How to Install WordPress Manually?

How to Install WordPress Manually: A Step-by-Step Guide

Installing WordPress manually allows you to have full control over your website setup. Whether you want to use it on a custom hosting environment or avoid using one-click installers, this guide will walk you through the process.

Step 1: Download WordPress

1. Visit the official WordPress website at https://wordpress.org/download/.
2. Click Download WordPress to download the latest version of WordPress as a .zip file.
3. Once the download is complete, extract the .zip file on your local computer.

Step 2: Upload WordPress Files to Your Server

To begin the manual installation, you’ll need to upload the extracted WordPress files to your server.

1. Access Your Web Hosting Account:
   • Log into your hosting account’s control panel (such as cPanel or Plesk).
   • Open the File Manager or connect via FTP using a client like FileZilla.
2. Upload Files:
   • Navigate to the root directory where your website will be hosted. This is typically the public_html folder or the folder of the domain where you want WordPress installed.
   • Upload all the extracted WordPress files (not the folder itself, just the files inside it).

Step 3: Create a MySQL Database and User

WordPress requires a MySQL database to store all its content and settings.

1. Create a Database:
   • In your hosting control panel, look for the MySQL Databases section.
   • Create a new database (e.g., wordpress_db).
2. Create a Database User:
   • In the same MySQL section, create a new database user and assign a strong password.
   • Add the user to the database you just created and ensure that the user has ALL PRIVILEGES.
3. Note Database Credentials:
   • You’ll need the database name, user, and password to configure WordPress later. Keep these details handy.

Step 4: Configure the WordPress wp-config.php File

WordPress needs to know how to connect to your database. This is done through the wp-config.php file.

1. Rename the File:
   • Inside the WordPress files you uploaded, you’ll see a file named wp-config-sample.php. Rename it to wp-config.php.
2. Edit the File:
   • Open the wp-config.php file in a text editor (e.g., Notepad++ or directly from your hosting File Manager).
   • Locate the following lines and update them with the database details you created earlier:

   define('DB_NAME', 'your_database_name');
   define('DB_USER', 'your_database_user');
   define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_database_password');
   define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
   

   Replace your_database_name, your_database_user, and your_database_password with the actual values you created in the MySQL section of your hosting.

3. Save the File: After editing, save the wp-config.php file.

Step 5: Run the WordPress Installation Script

1. Start the Installation: Open a web browser and go to the URL where you uploaded WordPress (e.g., http://yourdomain.com).
2. WordPress Installation Screen: You will be redirected to the WordPress installation page.
   • Choose your language and click Continue.
3. Enter Site Information:
   • Site Title: Choose a title for your website.
   • Username: Choose a username (this will be used to log in to your WordPress dashboard).
   • Password: Set a strong password.
   • Email Address: Enter your email address.
   • Click Install WordPress to complete the installation.

Step 6: Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard

Once the installation is complete:

1. You will see a success message. Click the Log In button.
2. Use the username and password you just set to log into your WordPress admin area (located at http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin).

Step 7: Final Setup

Now that WordPress is installed, you can start customizing your website:

1. Choose a Theme: Go to Appearance > Themes to select or install a theme for your site.
2. Install Plugins: Enhance your site’s functionality by installing plugins via Plugins > Add New.
3. Create Content: Start adding pages and posts through the Pages and Posts sections in the dashboard.

Conclusion

Manually installing WordPress gives you full control over the installation process and ensures that you can set up your site exactly how you want. By following these steps, you’ll have a fully functional WordPress website ready for customization, content creation, and more.