How to Install WordPress: A Comprehensive Guide

Millions of people use WordPress, the most popular content management system (CMS), to create and manage websites. This article provides a comprehensive guide about how to install WordPress on platforms and hosts such as GoDaddy, Cloudways, cPanel, SiteGround, and others. We will also cover how to install a plugin in WordPress and find your WordPress installation path.

How to Install WordPress

Before diving into the specific installation processes for different hosting providers, let’s go through the general steps for installing WordPress manually:

1. Download the latest WordPress version from the official website.
2. Extract the downloaded WordPress package using file archiving software like WinRAR or 7-Zip.
3. Upload the extracted WordPress files to your web host using an FTP client like FileZilla or the File Manager section in your control panel at your hosting provider.
4. Create a new MySQL database and MySQL new database user for your WordPress installation. Note the database name, username, and password for the next step.
5. Edit the wp-config-sample.php file in the extracted WordPress folder. Replace the placeholders for DB_NAME, DB_USER, and DB_PASSWORD with the respective details from the previous step. Save the file as wp-config.php.
6. Open your web browser (chrome etc…) and navigate to the URL where you uploaded the WordPress files (e.g., http://example.com/). The WordPress installation wizard should appear.
7. Follow the installation wizard’s instructions to complete the setup. You’ll be asked to provide a site title, admin username, password, and email address.
8. After completing the installation, you must access your WordPress admin dashboard by logging in with the credentials you provided during setup.

How to Install WordPress on GoDaddy

GoDaddy is a popular choice if you’re looking for a reliable web hosting provider. Their hosting plans come with easy WordPress installation options. Here’s how to install WordPress on GoDaddy:

1. Log in and proceed to the “My Products” section to access your GoDaddy account.
2. To manage your WordPress site’s hosting plan, go to the “Web Hosting” section and select the plan of your choice. Then, click on the “Manage” button located next to it.
3. Click on the “Installatron Applications Installer” or “WordPress” icon in the GoDaddy hosting dashboard.
4. Click on the “Install this application” button.
5. Select the domain or subdomain for installing WordPress and make all the required configuration adjustments without fail.
6. Click on the “Install” button. The installation process will begin, and once it’s finished, you’ll receive an email with your WordPress admin login details.
7. The login details must be utilized to enter your WordPress admin dashboard.

How to Install WordPress on Cloudways

Cloudways is a platform for cloud hosting management that offers an easy way to deploy and manage WordPress sites.

To install WordPress on Cloudways, follow these steps:

1. Sign up for a Cloudways account or log in to your existing account.
2. Click on the “Add Server” button in the Cloudways dashboard.
3. Select the “WordPress” application from the list of available applications.
4. Choose your preferred cloud infrastructure provider, DigitalOcean, Linode, or AWS.
5. Configure the server settings, including the server size, location, and additional options.
6. Click on the “Launch” button. Cloudways will deploy your WordPress site on the selected cloud provider.
7. After your new server is ready, go to the “Applications” section on the Cloudways dashboard.
8. Click on the WordPress application you just created to find the WordPress admin panel URL, username, and password.
9. To access your WordPress admin dashboard, simply use the login credentials provided.

How to Install WordPress with cPanel

Managing your website and hosting environment is easy with cPanel, a widely used web hosting control panel. Most web hosts that use cPanel offer an automatic WordPress installer through Softaculous. Here’s how to install WordPress with cPanel:

1. To enter the cPanel dashboard, kindly sign in to your web hosting account.
2. Locate the “Softaculous Apps Installer” section and click the “WordPress” icon.
3. Click on the “Install Now” button.
4. Select the domain or subdomain for WordPress installation and make any required configuration adjustments.
5. Enter your WordPress installation’s site name, admin username, password, and email address.
6. Click on the “Install” button. Softaculous will install WordPress, and once it’s finished, you’ll receive an email with your WordPress admin login details.
7. Please use the login details provided to access your WordPress admin dashboard.

How to Install a Plugin in WordPress

Plugins are essential tools that extend the functionality of your WordPress site. To install a plugin, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
2. In the left sidebar, click “Plugins” and “Add New.”
3. Utilize the search bar to locate the plugin you wish to install. Alternatively, you can browse the plugins by featured, popular, recommended, or favorites.
4. To install the desired plugin, click the “Install Now” button next to it.
5. After installing the plugin, click the “Activate” button to enable its features.
6. Some plugins may require additional setup or configuration. Check the plugin’s documentation for any necessary steps.

How to Find Your WordPress Installation Path

The WordPress installation path is the directory on your web server where the core WordPress files are located. To find your WordPress installation path, follow these steps:

1. To start, please log in to your web hosting account and access the control panel, such as cPanel or Plesk.
2. Navigate to the “File Manager” or a similar file management tool.
3. Locate the directory where your domain’s or subdomain’s files are stored. This is usually named public_html, www, or htdocs.
4. The WordPress installation path is the directory where you see the WordPress core files, such as wp-config.php, wp-admin, and wp-content. Take note of this path for future reference.

How to Install WordPress on a Subdomain

Setting up a subdomain, like blog.example.com, effectively creates a unique website under your primary domain. To install WordPress on a subdomain, follow these steps:

1. To start, it is imperative that you log in to your web hosting account and promptly navigate to the control panel, specifically cPanel or Plesk.
2. Navigate to the “Subdomains” or “Domains” section.
3. Create a new subdomain by entering the desired prefix (e.g., blog) and selecting the primary domain from the dropdown menu. The document root (e.g., public_html/blog) will be automatically generated.
4. Click the “Create” or “Add” button to create the subdomain.
5. Now, follow the installation steps for your hosting provider (e.g., GoDaddy, Cloudways, cPanel, or SiteGround), but select the newly created subdomain during installation.

How to Install WordPress on SiteGround

SiteGround is a popular web hosting provider offering easy WordPress installation through Site Tools. Here’s how to install WordPress on SiteGround:

1. Log in to your SiteGround account and access the “Websites” section.
2. To use a domain for your WordPress site, click the “Site Tools” button next to it.
3. In the Site Tools dashboard, navigate to “WordPress” and “Install & Manage.”
4. Click on the “Install” tab.
5. Please choose the domain or subdomain you want to use for your WordPress setup and make any required configuration changes.
6. Enter your WordPress installation’s site name, admin username, password, and email address.
7. Click on the “Install” button. SiteGround will install WordPress, and once it’s finished, you’ll receive an email with your WordPress admin login details.
8. Access your WordPress admin dashboard by using the login credentials provided.

Following this comprehensive guide, you should know now how to install WordPress on various platforms and hosting providers. Additionally, you can install plugins to enhance your website’s functionality and find your WordPress installation path for troubleshooting or development purposes. With this knowledge, you can confidently take charge of your WordPress website and establish a solid online presence.