already uploaded the WordPress folders and files to your hosting account and set up the database. Now it’s time to navigate to the URL you’ve installed it on via your web browser. If everything was uploaded properly, you should see a page like this.
Yes, that’s right, you’re supposed to see an error. Why? Because WordPress doesn’t know how to connect to the database you’ve just created. Go through the create a wp-config.php file through a web interface page and enter the database details. You probably won’t need to edit the last two fields.
Hopefully there won’t be any errors. If there are you’ll need to create a wp-config.php file manually. After the database has been configured to work with WordPress, it’s smooth sailing. Everything past this should be relatively straightforward. Just type in the title of your blog, your e-mail, and you’re done. Your username should be admin and your password will be automatically generated for you. Go ahead and login and change this if you want.
You should have something like this as your final result. If you’re still having problems, feel free to post in our general support forum for help.
Anyways, how can one contact you to do...
Nice tutorial
Perfect for first time installers!
Thanks Brad, glad you liked it.
very nice tutorial..
I’ve once try to use this plugin but there is so much hassle to setting here and there resulting me drop this plugin out of my list.
After stumble with this tutor I might try the plugin once again.
Many thanks.
Well I just upgraded my WP so I didnt have to create a database for it, but this is really helpful.
thanks for the tutorial.. but why should I create a DB, to upgrade the version..!!
Thanks for this very good tutorial!
I’ll try to upload WordPress, but before I can do that I have to ask you about step 4.
“Step 4: Set up the database
This is where it may get a little tricky. We’ll be using cPanel for the example. When you login to your cPanel account, you should see something like this below.”
What is this? can you explain? I’m a beginner here and I don’t know where and how I have to login.
Thanks,
MH
@Marianna: You will probably have to contact your web hosting provider about this.
Hi Leland,
I just installed word press and I’m so happy!
Thanks again for this great and very simple tutorial! I have to say my host co.(WestHost) is exceptional, they very patiently walk me through everything what I didn’t know.
Thanks,
MH
No problem. Glad you got it working.
thanks, very cool tutorial !
Well thanks for this tutorial but i m confused in database name
Can i put my domain name as the database name
Awesome tutorial.
The download links have only a few pixels active (in the buttons). I can’t steady my hand to download the update, but I can find it elsewhere.
Awesome tutorial!
Maybe WordPress blogs will help me pay off my mortgage sooner!
Yay!
@Lin: Thanks for the comments. I don’t seem to have a problem downloading it though, try this link.
wow. I was good up until the cPANEL MTSQL DATABASE thing. I have no idea how to get there.
Where can I download that MySQL. I can’t figure that part out!
@Emily: You should probably ask your web hosting provider about accessing the MySQL databases.
is there any way i can get it without talking to my host?
@Emily: You’d need to access your hosting control panel and find the MySQL part. Who is your host? They should be able to help…
Also do you have Fantastico? There may be an automated installation available.
I’m with verizon. I am not sure if they have fantastico.
Emily, I’m not sure you understand. Verizon is an ISP. You need to get proper web hosting that supports WordPress. I would recommend HostGator.
PERFECT GUIDE!! thanks much!
Thank you, couldn’t have done it alone. I’m linking to this site. really appreciate the help.
Hi.How do you get to drag the files through FileZilla? (I’m confused with step 3) can you give me instructions? thanks!!
@Gabby: Select all the files (Ctrl+A), click and hold the mouse down and drag them over to the right. Also, you only need to leave one comment - first time commentators are moderated.
You could also try watching the video tutorial on installing WordPress.
great - very helpful. Still took me a while but that’s to be expected for my first time.
Ronda
Very handy tutorial..I was havings ome problem but this tutorial really helped me alot..
Thanks !!
Super tutorial - awesome screen shot and everything.
Here’s my 2 part Wordpress installation tutorial screen cast I did on wordpress 2.6.
http://ryanmcmillan.com/install-wordpress-from-scratch-part-1/
http://ryanmcmillan.com/install-wordpress-from-scratch-part-2/
Hi,
Awesome !!!
I am very new to blogging and websites. So, kindly bear with me, if you find my question to be a simple one.
I have registered my space with hostmonster.com. To, simply gain some experience, I played with “Site Builder” from hostmonster.com, and created a webpage. I then deleted the project using the same tool. Later, I installed wordpress. As suggested, I installed wordpress in a sub-directory “/public_html/wp”. Now when I type the url “www.momenhighschool.com”, it still opens the old page I designed. I have to enter “www.momenhighschool/wp” to make the wordpress theme appear.
I still see couple of files under “/public_html/” folder.
Following are my questions:
1) Should I delete all the files under “/public_html” folder leaving wp folder?
2) How do I configure such that I dont have to specify “/wp” at the end of my URL and simply use “www.momenhighschool.com”.
Thanks for taking time in answering my question.
Regards
Hi, Thanks for the tutorial. But I’m facing a strange problem installing wordpress. I’ve set up all the database, user name etc. but I’m getting Fatal Error:Call to undefined function wp(). Please help me to instal wordpress.
Thanks for posting this. Your instructions are so easy to follow and descriptive, I thought I wouldn’t have any issues, but now I’ve spent 2 hours trying to back track and repeat every step, still can’t get my url to show the wordpress error page. Very frustrating. Waaaah
Thanks mate, I was in search of this
I know that I’m not the brightest bulb on the Holiday Tree, so please bear with me…
Already running WPress. Keep on getting nagged to update.
1. Is there any reason I can’t simply download, unzip, move to my FrontPage program, and then use my FrontPage program to update to the new version?
2. Should I do a back up of what I have already before doing the update?
Thanks for your advices.
The Old Codger
cheers Leland,
This was useful when putting together a video how-to. hope that’s useful…
http://www.guvnr.com/web/blogging/video-how-to-install-wordpress-nice-n-simple/
best to you.
Hi,
Very useful and simple guide. I have successfully installed wordpress in my URL, with a little struggle.
When i tried to create the wp-config.php through web interface, after creating database and username it can’t create it. And I have forced to create it manually. But initially I didn’t know it. Again I go to wordpress.org to know how to create wp-config.php manually. I have found these pages there which I was need Famous 5-Minute Install and Editing wp-config.php
Finally, I have edit wp-config-sample.php and created wp-config.php file.
Thanks.
Thanks for sharing a nice guide… It is worked well for me. good job!
Excellent tutorial for newbies. Nice software recommendations.
Screenshots of Desktop PC and CPanel are extremely useful.
Thanks