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How to Install WordPress on Your Hosting: Step-by-Step Guide
Updated Nov 9, 2026
Before you start
You need a domain name and a hosting account. Most hosts include both, though buying the domain separately from a provider like Namecheap keeps it portable if you change hosts later. The hosting account must include database support — nearly all shared plans do.
Check your host's control panel before starting. Most providers now offer one-click WordPress installers (Softaculous, Fantastico, or their own tool). If yours does, use it. The manual method below is for situations where the automated route fails or is unavailable.
Step 1: Download WordPress
Go to wordpress.org (not wordpress.com, which is a different service). Download the latest version as a .zip file. Save it somewhere you can find it.
What can go wrong: Downloading from anywhere other than wordpress.org risks getting a compromised copy. Stick to the official source.
How to check: The file should be named something like wordpress-6.x.zip and be around 20MB.
Step 2: Create a database
Log into your hosting control panel. Find the database section — usually MySQL Databases or Database Wizard. Create a new database, a new database user, and a password. Write all three down exactly as you create them. Assign the user to the database with all privileges.
HostGator and DreamHost both use cPanel, where this lives under MySQL Database Wizard. Hostinger uses hPanel with a similar flow. InterServer and SherlockHost provide cPanel access on their shared plans.
What can go wrong: Typos in the database name or username cause the install to fail at step 5. Copy and paste where possible.
How to check: The database and user should appear in the list immediately after creation.
Step 3: Upload WordPress files
Unzip the WordPress download on your computer. Inside is a folder called wordpress, containing dozens of files and folders. Connect to your hosting account via FTP (using FileZilla or similar) or use the file manager in your control panel.
Upload everything inside the wordpress folder to your web root — usually public_html or www. If you want WordPress at yourdomain.com, the files go directly into public_html. For a subdirectory like yourdomain.com/blog, create a blog folder first and upload there.
What can go wrong: Uploading the wordpress folder itself rather than its contents puts WordPress one level too deep. Uploading to the wrong directory installs it somewhere visitors cannot reach.
How to check: You should see files named index.php and wp-config-sample.php in your target directory, not a folder called wordpress containing those files.
Step 4: Run the installer
Visit your domain in a browser. If the files are in the right place, WordPress detects the fresh install and shows a language selection screen, then asks for database details.
Enter the database name, username and password from step 2. Database host is almost always localhost — change it only if your host's documentation says otherwise. Table prefix can stay as wp_ unless you are installing multiple WordPress sites in one database, which is rarely necessary.
What can go wrong: Wrong database credentials produce an error about being unable to connect. Double-check what you wrote down in step 2. A "headers already sent" error usually means a file was corrupted during upload — re-upload wp-config-sample.php.
How to check: WordPress will confirm the connection worked and offer a button to continue.
Step 5: Set site details
WordPress asks for a site title, admin username, password and email address. The username and password are for logging into WordPress, not your hosting account — make them different. Avoid "admin" as the username; it is the first thing attackers try.
Untick "discourage search engines" unless you are building in private.
What can go wrong: Losing the admin password locks you out. Write it down or use a password manager. Using a non-existent email means you cannot recover the account.
How to check: WordPress logs you in and shows the dashboard. Visit your domain in a new browser tab to confirm the site loads.
After installation
Delete the readme.html and license.txt files from your web root — they confirm to anyone looking that you are running WordPress. Change the permalink structure under Settings > Permalinks to something more readable than the default query strings. Install a backup plugin immediately.
WordPress itself is installed. Everything else — themes, plugins, content — builds from here.