Installing WordPress: step-by-step guide for beginners

Installing WordPress is easier than you think

Many people think creating a website is difficult. But with WordPress and modern hosting, it's surprisingly simple.

In this guide, you'll learn step by step how to install WordPress. Within 10-15 minutes, you'll have a working website.

What do you need?

Before you start, make sure you have:

• A hosting package - This is where your website lives
• A domain name - Your website address (like www.yoursite.com)
• An email address - For your WordPress account

Don't have these yet? Choose a hosting provider first. Most offer domain and hosting together.

Method 1: One-click installation (recommended)

The easiest way. Almost all hosting companies offer this.

Step 1: Log in to your hosting

1. Go to your hosting provider's website
2. Click on "Login" or "My account"
3. Enter your email address and password
4. Click the button to log in

Tip: Forgot your password? Click "Forgot password" to get a new one.

Step 2: Go to the control panel

After logging in, you'll arrive at your control panel. This looks different at each host, but look for:

• "Control Panel"
• "Manage website"
• "Hosting management"

Click on this to continue.

Step 3: Find the WordPress installer

In your control panel, look for one of these options:

• "WordPress" (often with a blue logo)
• "Install website"
• "One-click install"
• "Softaculous" or "Installatron"

Can't find it? Look for an icon with "WP" or the WordPress logo (a W in a circle).

Step 4: Start the installation

1. Click on "WordPress" or "Install"
2. You'll now see a screen with options

Fill in the following:

Website title:

• This becomes the name of your website
• For example: "John's Blog" or "Johnson Painting Company"
• You can change this later

Username:

• This is what you use to log in to WordPress
• Choose something you can easily remember
• Do NOT use "admin" (that's unsafe)
• Example: "john" or "johnjohnson"

Password:

• Create a strong password
• At least 8 characters
• Combine letters, numbers, and symbols
• Example: "Bike2024!Red"

Email address:

• Enter your email address
• You'll receive important messages here

Step 5: Click Install

1. Check that everything is filled in correctly
2. Click on "Install"
3. Wait a moment - this usually takes 1-2 minutes
4. You'll see a message that the installation was successful

Congratulations! WordPress is now installed.

Step 6: Save your details

Very important! Write down or safely store these details:

Method 2: Manual installation

Only needed if your host doesn't offer one-click installation. This is a bit more difficult.

Step 1: Download WordPress

1. Go to wordpress.org/download
2. Click on "Download WordPress"
3. A file will be downloaded (wordpress-x.x.zip)

Step 2: Upload to your hosting

1. Log in to your hosting control panel
2. Look for "File Manager"
3. Go to the "public_html" or "www" folder
4. Upload the WordPress file
5. Unzip the file

Step 3: Create a database

1. In your control panel, look for "Databases" or "MySQL"
2. Click on "Create new database"
3. Give the database a name
4. Create a database user
5. Note down: database name, username, and password

Step 4: Run the installation

1. Go to www.yoursite.com in your browser
2. Choose your language (English)
3. Click on "Let's go"
4. Fill in the database details
5. Click "Submit" and then "Run the installation"
6. Fill in your website title and login details
7. Click "Install WordPress"

Logging in to your new website

Now that WordPress is installed, you can log in:

1. Go to: www.yoursite.com/wp-admin
2. Enter your username
3. Enter your password
4. Click on "Log In"

You're now in the WordPress Dashboard. This is the control panel of your website.

What do you see in the Dashboard?

The Dashboard is your starting point. You'll see:

• Posts - Here you write articles or news
• Pages - Here you create fixed pages (About us, Contact)
• Appearance - Here you choose the look of your website
• Plugins - Here you add extra features
• Settings - Here you adjust settings

The first things to do

1. Choose a theme (appearance)

1. Click on "Appearance" → "Themes" on the left
2. Click on "Add New Theme"
3. Browse the themes and click on one you like
4. Click "Install" and then "Activate"

Tip: Choose a simple theme to start with.

2. Create your first page

1. Click on "Pages" → "Add New" on the left
2. Give the page a title (for example "About me")
3. Write your text in the large white area
4. Click "Publish" in the top right

3. Customize the homepage

1. Go to "Settings" → "Reading"
2. Choose "A static page" for "Your homepage displays"
3. Select which page you want as your homepage
4. Click "Save Changes"

Need help?

Can't figure it out? You have several options:

• Call your hosting provider - They often help with WordPress installation for free
• Check WordPress.org - There are guides available there
• Ask family or friends - Maybe someone knows WordPress

Preventing common mistakes

Mistake 1: Forgetting your password

• Write down your password immediately
• Keep it in a safe place

Mistake 2: Wrong login page

• The login page is always: yoursite.com/wp-admin
• Not: yoursite.com/login or something else

Mistake 3: Website looks strange

• Choose a different theme
• Or ask your hosting provider for help

Summary

Installing WordPress is simple. With one-click installation, you're done in 5 minutes. After that, you can calmly build your website.

Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to implement this?

Implementation time varies per situation. Simple configurations can be done within an hour, more complex setups may take several hours to a day.

What are the costs?

Costs depend on your hosting provider and package. Many basic features are included for free, advanced features may incur additional costs.

Do I need technical knowledge?

You need little technical knowledge for the basics. Most hosting providers offer extensive documentation and support to help you.