Installing WordPress

WordPress powers a huge share of the web, and you do not need to download or upload anything to get it going. Your web hosting control panel has a one-click installer that does the setup for you, database and all. This guide takes you from a fresh hosting account to a secure, working WordPress site, and covers the problems people most often run into.

Which plan do I need for WordPress?

Any of our web hosting plans will run WordPress. Simple is fine for a single blog or portfolio. If you plan to run several sites, a WooCommerce shop or a site with lots of images and plugins, Maxi gives you unlimited storage, databases and addon domains, and Pro adds higher I/O resources and cpGuard security for busier sites. You can upgrade later without reinstalling anything.

Before you start

• Your domain should be pointing at your hosting. If it is not yet, see our guide on pointing your domain at your hosting.
• Have your control panel login to hand. You will find it in your client area and your welcome email.
• Decide where the site should live: usually the main domain itself, rather than a sub-folder.

How to install WordPress from cPanel or DirectAdmin

1. 1Log into your control panel. You can jump straight in from your hosting service in the client area.
2. 2Find the app installer. In cPanel it sits in the Software section; in DirectAdmin look for the app or script installer in the menu. Either way, choose WordPress.
3. 3Pick your domain and choose the https:// version of it, so your site uses SSL from day one.
4. 4Leave the directory box empty to install on the main domain. Typing something like blog will put the site at yourdomain.com/blog instead.
5. 5Enter your site name, then choose an admin username, a strong password and an email address you actually check. Avoid using admin as the username.
6. 6Click Install and wait a minute or so. The installer creates the database and sets everything up for you.

Free SSL

Every site on our web hosting gets a free SSL certificate, issued and renewed automatically. It can only be issued once your domain is pointing at us, so if you have just changed your DNS, give it a little while. If the padlock still has not appeared after your domain is live, open the SSL section of your control panel to check its status, or ask us and we will sort it.

Your first login

1. 1Go to yourdomain.com/wp-admin in your browser.
2. 2Sign in with the admin username and password you chose during the install.
3. 3Visit Settings, then General, and check your site title and that both addresses start with https://.
4. 4Under Settings, then Permalinks, choose Post name for clean, readable URLs.
5. 5Pick a theme under Appearance, and delete any sample posts, pages, themes or plugins you do not need.
6. 6Keep WordPress, your theme and your plugins up to date from the Dashboard's Updates page.

Which plugins should I install?

Fewer is better. Every plugin is extra code to load and keep updated, so only add what you will use. Most sites are well served by:

• An SEO plugin, to control page titles, descriptions and your sitemap.
• A caching plugin, to serve pages faster.
• A security plugin, to limit login attempts and add two-factor authentication.
• A contact form plugin, if you need visitors to get in touch.
• WooCommerce, only if you are selling online.

Install plugins and themes from the official WordPress directory or directly from reputable developers. Avoid nulled or cracked premium plugins, which are a very common way sites get infected.

How do I keep WordPress secure?

• Keep everything updated. Most hacked WordPress sites were running an out-of-date plugin or theme.
• Use a strong, unique password for every admin account, and turn on two-factor authentication.
• Give people the lowest role they need. Writers can be Authors or Editors rather than Administrators.
• Remove plugins and themes you are not using, rather than just deactivating them.
• Keep the site on https:// only, which your free SSL makes easy.

Making your site faster

• Resize and compress images before uploading them. A photo straight off a phone can be several megabytes.
• Use a lightweight theme rather than one that bundles dozens of features you will not use.
• Turn on page caching with a caching plugin.
• Check your site with a free page speed tool, and tackle the biggest issues it flags first.

Backups

Your web hosting includes automatic daily backups, so if something goes badly wrong there is a copy to fall back on. It is still good practice to take a quick backup yourself before big changes, such as a major WordPress update, a new theme or a large plugin, so you can roll back to exactly that point.

Common WordPress problems and fixes

• Not secure warning: your SSL may not have been issued yet, or your site address still starts with http://. Check the SSL section of your control panel, then update both addresses under Settings, then General.
• Too many redirects: usually caused by conflicting https settings, often from a plugin or a proxy service in front of your site. Check your site addresses first, then disable any redirect or SSL plugin.
• White screen or a critical error message: normally a faulty plugin or theme. Rename the plugins folder inside wp-content using the File Manager to switch every plugin off, then turn them back on one at a time to find the culprit.
• Error establishing a database connection: the database details in wp-config.php do not match the database. Check the name, username and password in your control panel's database section.
• Forgotten password: use the Lost your password link on the login page. If the email never arrives, ask us and we will help you back in.

Should I run WordPress on a VPS instead?

For most sites, no. Web hosting gives you a ready-made environment with backups, SSL and a control panel, and we look after the server. A VPS makes sense when you need server-level control, custom software alongside WordPress, or you are running several busy sites and are comfortable managing Linux yourself.

Already have a WordPress site elsewhere?

No need to start from scratch. We will move it across for free, so skip the installer and open a ticket instead.