How to install WordPress manually

If your hosting company doesn’t provide an automated WordPress install like HostGator or Bluehost, you’ll need to learn how to install WordPress manually.  The step by step guide below will walk you through the process.  Installing WordPress manually isn’t difficult, but it is a bit tedius.

How to install WordPress manually

1. Download the latest version of WordPress to your local computer from the WordPress.org download page.
2. The WordPress download file is compressed and you’ll either need to unzip it on your local machine or on your server.  If your server has CPanel or a similar interface, this can generally be done using the File Manager for your server.
3. Using FTP, upload either the compressed file or decompress files and all sub-directories to your root web folder.  This is generally named something like public_html or httpdocs.  If compressed, use your servers file manager to to decompress the file.  If you’re installed WordPress to a sub-folder like \blog, you’ll need to copy or extract the files to the sub-directory rather than the root.
4. Once the files have been copied to the server, you’ll need to create the database for WordPress to use.  How this is done varies from host to host, but almost all hosting companies have an admin interface that allows you to create a new database.  You can name this database whatever you like.  I generally use some combination of the name of the blog/website and “WordPress”.  For example: “SideIncomeBlogging_WordPress”.
5. Next you’ll need to create a database user for the WordPress software to use.  Again, most hosting companies have an admin interface function to do this.  Choose a name for the user, something like” “wordpress_user” and provide a password.  I generally use  a random password generator for the password.   Make sure you write down the database name, user name and password and keep it in a secure location.  I keep all of mine in Evernote and encrypt them with a passphrase.
6. Now we’ll run the WordPress install.  First, you’ll need to make your root web-folder writable.  To do this, use FTP to change the permissions of your WordPress root folder to 777.  Remember the setting prior to changing it as we’ll change the permissions back after the install.
7. Using your browser, navigate to: http://<<yourdomainname>>/wp-admin/install.php.  Replace <<yourdomainname>> with the domain name for your site or blog.  Press enter, and you’ll be presented with a page that prompts you to create a configuration file.
8. Press the Create a Configuration File button.  WordPress will create a base configuration file for you, then take you to the main installation page.
9. On the installation page, press Let’s Go.  You’ll be presented with a page asking for details on your WordPress database.
10. Enter the Database Name, User Name, and Password that you created in step 5.  Both the Database Host and Table Prefix can normally be left at the default settings.  When complete, press the Done button followed by the Run the install button on the next page.
11. Now we’ll enter the information about your blog on the Welcome page:
    1. In the Site Title field, enter the name of your website.  This is the name, not the domain name.  For example, the domain for this site is: www.sideincomeblogging, but the site title is: Side Income Blogging.
    2. For the user-name, you can use the default of admin, but I highly recommend you use a different ID.  This will be the primary account for your site.
    3. Next enter the password for the admin account.  Do not use something obvious, use something that is easy for your to remember but hard to guess.  I recommend using a combination of letters, numbers and symbols.  For example, if you want to use: lookout, make your password: 1ook0ou+.  Enter your password twice.
    4. Enter your email address.  Your email address is used by WordPress for notifications.  This includes notifications of comments and other various notifications.
    5. The checkbox at the bottom toggles whether or not your side is open to being indexed by Google and other search engines.  I’d suggest leaving it checked.
    6. Click on the button to complete your installation.  You should receive a Success!  message followed by a Login button.

Congrats, you just installed WordPress!  You can now login to the administration console.  The url for that is: http://<<yourdomainname>>/wp-admin

I’ll be discussing how to properly set-up your WordPress install in an upcoming article.

Photo by: Eric M Martin

Article by: Larry Deane

Larry is the founder and editor of Side Income Blogging. He is a full-time IT professional and part-time entrepreneur, writer and software developer. Larry loves teaching and helping others about how they can start and earn money by blogging. Most most importantly, Larry loves spending time with his wife and 6 kids.