WordPress runs on more than 40% of all websites in the world. From simple blogs to large online stores - it can do it all. And the great thing: installing it is nowadays so simple that you have a working site within 10 minutes.

What do you need?

• Web hosting with PHP and MySQL support
• A domain name connected to your hosting
• FTP details or access to your hosting panel

At most modern hosting providers you can install WordPress with one click. Manual installation is also possible.

Method 1: one-click installation (recommended)

In DirectAdmin/cPanel:

1. Log in to your hosting panel
2. Look for "Softaculous", "Installatron" or "WordPress"
3. Click install WordPress
4. Fill in your site details (title, admin username, password)
5. Click install

Within a minute your WordPress site is ready.

Method 2: manual installation

Step 1: download WordPress

Go to wordpress.org and download the latest version. You get a ZIP file.

Step 2: upload to your server

Unpack the ZIP file and upload the contents via FTP to your webroot (usually public_html or www). You can also upload the ZIP file through your hosting panel and unpack it there.

Step 3: create a database

In your hosting panel:

1. Go to MySQL Databases
2. Create a new database
3. Create a database user
4. Connect the user to the database with all privileges

Note down the database name, username and password.

Step 4: run the installation

Go to your domain name in the browser. WordPress automatically starts the installation:

1. Choose your language
2. Fill in the database details
3. WordPress tests the connection
4. Fill in your site title and admin details
5. Click "Install WordPress"

Step 5: log in

Go to yourdomain.nl/wp-admin and log in with your chosen details. Your WordPress site is ready!

Do this right after installation

Setting up permalinks

Go to Settings → Permalinks and choose "Post name". This gives nice URLs such as /contact/ instead of /?p=123.

Remove default content

WordPress installs a sample post and page. Remove these.

Install essential plugins

• A security plugin (Wordfence or Sucuri)
• A backup plugin (UpdraftPlus)
• An SEO plugin (Yoast SEO or RankMath)

Choose a theme

The default theme is fine to start with, but you probably want something else. Go to Appearance → Themes.

Activate SSL

Make sure your site runs over HTTPS. Adjust the WordPress URL under Settings → General.

Frequently asked questions

Can I install WordPress locally to test?

Yes, with tools like LocalWP, XAMPP or MAMP you can run WordPress on your own computer.

How do I update WordPress?

WordPress shows a notice when there are updates. Click update. Always make a backup first!

Can I move WordPress to another domain?

Yes, but it requires some work. You have to adjust the database and move files.

Getting started with WordPress

Installing WordPress through Softaculous

1. Log in to your hosting panel
2. Look for Softaculous, Installatron or One-Click Installer
3. Choose WordPress
4. Fill in the details:
   • Domain and installation folder
   • Site name and description
   • Admin username and password
   • Admin email address
5. Click Install
6. Done! You can log in at yoursite.nl/wp-admin

Installing WordPress manually

Step 1: downloading WordPress

Download the latest version from wordpress.org. Unpack the ZIP file on your computer.

Step 2: creating a database

In your hosting panel:

1. Go to MySQL Databases
2. Create a new database
3. Create a user with a strong password
4. Connect the user to the database with all privileges
5. Note down: database name, user, password, host (usually localhost)

Step 3: uploading files

Upload all WordPress files to your public_html or httpdocs folder via FTP or the File Manager.

Step 4: installation wizard

Go to yoursite.nl in your browser. The installation wizard starts:

1. Choose your language
2. Fill in the database details
3. Choose a site title, admin username and password
4. Click Install

After the installation

First steps

• Log in at /wp-admin with your chosen details
• Go to Settings > General and check your site title and URL
• Go to Settings > Permalinks and choose a readable structure
• Remove the default post and page
• Install a theme that suits you

Essential plugins

These plugins are useful for almost every site:

• Yoast SEO or RankMath: search engine optimisation
• WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache: speed
• Wordfence or Sucuri: security
• UpdraftPlus: backups
• Contact Form 7 or WPForms: contact forms

Security

• Use a strong, unique password
• Install a security plugin
• Keep WordPress, themes and plugins up to date
• Remove unused plugins and themes
• Make regular backups

Maintaining WordPress

Weekly

• Check for updates for WordPress, themes and plugins
• Check that your site works correctly
• Review comments and form submissions

Monthly

• Make a manual backup
• Check your error logs
• Test your backups by restoring them
• Review your plugins - remove what you do not use

Periodically

• Optimise your database
• Check site speed
• Review security logs
• Update content and check for broken links

A well-maintained WordPress site is faster, safer and more reliable. Invest a few minutes in maintenance every week and prevent big problems later.

Installing WordPress is the first step towards your own website. With the one-click installers that most hosting providers offer, it has become child's play. Within a few minutes you have a working WordPress running.

After the installation the real work begins: choosing a theme, installing essential plugins and adding your content. Take the time to get to know WordPress - it is a powerful platform with endless possibilities. And do not forget to make regular backups of your new website.

WordPress gives you the power to build a professional website without programming knowledge. Install it, explore the possibilities and build up your online presence with the most popular CMS in the world.

Installing WordPress is only the beginning. The real power lies in the thousands of plugins and themes that make your website unique. Explore the possibilities and build your ideal website step by step.

Start with WordPress now and build up your online presence.

At Theory7 WordPress hosting WordPress comes pre-installed. You can start building right away without technical hassle.

Installing WordPress: methods compared

Method	Difficulty	Time	Control	Recommended for
One-click installer (Softaculous)	Very easy	2 minutes	Limited	Beginners
Manual installation	Medium	15-30 minutes	Full	Developers
WP-CLI (command line)	Advanced	5 minutes	Full	Experienced users
Managed WordPress hosting	No installation needed	Instant	Limited	Hands-off users
Local installation (XAMPP/Local)	Medium	10-20 minutes	Full	Development/testing

After installing WordPress: essential first steps

1. Set up the permalink structure: go to Settings → Permalinks and choose "Post name" for SEO-friendly URLs
2. Remove default content: delete the default "Hello World" post, sample page and default comment
3. Choose and install a theme: choose a fast, responsive theme that suits your website
4. Install essential plugins: a security plugin (Wordfence), an SEO plugin (Yoast), a caching plugin (WP Super Cache)
5. Activate SSL: make sure your site runs over HTTPS and set this up under Settings → General
6. Enable automatic updates: switch on auto-updates for the WordPress core, themes and plugins
7. Set up a backup: install a backup plugin and configure daily automatic backups

• Tip: change the default "admin" username to something unique
• Tip: install a maximum of 15-20 plugins to keep your site fast
• Tip: disable file editing in wp-config.php with define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);

At Theory7 WordPress hosting WordPress comes pre-installed and optimised, so you can get started right away.

Frequently asked questions about installing WordPress

Which PHP version do I need for WordPress?

WordPress requires at least PHP 7.4, but PHP 8.2 or higher is strongly recommended for better performance and security. At Theory7 you can easily change the PHP version through DirectAdmin.

How much disk space does WordPress need?

A clean WordPress installation is about 60 MB. With a theme, plugins and content this grows quickly. Count on at least 1 GB for an average website and 5-10 GB if you use a lot of media.

Can I run multiple WordPress sites on the same hosting?

Yes, with add-on domains in DirectAdmin you can run multiple independent WordPress installations on one hosting plan. Each site gets its own database and files.

Installing WordPress: security from the start

• Change the database prefix: by default WordPress uses wp_ as the prefix. Choose a unique prefix to make SQL injection attacks harder.
• Remove readme.html and license.txt: these files reveal your WordPress version to attackers.
• Disable XML-RPC: disable xmlrpc.php if you do not need it. This file is a commonly used attack point for brute-force attacks.
• Change the login URL: use a plugin like WPS Hide Login to change the default /wp-admin/ URL to something unique.
• A security plugin: install Wordfence or iThemes Security for firewall protection and malware scanning.

With Theory7 WordPress hosting many of these security measures are already implemented as standard at server level, so you can get started safely with your new WordPress site right away.

Installing WordPress on different hosting types

Installation on shared hosting

Most shared hosting providers offer a one-click installer, such as Softaculous or Installatron. Log in to your control panel (DirectAdmin or cPanel), find the auto-installer and select WordPress. Fill in the desired settings: installation directory, site name, admin username and password. The installer takes care of creating the database, downloading WordPress and the basic configuration. Within a few minutes your WordPress site is ready for use.

Installation on a VPS

On a Virtual Private Server you have more control but also more responsibility. You first have to install and configure a web server (Apache or Nginx), PHP and MySQL or MariaDB. After that you download WordPress manually, create a database through the command line or phpMyAdmin, and configure the wp-config.php file. This method requires more technical knowledge but offers maximum flexibility and performance.

Comparison of installation methods

Method	Difficulty	Duration	Flexibility	Suitable for
One-click installer	Simple	5 minutes	Limited	Beginners
Manual via FTP	Medium	15-30 minutes	Good	Advanced users
VPS command line	Hard	30-60 minutes	Maximum	Developers
Local (XAMPP/Local)	Medium	20 minutes	Maximum	Development

Installing WordPress: essential first steps after installation

Setting up the permalink structure

Go straight to Settings > Permalinks and choose the Post name option. This ensures readable URLs that score better in search engines. The default permalink structure with question-mark parameters is unreadable and bad for SEO. With the post-name structure your URLs are automatically based on your page titles, which helps both users and search engines understand the page content.

Installing essential plugins

Install the most important plugins for security, SEO and performance right away. A security plugin such as Wordfence or Sucuri protects against brute-force attacks and malware. An SEO plugin such as Yoast SEO or Rank Math helps you optimise your content for search engines. A caching plugin such as WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache improves load speed considerably. Limit the total number of plugins to a maximum of 15 to 20 to prevent performance problems.

Taking security measures

Remove the default admin account and create a new administrator with a unique username. Use a strong password of at least 12 characters with uppercase letters, lowercase letters, digits and special characters. Enable two-factor authentication through a plugin. Also remove the default posts and pages that WordPress automatically creates, and remove unused themes to reduce the attack surface.

Installing WordPress: optimising performance from the start

PHP version and memory limits

Make sure your hosting environment runs at least PHP 8.1 for optimal WordPress performance. Older PHP versions are not only slower but also insecure. In addition, increase the PHP memory to at least 256MB through wp-config.php. This prevents memory-related errors when using more complex themes and plugins that require more resources.

Database optimisation

WordPress stores revisions of every page and every post, which can make the database grow quickly. Limit the number of revisions through wp-config.php. Install a plugin such as WP-Optimize to periodically clean the database of unnecessary data. A clean, optimised database ensures faster load times and a smoother management experience.

Do you want to go deeper into choosing the right PHP version? Then take a look at our article on choosing a PHP version for detailed advice.

Installing WordPress: frequently asked questions and troubleshooting

White screen after installation

The white screen of death is one of the most common problems after a fresh WordPress installation. This is usually caused by a PHP memory limit that is set too low or an incompatible theme or plugin. First increase the PHP memory limit through wp-config.php. If the problem persists, rename the plugins folder via FTP to deactivate all plugins and switch back to a default theme. Then activate the plugins one by one to identify the cause.

Cannot establish a database connection

The error message that no database connection can be made points to incorrect details in wp-config.php. Check the database name, username, password and database host. On shared hosting the host is usually localhost, but some providers use a separate database server address. Also verify that the database user actually has privileges on the specified database.

WordPress installation checklist

• Before installation: PHP version 8.1 or higher installed, MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.4+, at least 256MB PHP memory
• During installation: a strong administrator password, a unique table prefix, set search engine indexing as desired
• Right after installation: set permalinks to post name, remove unnecessary default content, install a security plugin
• Within the first week: configure an SEO plugin, set up a backup schedule, activate a caching plugin, add a contact form
• First month: publish five to ten blog articles, connect Google Search Console, submit a sitemap

Do you need help with your first WordPress website? Take a look at our complete tutorial on building a site with WordPress.

Installing WordPress: multisite and advanced configurations

WordPress Multisite considerations

WordPress Multisite lets you manage multiple websites from a single WordPress installation. This is ideal for companies with multiple brands, educational institutions or web design agencies that manage client websites. The advantages are centralised management of updates and plugins, and easy creation of new sites. The disadvantages are a more complex configuration, higher server requirements and the risk that one problem affects all sites at once. Only consider multisite if you actually manage multiple related websites.

Setting up a local development environment

For serious WordPress development a local development environment is indispensable. Tools such as Local by Flywheel, XAMPP and DevKinsta let you run WordPress locally on your computer without hosting. This makes it possible to experiment safely with themes, plugins and code changes without affecting your live website. Use a staging workflow where you first test changes locally, then verify them on a staging server and only then push to production for maximum safety.

Installing WordPress on different hosting environments

Sources and references

• WordPress.org - Official documentation (wordpress.org)
• Wordfence - WordPress Security Report (wordfence.com)
• Sucuri - Website Security Research (sucuri.net)