How to Install WordPress Manually on cPanel?

WordPress is the most popular Content Management System (CMS) used to build websites today. With its intuitive interface and vast array of features, WordPress has become the go-to choice for individuals and businesses alike looking to build a robust online presence. If you’re new to WordPress and wondering how to install it on cPanel, this guide is for you.

cPanel is a web-based control panel that allows you to manage your web hosting account and website. It’s a widely used platform for managing websites, providing a user-friendly interface to manage all aspects of your hosting account, including email, domains, and files. By installing WordPress on cPanel, you can create a fully functional website without the need for any coding knowledge.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of installing WordPress on cPanel. We’ll cover everything you need to know, from checking the system requirements to uploading WordPress to cPanel, configuring the site settings, and securing your installation.

So, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned web developer, this guide will help you set up WordPress on cPanel quickly and easily. Let’s get started!

Check Requirements

Before you start installing WordPress on cPanel, it’s essential to check whether your hosting environment meets the minimum requirements to run WordPress smoothly. This step is crucial as it can save you a lot of time and headaches down the line.

Here are the minimum requirements to install WordPress Manually on cPanel:

• PHP Version and PHP Extensions: WordPress requires PHP version 5.6 or higher to run. Additionally, it needs some specific PHP extensions to work correctly, including MySQLi, PDO, cURL, and XML.
• MySQL Database and its Version: WordPress requires a MySQL database to store and manage your website data. Your hosting account must include at least one MySQL database, and it should have a minimum version of 5.6 or higher.
• FTP or cPanel File Manager: You’ll need FTP (File Transfer Protocol) or cPanel’s File Manager to upload WordPress files to your hosting account. You can use either of these options, depending on your preference and level of expertise.

To check whether your hosting account meets these requirements, you can contact your web host or check your hosting account’s dashboard. In cPanel, you can find the PHP version and extensions in the “Software” section and the MySQL databases in the “Databases” section.

Once you’ve verified that your hosting account meets the requirements, you’re ready to move on to the next step: downloading WordPress.

Download WordPress

Now that you’ve checked that your hosting environment meets the minimum requirements for running WordPress, it’s time to download the latest version of WordPress from the official website.

Here’s how you can download WordPress:

1. Go to the WordPress official website at wordpress.org.
2. Click on the “Download WordPress” button on the homepage.
3. The latest version of WordPress will start downloading automatically. The file will be in a compressed (zipped) format, and you’ll need to extract it before uploading it to your hosting account.
4. Once the download is complete, navigate to the downloaded file on your computer and extract it using a compression tool such as WinZip or 7-Zip.
5. After extracting the file, you should see a folder named “WordPress” containing all the files needed to install WordPress on your hosting account.

Now that you have downloaded WordPress, you’re ready to move on to the next step: creating a database in cPanel.

Create a Database

Before installing WordPress on cPanel, you need to create a MySQL database to store your website’s data. Here’s how you can create a database in cPanel:

1. Log in to your cPanel account.
2. Look for the “Databases” section and click on “MySQL Databases.”
3. Under “Create a New Database,” enter a name for your database. For example, you can name it “wp_database.”
4. Click on the “Create Database” button to create your database.
5. After creating the database, scroll down to the “MySQL Users” section and create a new user. Enter a username and password for the user and click on “Create User.”
6. Once you’ve created the user, scroll down to the “Add User to Database” section. Choose the database and user you just created from the drop-down menus and click on “Add.”
7. In the next screen, grant all privileges to the user by clicking on the “All Privileges” checkbox. Then, click on the “Make Changes” button.

Your database is now created, and you have a user account with full privileges to access it. Remember to note down your database name, username, and password, as you’ll need them in the next step when installing WordPress.

Now that you’ve created a database, you’re ready to move on to the next step: uploading WordPress to cPanel.

Upload WordPress to cPanel

After creating a database in cPanel, the next step is to upload the WordPress files to your hosting account. You can do this by using FTP or cPanel’s File Manager.

Here’s how to upload WordPress using FTP:

1. Download an FTP client like FileZilla and install it on your computer.
2. Open the FTP client and enter your website’s FTP credentials, which you can find in your hosting account’s cPanel dashboard.
3. Once you’re connected to your hosting account, navigate to the root directory where you want to install WordPress. If you want to install WordPress in the main directory of your website, navigate to the “public_html” folder.
4. Upload the extracted WordPress folder to the root directory.
5. Once the upload is complete, you should see a folder named “WordPress” in your root directory.

If you prefer to use cPanel’s File Manager, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your cPanel account.
2. In the “Files” section, click on “File Manager.”
3. Navigate to the root directory where you want to install WordPress.
4. Click on the “Upload” button and select the extracted WordPress folder from your computer.
5. Once the upload is complete, go back to the File Manager and locate the uploaded WordPress folder.

Now that you have uploaded WordPress to your hosting account, you’re ready to move on to the next step: running the WordPress installation script.

Install WordPress Manually

After uploading WordPress to your hosting account, the next step is to run the installation script to set up your WordPress site. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open a web browser and navigate to your website’s URL. For example, if your website is “example.com,” type “http://example.com” in the browser’s address bar.
2. You should see the WordPress installation screen. Choose your preferred language and click on the “Continue” button.
3. On the next screen, WordPress will prompt you to enter your database details. Enter the database name, username, and password that you created in cPanel earlier. Leave the database host and table prefix fields as they are, unless you have a specific reason to change them.
4. Click on the “Submit” button to proceed.
5. On the next screen, WordPress will check if it can connect to your database. If the details are correct, you’ll see a message saying “All right, sparky! You’ve made it through this part of the installation.” Click on the “Run the Install” button to continue.
6. On the next screen, you’ll be prompted to enter your site’s information, including the site title, username, password, and email address. Fill in the required fields and click on the “Install WordPress” button.
7. WordPress will now install and set up your site. Once the installation is complete, you’ll see a success message. Click on the “Log In” button to access your site’s admin dashboard.

Congratulations, you’ve successfully installed WordPress on your cPanel hosting account! From here, you can customize your site’s design, install plugins and themes, and start publishing content.

Secure WordPress

After installing WordPress on cPanel, it’s important to take some steps to secure your site and protect it from potential threats. Here are some tips to help you secure your WordPress site:

1. Update WordPress regularly: WordPress releases regular updates to address security vulnerabilities and improve the platform’s functionality. Make sure to update WordPress, as well as any plugins and themes you have installed, to the latest versions as soon as they become available.
2. Use a strong password: When setting up your WordPress site, make sure to choose a strong and unique password for your admin account. Avoid using easy-to-guess passwords, such as “123456” or “password.”
3. Limit login attempts: Use a plugin to limit the number of login attempts on your site. This can help prevent brute-force attacks and keep your site secure.
4. Use a security plugin: Consider installing a security plugin like Wordfence or iThemes Security to help protect your site from malware and other security threats.
5. Disable file editing: By default, WordPress allows you to edit theme and plugin files from within the dashboard. However, this can pose a security risk, as a hacker could potentially gain access to your site and modify these files. To prevent this, you can disable file editing by adding the following code to your wp-config.php file:

sqlCopy codedefine('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);

6. Use SSL: SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a security protocol that encrypts data transmitted between your site and your visitors’ browsers. Adding an SSL certificate to your site can help protect sensitive information, such as login credentials and payment details.

By taking these steps, you can help secure your WordPress site and protect it from potential security threats.

Conclusion

In conclusion, installing WordPress on cPanel is a relatively straightforward process that can be completed in a few simple steps. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can quickly set up your WordPress site on cPanel and start customizing your site’s design, installing plugins and themes, and publishing content. However, it’s also important to take some additional steps to secure your WordPress site and protect it from potential security threats. By regularly updating WordPress and any plugins or themes you have installed, using strong passwords, limiting login attempts, and using security plugins, you can help keep your site safe and secure. With the right approach, you can create a powerful and secure WordPress site that meets your needs and helps you achieve your goals online.