How to Install WordPress: The 15-Minute Setup (2026)

Before you install

You need two things:

1. WordPress-friendly hosting — shared hosting from the best WordPress hosting list all offer one-click WordPress installs
2. A domain — yours, pointed at the host (see domains and hosting)

The whole flow takes about 15 minutes. There's also a Hostinger-specific walkthrough in our install WordPress on Hostinger guide.

Step 1: Use the one-click installer

Every major host bundles a WordPress installer. In cPanel it's under WordPress (or Softaculous); in hPanel it's the WordPress entry in the left menu; SiteGround uses Site Tools → WordPress.

1. Click Install / Add Website
2. Choose your domain (or the temporary host domain if yours is still propagating)
3. Set site name and description
4. Create an admin username and password — make them strong, not "admin"
5. Select a language and hit Install

Most installers finish in under a minute and email you the login URL.

Step 2: Complete the install manually (if needed)

If your host lacks a one-click installer (some VPS setups), the manual route:

1. Download WordPress from wordpress.org and upload wp-content and wp-config-sample.php to public_html via FTP
2. Create a database in your host's MySQL panel (cPanel → MySQL Databases) and a user with all privileges on it
3. Rename wp-config-sample.php to wp-config.php and paste your DB name, user, and password
4. Visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin — the famous 5-minute install screen appears, enter your site details, and done

For a VPS you can skip FTP and use wp-cli — covered in our WordPress VPS hosting guide.

Step 3: Log in and verify

Visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin and log in. You should see the WordPress dashboard. Immediately check:

• Settings → General — Site Address is https:// (after SSL is on)
• Permalinks — set to Post name (/sample-post/), the SEO-friendly default
• Users — your admin account is the only user so far

Step 4: Configure the essentials

Before publishing anything:

1. Install SSL — free Let's Encrypt in your host panel, then force HTTPS. Full walkthrough: email & SSL setup
2. Enable backups — turn on your host's daily backups or add UpdraftPlus. Backup guide
3. Install a cache plugin — LiteSpeed Cache on LiteSpeed hosts (Hostinger, A2) or a caching option. See speed up WordPress
4. Pick a theme — install a theme and customize
5. Set up a professional email — you@yourdomain.com if you haven't: email setup

What's next after install

• Read WordPress hosting for beginners — the first week of ownership
• Run the security checklist — 2FA and updates before launch
• Set up maintenance — updates, backups, and uptime checks

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to install WordPress? About 5 minutes with a one-click installer, 15–20 manually. Hosting signup and domain setup add time but are separate steps.

Is WordPress really free? The software is free and open-source. You pay for hosting ($3/mo+) and a domain (~$10/yr). See WordPress.com vs WordPress.org for the difference.

Can I install WordPress on any host? Yes — any host with PHP and MySQL runs it. Quality differs enormously, which is why the host rankings exist.

What is the WordPress admin URL? yourdomain.com/wp-admin — your login page and dashboard entry.

How do I install WordPress locally to practice? Use Local (by WP Engine) or DevKinsta — a one-click local WordPress environment. Everything works the same as on a host, without paying for one yet.