How to Install WordPress Manually on Any Hosting
Ever felt stuck when your hosting provider’s one-click WordPress installer fails? Or maybe you just want complete control over your WordPress setup from day one? Learning to install WordPress manually isn’t just a technical skill—it’s your ticket to true website ownership.
Most WordPress users rely on automated installers, but knowing how to do it yourself puts you in the driver’s seat. And honestly? It’s not nearly as complicated as most people think.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process of manually installing WordPress on any hosting provider. No fancy automation, just the fundamental steps that give you complete control over your website foundation.
Why Install WordPress Manually?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s talk about why you might want to install WordPress manually in the first place:
- Greater control over your database settings and configuration
- Better security since you’ll understand exactly what’s happening behind the scenes
- Troubleshooting knowledge that will serve you well when things go wrong
- Works on any hosting provider, even those without one-click installers
- Learning experience that builds valuable skills for your WordPress journey
Most hosting companies offer one-click WordPress installations, but these automated solutions sometimes create security vulnerabilities or use default settings that aren’t optimized for your specific needs.
What You’ll Need Before Starting
Gathering your tools before beginning makes the process much smoother. Here’s what you need:
- A domain name (registered and pointing to your hosting)
- Web hosting account credentials
- FTP access details (username, password, host)
- An FTP client like FileZilla, Cyberduck, or WinSCP
- Latest WordPress files downloaded from WordPress.org
- About 30 minutes of uninterrupted time
Pro tip: Create a checklist with all your credentials written down before starting. Nothing slows down a WordPress installation like hunting for that forgotten password midway through!
Step 1: Create a Database for WordPress
WordPress stores all your content, settings, and user information in a database. Creating this database is your first critical step.
How to Create a MySQL Database:
- Log into your hosting control panel (usually cPanel, Plesk, or a custom dashboard)
- Find the database section – In cPanel, look for “MySQL Databases” or “Database Wizard”
- Create a new database – Give it a descriptive name like “wp_yoursite”
- Create a database user – Create a unique username with a strong password
- Assign user privileges – Grant this user ALL PRIVILEGES on your new database
Important: Write down your database name, username, password, and host (usually “localhost”). You’ll need these details later for your WordPress configuration.
Here’s a table of the typical information you’ll need to gather:
| Database Detail | Example | Your Information |
|---|---|---|
| Database Name | wp_mysite | [Your DB Name] |
| Username | wp_user123 | [Your Username] |
| Password | StrongP@ssw0rd! | [Your Password] |
| Database Host | localhost | [Usually localhost] |
| Table Prefix | wp_ | [Default is wp_] |
Step 2: Download and Extract WordPress Files
Now that your database is ready, it’s time to get the WordPress software itself.
- Visit WordPress.org and download the latest version
- Extract the ZIP file to a folder on your computer
- Open the extracted folder to view all WordPress files and folders
This extracted folder contains everything needed to run WordPress. Next, we’ll prepare one crucial configuration file before uploading.
Step 3: Configure the wp-config.php File
The wp-config.php file connects WordPress to your database and controls fundamental settings. Here’s how to set it up:
- Locate the sample file – Find
wp-config-sample.phpin your WordPress files - Rename it to
wp-config.php - Open the file with a text editor (Notepad++, VS Code, etc.)
- Update database information – Replace the placeholders with your actual database details:
// ** Database settings - You can get this info from your web host ** //
/** The name of the database for WordPress */
define( 'DB_NAME', 'your_database_name' );
/** Database username */
define( 'DB_USER', 'your_database_username' );
/** Database password */
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'your_database_password' );
/** Database hostname */
define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );
- Generate security keys – Visit the WordPress Security Key Generator and copy the random keys into your config file
Security tip: These unique keys strengthen your site’s security by making password cookies harder to crack. Never use the default values!
Step 4: Upload WordPress Files to Your Server
With your configuration ready, it’s time to upload everything to your hosting server.
- Connect to your server using your FTP client and credentials
- Navigate to your website’s root directory:
- For a main domain: usually
public_htmlorwww - For a subdomain: often
public_html/subdomain - For a subdirectory:
public_html/directory-name
- For a main domain: usually
- Upload all WordPress files to this location
Depending on your internet connection, this may take several minutes. Most FTP clients show a progress indicator.
Important consideration: Decide whether to install WordPress in your root directory or a subdirectory:
- Root directory: Your site will be accessible at
yourdomain.com - Subdirectory: Your site will be at
yourdomain.com/wordpress(unless configured otherwise)
Step 5: Run the WordPress Installation Script
Now for the exciting part—running the installation and setting up your WordPress site!
- Open your browser and navigate to your domain
- If WordPress detects your config file, you’ll see the welcome screen
- Fill in the site information:
- Site title
- Username (don’t use “admin” for security reasons)
- Strong password (use the suggested one or create your own)
- Your email address
- Search engine visibility preference
- Click “Install WordPress”
After a brief moment, you’ll see a success message. Congratulations! Your WordPress site is now installed.
Step 6: Post-Installation Security Steps
Now that WordPress is up and running, take these important security measures:
- Delete the
wp-admin/install.phpfile via FTP - Change file permissions:
- Folders: 755
- Files: 644
- wp-config.php: 600
- Install security plugins like Wordfence, Sucuri, or iThemes Security
- Set up automated backups with a plugin like UpdraftPlus
Security isn’t optional: Taking these steps immediately after installation helps protect your new site from the constant attacks that target WordPress sites.
Can API Integration Enhance the Functionality of a Manually Installed WordPress Site?
Can API integration enhance the functionality of a manually installed WordPress site? Absolutely! By leveraging understanding api integration, developers can connect third-party services, streamline workflows, and access advanced features. This integration transforms a standard site into a dynamic platform, improving user experience and offering seamless interaction with external applications.
Step 7: Essential Settings and Configurations
Before adding content, optimize these important WordPress settings:
- Set your permalink structure (Settings → Permalinks)
- Post name (
/%postname%/) is best for SEO
- Post name (
- Configure discussion settings (Settings → Discussion)
- Decide on comment moderation policies
- Set up your reading preferences (Settings → Reading)
- Homepage display
- Posts per page
- Check your timezone (Settings → General)
Taking time to configure these settings properly now saves headaches later.
Common Issues and Troubleshooting
Even following these steps carefully, you might encounter some issues. Here are solutions to common problems:
Database Connection Errors
- Double-check your database credentials in wp-config.php
- Verify that your database user has sufficient privileges
- Contact your host to confirm the correct database hostname
Blank White Screen (White Screen of Death)
- Increase PHP memory limit in wp-config.php by adding:
define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); - Disable all plugins by renaming the plugins folder
- Check for PHP errors in your server logs
Broken Layout or 404 Errors
- Verify your permalink settings
- Check if your server has mod_rewrite enabled
- Create/update your .htaccess file
Final Thoughts
Manually installing WordPress gives you valuable insights into how your website works at a fundamental level. While it takes a bit more time than one-click installers, the knowledge you gain makes troubleshooting easier and helps you make more informed decisions about your WordPress site.
Remember that this manual installation is just the beginning. To create a truly effective website, you’ll want to:
- Select and customize a theme that matches your brand
- Install essential plugins for security, SEO, and functionality
- Create compelling content that serves your audience
- Implement proper backup and maintenance routines
What matters most isn’t how you install WordPress, but what you build with it. The manual installation simply gives you a stronger foundation to build upon.
