How to Install WordPress on a Website

Assumptions:

Before we start, I am going to make the following assumptions:

Topics on this Page:

What do I Need to Install WordPress on a ‘Live’ Web Server?

As mentioned in the previous article ‘Installing WordPress (An Overview)‘, to install WordPress as a ‘live’ website, you will need the following components:

The Web Host Provider:

Web Hosting Companies (any Trademarks Belong to their Respective Owners)
Web Hosting Companies (any Trademarks Belong to their Respective Owners)

The hosting provider will often provide software that installs WordPress for you. This is normally through a control panel like cPanel, or Plesk.

The control panel will allow you to configure your server and website. For this installation, I used the ‘cPanel’ control panel.

The Domain Name:

If you purchased a domain name through your web host supplier, it’s normally a straightforward task linking the domain to your website, (The web host’s WordPress installation process will normally ask for the domain, or provide a dropdown list for you to select the domain).

The Domain Name
The Domain Name ‘example.com’

If your domain is parked with another hosting company, you will have to point the ‘name servers’ at the domain.

A Copy of WordPress:

WordPress Logo (Thin)

Your web hosting package will come with a control panel, (cPanel, Plesk, etc). The easiest way to install WordPress (on a ‘live’ web server) is through the control panel using an app…

Therefore (in most cases on a ‘live’ web server), WordPress doesn’t need to be downloaded.


If you need to download WordPress, follow this link WordPress.

Note:

WordPress downloads should be through the .org website, (wordpress.com is a commercial paid, or limited free version).


A Theme:

WordPress Themes
WordPress Themes

During Installation, WordPress will install with a free default theme. This will be a good usable starter theme.

However, there are thousands of WordPress themes available, some free, some paid for. I would start with the free default theme and play around with WordPress, just to get an idea on what you want, and then progress from there…


Installing WordPress on a Live Website (or Server):

Using a control panel App to install WordPress:

  • Open your control panel, in this case cPanel… (or another type of control panel).
The Web Hosting Control Panel Log in - cPanel
The Web Hosting Control Panel Log in – cPanel
  • Find the control panel ‘App Installer’ (in this case softaculous).
The Web Hosting Control Panel - App Installer (Softaculous)
The Web Hosting Control Panel – App Installer (Softaculous)
  • Open the App and find the WordPress installer…
The Web Hosting Control Panel - The Softaculous App Page
The Web Hosting Control Panel – The Softaculous App Page

Open the App to Begin Installing WordPress:

  • Find the WordPress Install App and click ‘Install’.
The Web Hosting Control Panel App - WordPress Installation
The Web Hosting Control Panel App – WordPress Installation
  • The WordPress installation page will open.
The Web Hosting Control Panel App - WordPress Installation Settings Page
The Web Hosting Control Panel App – WordPress Installation Settings Page
  • Start to setup WordPress by updating, populating the various installation parameters, such as the domain settings.
Live Website Server - WordPress Installation Setup (Select the Domain)
Live Website Server – WordPress Installation Setup (Select the Domain)
  • You would normally install WordPress in the root folder (usually called htdocs or public_html, etc). If this is the case, you need to leave this field blank.
Live Website Server - WordPress Installation Setup (Install Folder)
Live Website Server – WordPress Installation Setup (Install Folder)
  • Let WordPress know what the site name and description is?
Live Website Server - WordPress Installation Setup (Site Name & Description)
Live Website Server – WordPress Installation Setup (Site Name & Description)

Important (Best Practice):

If you ever plan to use a ‘testing’ server, it is a good idea to setup your ‘live’ server database and your future ‘testing’ Server database so they are identical. I.e. The following parameters should be the same in both locations:

  • Username.
  • Password.
  • Hostname.
  • Database name.
  • Table prefix.

This is so your ‘Live Site’ and ‘Testing’ Server mirror each other. This will make life far easier if you upload your website to a ‘testing’ server, (or when backing up and updating).

  • Create a password…
  • Update the Username (if required)?
  • and the email (if required)?
Live Website Server - WordPress Installation Setup (Create a Password)
Live Website Server – WordPress Installation Setup (Create a Password)
  • Select the language…
Live Website Server - WordPress Installation Setup (Select the Language)
Live Website Server – WordPress Installation Setup (Select the Language)
  • Expand the ‘Advanced Options’.
  • Give the database a name…
  • and change the table prefix, (a different table prefix is useful if you have more than one website).
Live Website Server - WordPress Installation Setup (The Database & Table Prefix Names)
Live Website Server – WordPress Installation Setup (The Database & Table Prefix Names)
Note:

If you are going to import an existing website, it helps if the database name and table prefix match that of the imported website…

Install a WordPress Theme:

  • During Installation, WordPress will install with a free default theme.
  • Select a different theme (if needed)…
Live Website Server - WordPress Installation Setup (Select a Different Theme)
Live Website Server – WordPress Installation Setup (Select a Different Theme)

Install WordPress on the ‘Live’ Web Server:

  • Enter an email address to get an install confirmation.
  • And then click ‘Install’…
Live Website Server - WordPress Installation Setup (Install WordPress)
Live Website Server – WordPress Installation Setup (Install WordPress)
  • WordPress begins to install…
Live Website Server - WordPress Installation Setup (WordPress Begins to Install)
Live Website Server – WordPress Installation Setup (WordPress Begins to Install)
  • Click on example.com/wp-admin to see the dashboard…
WordPress Installation - The Newly Installed Website Dashboard
WordPress Installation – The Newly Installed Website Dashboard
  • Click on example.com to see the website…
WordPress Installation - The Newly Installed Website
WordPress Installation – The Newly Installed Website

The installation is complete. You can now publish to the world..!


Video on Installing WordPress on a ‘Live’ Website:
Install WordPress on a ‘Live’ Web Server

Install WordPress (An Overview)

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