How to Install WordPress on Shared Hosting: A Step-by-Step Guide

by

How to Install WordPress on Shared Hosting: A Step-by-Step Guide

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, powering millions of websites. Its flexibility, ease of use, and vast ecosystem of themes and plugins make it an excellent choice for beginners and professionals alike. If you’ve decided to create your website using WordPress and have chosen shared hosting as your platform, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the entire process of installing WordPress on shared hosting.

What Is Shared Hosting?

Shared hosting is a type of web hosting where multiple websites share the same server resources such as CPU, memory, and disk space. It’s an affordable and beginner-friendly option, ideal for small to medium websites, blogs, and startups. Most shared hosting providers offer easy-to-use control panels like cPanel, which simplifies managing your hosting account and installing WordPress.

Prerequisites Before Installing WordPress

Before you begin the installation process, make sure you have the following:

  • A domain name registered and pointing to your hosting server.
  • Access to your shared hosting account control panel (usually cPanel).
  • FTP client (optional, for manual file upload).
  • A text editor (optional, for editing configuration files).

Step 1: Choose a Reliable Shared Hosting Provider

If you haven’t selected a hosting provider yet, choose one that offers good performance, uptime, and customer support. Popular shared hosting providers include Bluehost, SiteGround, HostGator, and A2 Hosting. Many of these providers offer one-click WordPress installation via their control panel, which can make your job easier.

Step 2: Log in to Your Hosting Control Panel

Once you’ve purchased your hosting plan, log in to your hosting control panel. Most shared hosting accounts use cPanel, which is user-friendly and feature-rich. You will receive login credentials from your hosting provider via email.

Step 3: Create a MySQL Database and User

WordPress requires a MySQL database to store all your website content and settings. Here is how to create a database and user in cPanel:

  1. In cPanel, locate the Databases section and click on MySQL Databases.
  2. Under Create New Database, enter a name for your database (e.g., wordpress_db) and click Create Database.
  3. Scroll down to MySQL Users and create a new user by entering a username and a strong password, then click Create User.
  4. Add the user to the database by selecting the user and database from the dropdowns under Add User To Database, then click Add.
  5. Grant All Privileges to the user and save.

Make sure to note down your database name, username, and password for later use.

Step 4: Download the Latest WordPress Package

Go to the official WordPress website at wordpress.org and download the latest version of WordPress in ZIP format. This package contains all the necessary files to run your website.

Step 5: Upload WordPress Files to Your Hosting Account

You have two options to upload WordPress files to your server:

Option A: Using cPanel File Manager

  1. Log in to your cPanel and open File Manager.
  2. Navigate to the root directory where you want to install WordPress. For your main domain, it is usually the public_html folder.
  3. Click Upload and select the WordPress ZIP file you downloaded.
  4. Once uploaded, right-click the ZIP file and select Extract.
  5. After extraction, move the contents of the wordpress folder to the root directory (public_html) if necessary, so the WordPress files are directly accessible on your site.

Option B: Using FTP Client (e.g., FileZilla)

  1. Install and open your FTP client.
  2. Connect to your server using the FTP credentials provided by your host.
  3. Navigate to the public_html directory.
  4. Upload the extracted WordPress files from your local machine to the public_html directory.

Step 6: Configure WordPress Installation

Once the files are uploaded, open your web browser and navigate to your domain name (e.g., http://yourdomain.com). This will launch the WordPress installation wizard.

  1. Select your preferred language and click Continue.
  2. WordPress will show a welcome screen and explain the information you need: database name, username, password, and host (usually localhost).
  3. Click Let’s go! to proceed.

Step 7: Enter Database Details

Fill in the following database information:

  • Database Name: The name of the database you created earlier.
  • Username: The database username you created.
  • Password: The database user’s password.
  • Database Host: Usually localhost on shared hosting, but check with your provider.
  • Table Prefix: You can leave this as wp_ or customize it if you want to run multiple WordPress installations in one database.

Click Submit to continue.

Step 8: Run the Installation

If the database connection details are correct, WordPress will prompt you to run the installation.

  1. Click Run the installation.
  2. On the next screen, enter your website title.
  3. Set your username (avoid using “admin” for security reasons).
  4. Choose a strong password.
  5. Enter your email address.
  6. Decide whether to discourage search engines from indexing your site (you can change this later).
  7. Click Install WordPress.

Step 9: Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard

After the installation completes, you will see a success message. Click the Log In button.

Use the username and password you created to log in to your WordPress admin dashboard. This is where you will manage your website, create content, install themes and plugins, and customize your site.

Step 10: Secure and Optimize Your WordPress Site

Now that WordPress is installed, consider the following to improve your site’s security and performance:

  • Update WordPress regularly to patch security vulnerabilities.
  • Choose a reliable theme that is responsive and well-supported.
  • Install essential plugins such as security plugins (Wordfence, Sucuri), SEO plugins (Yoast SEO, Rank Math), and caching plugins (WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache).
  • Set up regular backups using plugins or your hosting provider’s tools.
  • Use strong passwords and limit login attempts.
  • Enable HTTPS by installing an SSL certificate (many hosts offer free Let’s Encrypt SSL).

Conclusion

Installing WordPress on shared hosting is a straightforward process that anyone can do with a little guidance. By following these steps, you can have your WordPress website up and running quickly without needing advanced technical skills. Shared hosting offers an affordable and accessible way to start your online presence, and WordPress provides the tools to build a professional and customizable website. Once installed, explore the vast WordPress ecosystem to create a site tailored perfectly to your needs. Happy blogging!

Leave a Comment