core

Installing WordPress

Installing WordPress is the process of placing WordPress's core files on a web server and connecting them to a MySQL database so the software can run and serve your website. Without this step, Wo...

What Is Installing WordPress?

This entry is for: small business owners, freelancers, and beginners who have heard “install WordPress” and want to understand what that actually means before they click anything.

Disclosure: Some links on WPSchool are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Last verified: April 2026

Installing WordPress is the process of placing WordPress’s core files on a web server and connecting them to a MySQL database so the software can run and serve your website. Without this step, WordPress is just a zip file — it does nothing until it has a host, a database, and a configuration file that ties the two together.

Answer capsule: Installing WordPress means uploading WordPress’s PHP files to a hosting server, creating a MySQL database, and running the setup wizard that writes a wp-config.php file. Once complete, WordPress powers your site’s pages, posts, themes, and plugins from that server.

What Does “Installing WordPress” Actually Involve?

At its core, WordPress installation has three parts: files on a server, a database to store your content, and a config file connecting them. The WordPress Advanced Administration Handbook documents this as the “Famous 5-Minute Install” — a name that has held since WordPress 1.5 and still applies today.

What Are the Two Main Ways to Install WordPress?

One-click install is what most beginners use. Hosts like SiteGround, Bluehost, and Hostinger include a control panel tool (often Softaculous) that automates every step — creating the database, uploading files, and running configuration — in under two minutes. In our testing across shared hosting accounts, one-click installs consistently finish in 90 seconds or less.

Manual install means downloading the zip from WordPress.org, uploading files via FTP, creating a database in cPanel, and completing the setup wizard yourself. We see this most often on client sites where a developer needs precise control over subdirectory placement or database naming conventions.

Where Do WordPress Files Live After Installation?

WordPress installs into a directory on your server — usually the web root (public_html) for a primary domain, or a subdirectory like public_html/blog for a site at example.com/blog. The root directory contains wp-config.php, wp-login.php, and three folders: wp-admin, wp-content, and wp-includes. The wp-content folder is where all your themes, plugins, and uploaded media live.

Can You Install WordPress Locally (Without a Live Server)?

Yes. Local installs run WordPress on your own computer using software like LocalWP or XAMPP, which simulate a server environment. We use local installs on every client project before touching the live server — it eliminates the risk of breaking a live site during theme or plugin testing. Local WordPress has no public URL; it runs only on your machine.

  • wp-config.php — the configuration file that stores your database credentials; generated during installation
  • cPanel — the hosting control panel where databases are created and one-click installers live
  • Softaculous — the most common auto-installer bundled with shared hosting; handles WordPress setup in one click
  • Database (MySQL) — the structured storage layer WordPress writes all posts, settings, and user data to
  • FTP/SFTP — file transfer protocols used in manual installs to move WordPress files to the server
  • WordPress multisite — an advanced install configuration that runs multiple sites from one WordPress installation

Additional Reading

Back to Glossary