How to install WordPress manually

Installing WordPress manually gives you more control over the setup process and is useful when auto-installers (like Softaculous) are unavailable or you want a clean install. Here’s a step-by-step guide using cPanel:

Step-by-Step: Manual WordPress Installation

1. Download WordPress

• Go to https://wordpress.org/download/

• Download the latest .zip file.

2. Upload and Extract WordPress Files

1. Log in to cPanel.

2. Go to File Manager.

3. Navigate to the directory where you want to install WordPress:

   • Root domain: public_html

   • Subdomain: public_html/subdomain

4. Click Upload and upload the .zip file.

5. After upload, extract it.

6. Move the contents from the wordpress/ folder to the desired directory (so that index.php is directly inside public_html).

3. Create a MySQL Database and User

1. In cPanel, go to MySQL® Databases.

2. Under Create New Database, give your DB a name and click Create Database.

3. Scroll down to MySQL Users > Add New User.

4. Create a user and set a password (keep it secure!).

5. Under Add User to Database, select the user and database and click Add.

6. On the next screen, select “ALL PRIVILEGES” and save.

4. Configure wp-config.php

1. In File Manager, go to the WordPress folder.

2. Find wp-config-sample.php, right-click, and rename it to wp-config.php.

3. Edit the file and find these lines:

   define('DB_NAME', 'your_db_name');
   define('DB_USER', 'your_db_user');
   define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_db_password');
   define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');
   

4. Replace with the actual database info you created.

5. (Optional but recommended) Generate new secret keys from https://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/salt/ and replace them in the config file.

5. Run the Installation Script

• In your browser, go to your domain:

  yourdomain.com
  

• You’ll see the WordPress install screen.

• Choose your site title, admin username, password, and email.

• Click Install WordPress.

6. Login and Start Building

• After installation, go to:

  yourdomain.com/wp-admin
  

• Log in with your admin credentials and start building your website.

Additional Tips

• Security: Delete the wp-config-sample.php and .zip files after installation.

• File permissions: Ensure proper file permissions (generally 644 for files and 755 for folders).

• SSL: Use cPanel > SSL/TLS to install an SSL certificate for HTTPS.

• Caching & Security Plugins: Consider installing plugins like Wordfence, WP Super Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache (if using LiteSpeed server).