How to Install WordPress in 5 Minutes ?

Installing WordPress is the first step in building a website, whether for a blog, an online store, or a professional portfolio. This guide covers everything from beginner-friendly one-click installations to manual setups for advanced users and even local installations for testing environments.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to install WordPress, troubleshoot common issues, and optimize the process using tools like FileZilla, Softaculous, and Adobe Dreamweaver. Let’s Get Started!

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1. Prerequisites for Installing WordPress

Before we go into WordPress installation methods, ensure you have the following:

Basic Requirements:

• Domain Name and Hosting: Choose a provider like Bluehost, Hostinger, or Namecheap.
• Access to Hosting Panel: Familiarize yourself with tools like cPanel, Plesk, or proprietary dashboards.
• Basic Tools for Manual Installation: An FTP client like FileZilla, a text editor like Notepad++, and the files from WordPress.org.

Tools for Advanced Users:

• Adobe Dreamweaver: A premium alternative to FileZilla for managing server files with real-time previews. Learn more.
• Adobe Photoshop: Optimize your website’s logo and banners for performance. Explore Photoshop.
• IDE (Integrated Development Environment): Tools like Visual Studio Code or PhpStorm make code edits efficient.

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2. WordPress One-Click Installation Guide

This is the fastest and easiest way to install WordPress, ideal for beginners. Most popular hosting providers offer this feature via Softaculous, Plesk WP Toolkit, or custom dashboards.

Softaculous (cPanel/DirectAdmin):

1. Log into your hosting panel and open Softaculous.
2. Find the WordPress option and select Install.
3. Enter your Site Title, Admin Username, Password, and Domain.
4. The installer automatically creates the MySQL database and uploads the files.
5. Click the Log in link to access your dashboard.

Plesk WP Toolkit:

1. In Plesk’s WordPress section, click Install.
2. Choose New Instance and follow the prompts.

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3. How to Install WordPress Manually (FTP/SFTP)

For full control, you can install WordPress manually. This method teaches the core structure and works on any server.

3.1 Retrieve FTP Details

• cPanel: Files > FTP Accounts. Note the address, username, and port (21).
• Plesk: Web Hosting Access under domain settings.
• Hetzner: FTP Access section under server details.

3.2 Step-By-Step Guide

1. Download WordPress: Get the zip from WordPress.org and unzip it.
2. Upload Files: Use FileZilla to upload contents to your web root (usually public_html).
3. Create a Database: Open phpMyAdmin, create a new MySQL database, and a user with full privileges.
4. Configure wp-config.php: Rename wp-config-sample.php to wp-config.php and add your DB_NAME, DB_USER, and DB_PASSWORD.
5. Run the Setup: Visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin/install.php and follow the on-screen instructions.

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4. How To Install WP with WP-CLI (Command Line)

WP-CLI is the official command-line tool. You can install WordPress in four commands:

1. Download: wp core download --locale=en_US
2. Config: wp config create --dbname=your_db --dbuser=your_user --prompt=dbpass
3. Database: wp db create
4. Install: wp core install --url="example.com" --title="My Site" --admin_user=admin --admin_password=securepass --admin_email=you@example.com

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5. WordPress Setup using Docker

Docker creates an isolated, consistent environment using containers.

Typical Steps:

1. Install Docker and Docker Compose.
2. Create a docker-compose.yml defining db (MySQL) and wordpress services.
3. Launch with docker-compose up -d.
4. Complete the setup at http://localhost.

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6. Install WordPress using Bedrock

Bedrock by Roots modernizes WordPress with Composer dependency management and a cleaner folder layout.

1. composer create-project roots/bedrock your-project-folder
2. Configure your .env file with database credentials.
3. Point your web root to the web/ directory.

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7. Setup WordPress with GitHub & CI/CD

Continuous Deployment allows you to push code to GitHub and have it automatically sync to your live server using GitHub Actions.

1. Host your theme/plugins in a Git repo.
2. Configure a workflow to use rsync or scp over SSH.
3. Automate deployments to reduce manual errors.

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8. WordPress Local Development Environments

Local development lets you build and test offline without affecting your live site.

• LocalWP (Local by WP Engine): Free, easy, and WordPress-centric.
• XAMPP / MAMP: Traditional LAMP stacks for manual installation.
• Lando: Powerful Docker-based tool for developers.
• DevKinsta: Free GUI-based environment that syncs with Kinsta.

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9. WordPress Cloud (VPS) Deployment

For high-traffic sites, use cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, or DigitalOcean.

• One-Click Cloud Images: Use AWS Lightsail or DigitalOcean Marketplace "1-Click" Droplets.
• Manual Setup: Install your own LAMP/LEMP stack on an Ubuntu VM for maximum performance control.

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