Manually Install WordPress in 5 Minutes using cPanel

Step 1: Download the latest version of WordPress

Download the latest version of WordPress at: https://wordpress.org/download/

Step 2: Log into cPanel

Your web host should have sent you an email with the login details.

Step 3: Open File Manager

This is where all of your website’s files are stored.

Step 4: Open public_html

This folder contains all the files that you share with the public. The other files are “hidden.”

Step 5: Upload

Click on the Upload button at the top of the page. You can see that you are in the public_html folder because it is in bold on the left.

Step 6: Upload WordPress

Upload the .zip file you downloaded from WordPress.org/download

Step 7: Extract

Click once on the wordpress.zip file and then on the Extract button. Or, you can right click on the file and Extract will be an option.

A pop-up will appear showing that the files were extracted. Close the pop-up.

Step 8: Select the Files

After extraction, you will be taken back to the public_html folder. Enter the new folder called wordpress.

Select all of the files by clicking the Select All button at the top of the page.

Step 9: Move the files

If you want to use WordPress as your main website, you need to move all of the extracted files into your public_html folder.

With all of the files selected, click on the Move button at the top of the page.

Step 10: Change the location of the files

The files need to be moved from the wordpress folder to the public_html folder.

In the box asking for the file path, remove /wordpress

leave /public_html

Once you’ve double checked that the path shows /public_html, click Move Files.

Step 11: Delete Unused Files

Your public_html will not look like the picture here. It will have many other files now.

The two wordpress files here are no longer needed and can be deleted if you are comfortable doing so.

Step 12: Create a Database

Head back to the main cPanel page and find the MySQL Database Wizard. You can scroll down the page to find it or use the search bar at the top.

Step 13: Name the Database

This is the database that WordPress will store information in.

Auto-installers use wdps here, so I recommend something different for security reasons.

I like using data or blog.

Step 14: Create a User

Create a username for access to the database.

This isn’t a username you’ll use on your site.

Again, I like data or blog.

Use the Password Generator to assign a password for this user. It needs to be a difficult password. Copy the password.

Step 15: Assign User Privileges

This tells your WordPress site what it is allowed to do. The easiest way to do this is to just give it all privileges.

If you’re comfortable modifying databases, you can select only the options you need here.

After clicking on Next Step, you’ll be shown a confirmation. Leave that page up, we’ll need it in the next steps.

Step 16: Log into your Admin

In a new tab, head over to your website’s new administration area.

http://yoursite.com/wp-admin

Select your language and press continue.

Step 17: Enter Database Details

Switch back and forth between this tab and the Database tab you left open to enter the information you setup in steps 14-16.

For added security, change the wp_ prefix. I usually enter 2 random letters.

Step 18: Enter Your Details

Enter the details for your new website.

The Username and Password you create here will be used to log into your website. Use something that you’ll remember.

The Username is difficult to change later if you aren’t comfortable with coding.

DO NOT USE: admin

Default Username is admin and is a big security risk to use.

Congratulations!!!

Your new WordPress website is installed and ready to use!

You can log into your administration area at:

http://YOURSITE.COM/wp-admin

Your New WordPress Blog

Here is the front default design. You can change this in the Appearance menu in your admin.