How to Install WordPress (cPanel, FTP, and Localhost) – Step‑by‑Step 2026

WordPress is known as the most popular blogging platform and content management system because it’s flexible, beginner‑friendly, and quick to set up. You can check out our WordPress tutorial for beginners to learn how WordPress works, from basics to advanced concepts. If your hosting account uses cPanel, you can usually install WordPress in just a few clicks. In this article, you’ll learn:

• What you need before installing WordPress
• How to install WordPress on cPanel using Softaculous and other 1‑click installers
• How to install WordPress manually via FTP (the classic 5‑minute install)
• How to install WordPress on localhost (Windows and macOS)
• What to do immediately after installation (themes, plugins, basic settings)

Whether you’re a complete beginner or an intermediate user, you can follow this guide from start to finish or jump straight to the method that best matches your hosting environment.

Prerequisites for Installing WordPress

To install WordPress, you need a domain name (your web address) and web hosting service that meets specific server software and hardware requirements.

• A domain name: This is your website address, such as example.com.
• A reliable WordPress‑friendly web host

Choose a host that offers:

• cPanel access
• 1‑click WordPress installers (like Softaculous)
• Good uptime, support, and regular server updates

In our experience, Bluehost, HostGator, SiteGround, and similar providers are good options for beginners because they offer an easy way to install WordPress via cPanel. The exact look of your cPanel and installer may differ slightly from the screenshots, but the steps are almost always the same.

Install WordPress on cPanel Using Softaculous

Most shared hosting providers in 2026 use Softaculous Apps Installer for 1‑click WordPress installations.

Step 1: Log in to cPanel

• Sign in to your hosting account.
• Open cPanel from your dashboard.

Step 2: Open Softaculous

• In cPanel, scroll to the Software or Auto Installers section.
• Click Softaculous Apps Installer or WordPress Installer.

Step 3: Start the WordPress installer

• In Softaculous, find WordPress (typically on the front page or under Blogs).
• Click WordPress.
• Click Install or Install Now.

Step 4: Choose protocol and domain

• If your site has SSL, select https:// or https://www. Otherwise, choose http:// or http://www. (You can switch to HTTPS later after installing an SSL certificate.)
• Select the domain where you want to install WordPress.
• Leave the Directory field blank to install WordPress at example.com.
• Enter a folder name (e.g. blog) to install at example.com/blog.

Step 5: Site settings

• Enter your Site Name and Site Description (you can change them later in Settings » General).

Step 6: Admin account details

• Choose an Admin Username (avoid using admin for security).
• Set a strong Admin Password.
• Enter a valid Admin Email address; this is where password resets and important notifications will be sent.

Security tip: Always use a unique, strong password and a non‑obvious username. This reduces the risk of brute‑force attacks.

Step 7: Run the installation

The remaining options on the screen are optional. You can now click on the install button to run the installer.

• Click Install.
• Wait for the progress bar to reach 100%. Don’t close the tab until it’s done.

Step 8: Log in to WordPress

When the installer finishes, you will see a success message after installation completes. It will also display:

• A link to your website (front‑end)
• A link to your WordPress admin area (usually example.com/wp-admin

Use the admin username and password you created to log in.

You’ve now installed WordPress using Softaculous.

Install WordPress on cPanel Using Your Host’s 1‑Click Installer

Some hosting providers don’t brand their installer as Softaculous, but they still offer a 1‑click WordPress installation directly inside cPanel or the hosting dashboard. You might see names like:

• WordPress Manager
• Install WordPress
• Application Installer or Apps Installer

Step 1: Log in to your hosting account

• Sign in to your hosting dashboard.
• Open cPanel or the Advanced settings section.

Step 2: Find the WordPress installer

• In cPanel, look under Website, Scripts, Applications, or WordPress Tools.
• Click the WordPress or Install WordPress icon.

Step 3: Configure installation

• Select the domain (and subdirectory if needed).
• Choose https if SSL is already set up otherwise, start with http.

Next, you need to provide a title for your site; it can be anything and can be changed later. Set username, password, and email address for the admin account. You will also need to enter the admin user’s first and last name.

Step 4: Install WordPress

Once you are satisfied with the settings, click Install or Start Installation. Wait for the installer to complete, then note your:

• Site URL
• Admin URL (/wp-admin)
• Username & password

This method is essentially the same as Softaculous, just with slightly different labels or layout.

Manual WordPress Installation via FTP (5‑Minute Install)

Manually installing WordPress is also known as the famous 5-minute install. If your hosting does not include a 1‑click installer, or you prefer to do it yourself, you can use the classic manual install. This is also useful if you want to better understand how WordPress works.

You’ll need:

• The latest WordPress package from wordpress.org
• An FTP client (e.g., FileZilla)

Step 1: Download and extract WordPress

• Visit wordpress.org/download/.
• Download the latest .zip file.
• Unzip it on your computer.

Step 2: Upload WordPress files via FTP

Open your FTP client and connect to your hosting account using your FTP credentials. You can get these details on Cpanel or ask you hosting provider.

Navigate to the web root directory

• Usually, /public_html/is for the main domain.
• Or /public_html/foldername/ for a subfolder install.

Upload all the extracted WordPress files into the desired directory.

Step 3: Create a MySQL database and user in cPanel

• Log in to cPanel.
• Click MySQL Databases.
• Under Create New Database, enter a database name and click Create Database.

Scroll down to MySQL Users and create a new user

• Choose a username and password.
• Click Create User.

• Under Add User to Database, choose the new user and new database, then click Add.

• On the Privileges screen, select All Privileges, then save.

Now you have a database and user ready for WordPress.

Step 4: Run the WordPress installer

• In your browser, go to the URL where you uploaded WordPress:
  • https://yourdomain.com (root)
  • or https://yourdomain.com/foldername (subfolder)
• You’ll see the language selection screen. Choose your language and click Continue.

Step 5: Enter database details

• WordPress will prompt you for:
  • Database Name
  • Database Username
  • Database Password
  • Database Host (usually localhost)
• Click Let’s go, then fill in the form and click Submit.

If the details are correct, you’ll see a success message.

Step 6: Complete the setup

Click Run the Install.

• Next, enter your:
  • Site Title
  • Admin Username (avoid admin)
  • Strong Password
  • Your Email
• Decide whether to check Search Engine Visibility if you want to temporarily hide the site from search engines.
• Click Install WordPress.

WordPress will finish the installation and show a success screen. Click Log In to access your new dashboard.

Install WordPress on Localhost (Windows & macOS)

Many users ask whether they can try WordPress on their computer. The answer is yes, but most beginners should not do that. Installing WordPress on your own computer (localhost) is useful for:

• Theme and plugin development
• Testing changes safely
• Learning WordPress without buying hosting immediately

Remember, a localhost site is accessible only on your own machine.

Tools for localhost 

If you are using a Windows computer, then we recommend that you download and set up WAMP. If you are using a Mac, then you need to download and set up Mamp.

• Windows: WAMP, XAMPP, Local WP
• macOS: MAMP, XAMPP, Local WP

High‑level steps

• Install a local server stack (WAMP/XAMPP/MAMP/Local WP).
• Start Apache and MySQL (or the equivalent services).
• Create a new database using phpMyAdmin (or the tool provided by your stack).
• Download the latest WordPress from wordpress.org and extract it.
• Copy the WordPress folder into your local web directory, for example:
  • C:/wamp/www/wordpress (WAMP)
  • /Applications/MAMP/htdocs/wordpress (MAMP)
• Open your browser and go to http://localhost/wordpress.
• Follow the on‑screen installation steps (similar to the manual method above).

When you’re ready to go live, you’ll need a real domain and hosting, then migrate your local site to the server.

How to Install a WordPress Multisite Network

WordPress Multisite lets you create multiple sites from a single WordPress installation, using subdomains (e.g. site1.example.com) or subfolders (e.g. example.com/site1).

It’s useful for:

• Businesses with many departments or locations
• Schools/colleges that give users their own sites
• Agencies managing multiple client sites in one network

Multisite setup requires editing core files and understanding server configuration. It’s an advanced topic, so most beginners should start with a single site and explore Multisite in a dedicated tutorial later.

Things to Do After Installing WordPress

Now that you have successfully installed WordPress, here are a few things to get started with your new WordPress site.

1. Configure basic settings

In your WordPress dashboard

• Go to Settings > General and Set your Site Title and Tagline.
• Confirm your Email Address and Timezone.
• Go to Settings > Permalinks and select Post name for clean, SEO‑friendly URLs.

2. Choose and customize a theme

Your site’s look is controlled by its theme.

• Go to Appearance> Themes> Add New.
• Pick a fast, responsive theme with good reviews and recent updates.
• Customize it under Appearance » Customize.

3. Install essential plugins

Some plugin types are useful on almost every site:

• SEO plugin – e.g. Yoast SEO, Rank Math
• Security plugin – e.g. Wordfence, Sucuri
• Caching/performance plugin – e.g. your host’s cache plugin, WP Rocket, or W3 Total Cache
• Backup plugin – e.g. UpdraftPlus, BackWPup

Install them from Plugins » Add New.

4. Create key pages

Create these basic pages from Pages » Add New:

• Home (or set your posts page)
• About
• Contact
• Privacy Policy and Terms (if needed for your region)

5. Secure and optimize your site

• Use strong, unique passwords and avoid the admin username.
• Enable login protection (e.g. limit login attempts, 2FA if available).
• Optimize images and enable caching for better speed.
• Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you can:

• Install WordPress on cPanel using Softaculous or your host’s modern 1‑click installer
• Perform a manual WordPress installation via FTP
• Set up a local WordPress site on your own computer

After installation, spend time on themes, plugins, and basic settings so your site is fast, secure, and ready for visitors.
If you still have questions or get stuck during any step, feel free to ask in the comments so we can help you get your WordPress site running smoothly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install WordPress on cPanel with Softaculous?
Log in to cPanel → open Softaculous → select WordPress → click Install → choose domain and protocol → set site name and admin login → click Install and then log in via /wp-admin.

Do I need a domain and hosting before installing WordPress?
Yes. You must have a domain name and an active hosting plan with cPanel access before you can install WordPress.

Is manual FTP installation better than a 1‑click installer?
For most beginners, a 1‑click installer is easier and faster. Manual FTP install is mainly for advanced users who want more control or don’t have a 1‑click option.

Can I use WordPress on my computer without buying hosting?
Yes. You can install WordPress on localhost using WAMP, XAMPP, MAMP, or Local WP, but the site will only be visible on your own computer.

What should I do right after installing WordPress?
Set your site title and permalinks, choose a fast responsive theme, install essential SEO/security/backup plugins, create key pages (Home, About, Contact, Privacy Policy), and enable basic security measures.