How to install WordPress: step-by-step guide for 2026

There are three practical ways to install WordPress in 2026: use your host's one-click installer, install it manually by uploading the files and running the setup script, or run it locally or in your browser for testing. Most site owners should use the one-click route. Manual installation takes a little longer but teaches you how WordPress fits together, and local tools let you build without paying for hosting first.

Whichever route you take, the official documentation says installation "under most circumstances" is "a very simple process and takes less than five minutes to complete." The real work comes after: choosing settings, a theme, a few plugins, and backups.

This guide covers each method step by step, the server requirements as of October 2026 (WordPress 7.1.2 is the current release), and the first settings to change once you log in. If you're not sure yet whether you want self-hosted WordPress or the hosted WordPress.com service, read WordPress.org vs WordPress.com first. On WordPress.com there's nothing to install.

Before you start: requirements

According to WordPress.org's requirements page, WordPress recommends a host that supports:

• PHP version 8.3 or greater
• MySQL version 8.0 or greater, or MariaDB version 10.11 or greater
• HTTPS support

The hard minimum since WordPress 7.0 is PHP 7.4 and MySQL or MariaDB 5.5.5. WordPress 7.0 dropped support for PHP 7.2 and 7.3. Those minimum versions are past their end of life, so don't choose a host that only offers them. You'll also want:

• A domain name pointed at your host (or the temporary address your host provides).
• An SSL certificate. Most hosts provide one free; turn it on before you install so your site URL starts with https.
• Access to your hosting control panel and, for a manual install, an FTP/SFTP client or file manager.

Need help choosing a host? See WordPress hosting types for shared, VPS, managed and cloud options with October 2026 prices.

Method 1: install WordPress with a one-click installer

The official guide notes that many hosting providers offer tools to install WordPress automatically. Managed WordPress hosts usually go further and create the site for you when you sign up. The exact screens vary by host, but the steps are similar:

1. Log in to your hosting dashboard or control panel.
2. Find the WordPress installer (often under "Websites," "WordPress" or an apps or auto-installer section).
3. Choose the domain and, if you want WordPress somewhere other than the root, a folder such as /blog.
4. Enter your site title, an admin username (avoid "admin"), a strong password and an email address you check.
5. Pick the language and, if offered, decline extra bundled plugins you didn't ask for.
6. Click install and wait for the confirmation with your login link, usually yourdomain.com/wp-admin.

Afterwards, log in and confirm under Dashboard > Updates that you're running the latest version. As of October 2026 that's WordPress 7.1.2.

Method 2: install WordPress manually

A manual install works on any host that meets the requirements. These steps follow the official installation guide.

Step 1: download WordPress

Download the latest release from wordpress.org/download and unzip it. You'll get a folder named wordpress containing the core files.

Step 2: create a database and user

In your hosting control panel, create a MySQL or MariaDB database and a database user, then give that user full privileges on the new database. Note the database name, username, password and database host (often "localhost," but some hosts use a different server name).

Step 3: configure wp-config.php

Rename wp-config-sample.php to wp-config.php and enter your database details in DB_NAME, DB_USER, DB_PASSWORD and DB_HOST. Replace the placeholder authentication keys and salts with unique values. WordPress.org provides a generator linked from the file comments. You can skip this step and let the installer create the file, if your server allows it.

Step 4: upload the files

Upload the contents of the wordpress folder using SFTP or your host's file manager:

• To run WordPress at your domain root (example.com), upload the contents into the web root folder (often public_html).
• To run it in a subfolder (example.com/blog), upload into that subfolder.

Step 5: run the installer

Visit https://example.com/wp-admin/install.php (or /blog/wp-admin/install.php for a subfolder). The setup screen asks for:

• Site title
• Username
• Password (twice)
• Your email address
• Search engine visibility: leave the box unchecked if you want search engines to index the site

Click Install WordPress, then log in at /wp-admin.

Command-line option: WP-CLI

If your host offers SSH and WP-CLI, the WP-CLI quick start covers the same install in four commands: wp core download, wp config create, wp db create and wp core install. This is the fastest route for developers who build many sites.

Method 3: run WordPress locally or in your browser

You don't need a host to learn WordPress or build a site before launch.

WordPress Playground

WordPress Playground "lets you run WordPress instantly on any device without a host." It runs in the browser (and also in Node.js, VS Code and on mobile), supports Blueprints for preconfigured setups, and can preview GitHub pull requests. It's ideal for testing a plugin or theme, or for trying WordPress for the first time. It isn't meant to host a public site.

Desktop apps

Local development apps install a full WordPress environment on your computer. WordPress Studio, for example, is free and runs on macOS, Windows and Linux. Build there, then move the finished site to your host with a migration plugin or your host's import tool.

Which installation method should you choose?

The manual-install time is our estimate for someone doing it the first time.

First settings to change after installing

Spend 15 minutes on these before you add content.

1. Settings > General: confirm the site title and tagline, set the WordPress Address and Site Address to https, set your timezone, and check the admin email.
2. Settings > Permalinks: choose a readable structure. "Post name" (example.com/sample-post) is a common choice for business sites. Set this early, because changing it later means redirecting old URLs.
3. Settings > Reading: choose whether the home page shows your latest posts or a static page. Check the "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" box only while you build, and remember to uncheck it at launch. WordPress.org notes that search engines decide whether to honor this request.
4. Settings > Discussion: turn off comments if you don't need them, or require moderation.
5. Delete sample content: remove the "Hello world!" post, the sample page and the sample comment.
6. Users > Profile: set a public display name so your username isn't shown on posts.

Install a theme and essential plugins

New installs use the current default theme, Twenty Twenty-Five, which is a block theme you can customize in the Site Editor, found under Appearance. To use another theme, go to Appearance > Themes and add a new one. The WordPress.org directory has about 8,700 free themes as of October 2026.

Then add only the plugins you need. Most business sites start with:

• A backup plugin (unless your host provides backups)
• A security plugin or a host with a firewall
• An SEO plugin
• A forms plugin
• A caching plugin (unless your host handles caching)

Before installing any plugin, check its last-updated date, tested-up-to version and active installs on WordPress.org. Our guide to essential WordPress plugins explains each category.

Secure and back up your new site

Install time is the easiest moment to set good habits:

• Use a unique admin username and a strong password, and add two-factor authentication with a plugin or your host's tools.
• Decide how updates will happen. New installs since WordPress 5.6 auto-update both minor and major core releases by default (unless version control is detected). Plugin and theme auto-updates are opt-in, item by item, from the Plugins and Themes screens.
• Take a first full backup and store a copy off the server.
• Delete themes and plugins you aren't using.

Our checklist for keeping WordPress secure and up to date covers ongoing tasks, and the WordPress security guide goes deeper.

Common installation problems

• "Error establishing a database connection": the database name, user, password or host in wp-config.php is wrong, or the user lacks privileges on the database.
• Your server's PHP version is too old: WordPress 7.x needs PHP 7.4 or newer. Change the PHP version in your hosting panel, ideally to 8.3 or later.
• Redirect loops or mixed-content warnings: usually an http/https mismatch between your SSL setup and the site URLs in Settings > General.
• Permalinks return 404 errors: on Apache servers, WordPress needs a writable .htaccess file; Settings > Permalinks shows the rules to add manually if it can't write the file.
• White screen after installing a plugin: rename that plugin's folder in /wp-content/plugins via SFTP to deactivate it.

Conclusion

Installing WordPress is quick by any method: a host's one-click installer for most sites, a five-step manual install when you need control, and Playground or a desktop app when you want to test or build first. Check that your host runs PHP 8.3 or newer, then spend a few minutes on settings, a theme, essential plugins and backups before you publish. If you'd rather have a professional set it up properly from day one, eSEOspace provides WordPress website development. More step-by-step guides are in our WordPress hub.

Frequently asked questions