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How to install WordPress in cPanel

To install WordPress in cPanel, download it from wordpress.org, upload the .zip to public_html with File Manager, extract it and move the files out of the wordpress folder. Create a MySQL database and user. Then open your domain in a browser and run the installer, which asks for the database details, a site title and an admin login.

Updated · HostUpIndia team

Before you install WordPress in cPanel

You need your cPanel login, from your welcome email or client area.

  • Make sure your domain opens your hosting. If it does not, connect your domain to your hosting first.
  • For a site on another domain, add it in cPanel › Domains first and clear Share document root, so it gets its own folder.
  • Decide where the site goes: the domain itself, as in example.com, or a subfolder, as in example.com/blog.
  • If the folder already holds a site, back it up first in cPanel › Backup. WordPress files can replace files with the same names, such as index.php.

Upload WordPress with File Manager

Upload WordPress as one .zip file and extract it on the server. It is much faster than uploading its files one by one. New to the tool? See how to use cPanel File Manager.

  • Download the latest WordPress .zip from wordpress.org. Keep it zipped.
  • Log in to cPanel and open File Manager.
  • Open the domain’s folder: public_html for the main domain.
  • Click Upload, choose the .zip file and wait for 100%.
  • Go back to the folder, right-click the .zip file and choose Extract. WordPress lands in a folder called wordpress.
  • For the domain itself, open wordpress, click Select All, then Move, and set the path to the domain’s folder, such as /public_html.
  • For a subfolder, rename wordpress to the name you want, such as blog, instead.
  • Delete the .zip file, and the empty wordpress folder if you moved the files out.
  • If the folder holds an old index.html, rename it, for example to index-old.html. Otherwise it loads before WordPress.
  • Create the database and run the installer soon after you extract WordPress. Until it runs, anyone who opens the address can start it.

Create a database for WordPress

WordPress keeps its posts, pages and settings in a MySQL database. Create the database and a user for it before you run the installer.

  • In cPanel, open Manage My Databases, called MySQL Databases in older cPanel. Database Wizard, next to it, does the same steps in order.
  • Create a database, for example wp. cPanel adds your account name as a prefix, as in user_wp.
  • Create a database user. Use the password generator for a strong password.
  • Add the user to the database and give it All Privileges.
  • Note the full database name and username, each with the prefix, and the password. The installer asks for them.

Run the WordPress installer

The installer runs in your browser. It connects WordPress to the database and creates your admin account.

  • Open your domain, or its subfolder, in a browser.
  • Choose a language, click Continue, then continue past the welcome screen.
  • Enter the database name, username and password from the last step.
  • Leave Database Host as localhost unless your host gives another value.
  • Keep Table Prefix as wp_ unless another site shares the database.
  • Click Submit, then Run the installation.
  • If WordPress cannot write wp-config.php, it shows the text for the file. Create wp-config.php in the WordPress folder with File Manager, paste the text, save it and click Run the installation.
  • Enter a site title. You can change it later.
  • Choose an admin username other than admin, the first name attackers try.
  • Keep the strong password WordPress suggests, or enter your own strong one. Save it in a password manager.
  • Enter an email address you check. Password resets and error alerts go there.
  • Tick Discourage search engines only if the site is not ready. Untick it at launch in Settings › Reading.
  • Click Install WordPress, then Log In. Your dashboard is at /wp-admin, as in example.com/wp-admin.

Switch WordPress to https

cPanel’s AutoSSL issues a free certificate once your domain points to your hosting, and renews it on its own. Then set WordPress to use https.

  • In cPanel, open SSL/TLS Status.
  • Click Run AutoSSL. Wait until your domain and its www name show a valid certificate.
  • In WordPress, go to Settings › General.
  • Change WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to start with https://, then click Save Changes. Log in again if asked.
  • In cPanel › Domains, turn on Force HTTPS Redirect for the domain.
  • Open the site with http:// and check that it moves to https:// with a padlock.

Set permalinks and add caching

Permalinks give your pages short, readable addresses. A caching plugin serves saved copies of your pages, so they load faster.

  • Go to Settings › Permalinks.
  • Choose Post name, for addresses such as example.com/sample-post/, and click Save Changes.
  • Go to Plugins › Add New Plugin and search for a caching plugin.
  • On a LiteSpeed server, choose LiteSpeed Cache. It works with the server’s own cache. On other servers, choose a caching plugin made for them.
  • Click Install Now, then Activate.
  • Delete plugins and themes you will not use. Keep one default theme as a fallback.
  • Keep WordPress, plugins and themes up to date in Dashboard › Updates.

HostUpIndia WordPress hosting

HostUpIndia WordPress plans come with WordPress pre-installed on LiteSpeed, so you can skip these steps. Every plan includes NVMe storage, cPanel, free SSL and daily backups kept 30 days.

  • From ₹149 a month on 3-year billing. Prices exclude 18% GST. See WordPress plans.
  • Moving a WordPress site from another host? The in-house team moves it for you: free website migration.
  • Support tickets and email are received 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; WhatsApp is open for questions from 10 am to 7 pm IST, Monday to Saturday.
  • More help guides.