How to Install WordPress in 5 Minutes or Less

When it comes to installing WordPress, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you’re a beginner looking for the simplest way to get started, a developer needing a local setup for testing, or a business aiming to scale with enterprise solutions, the right installation method depends on your specific needs and goals.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the various methods of installing WordPress, from the most beginner-friendly options to advanced setups that offer full control and scalability.

By the time we’re done, you’ll know exactly which method is your perfect match. Trust me, starting off on the right foot with WordPress can make all the difference. So, ready to find your WordPress soulmate? Let’s dive in!

Local WordPress installation

Best for: setting up WordPress for development and testing.

If your goal is to develop, test, or learn WordPress without affecting a live site, a local installation is the way to go. Installing WordPress on your local machine gives you a sandbox environment where you can experiment freely, develop themes and plugins, or learn the ropes before going live.

Among the available tools, Local (developed by Flywheel, now owned by WP Engine) is one of the most popular and user-friendly options, and also my favorite. I’ve been literally doing all my local WordPress work using this tool.

Why choose a local installation?

Local installations are ideal for developers, designers, and anyone who wants to work on WordPress without the pressure of making mistakes on a live site. This setup allows you to work offline, which is especially handy if you don’t always have access to the internet. Additionally, it’s a perfect solution for testing new features or making significant changes before pushing them to your live site.

Setting up WordPress using Local by Flywheel

First off, consider the minimal requirements of the Local software:

RAM: At least 4GB
Disk space: Minimum of 1.5GB (more may be needed for larger sites)

If that’s all okay, then you can get started by going to the official website of Local.

Then, based on your OS:

For macOS

Download the Local installer for your system.
Open the downloaded .dmg file.
Drag the Local application to the /Applications folder.

For Windows

Download the Local installer for your system.
Double-click the downloaded application to start the installation.
Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
Allow access through Windows Defender when prompted to ensure Local can communicate on the network.

Steps to install WordPress on Local

After installing Local, open the application and click the “+” button to create a new site.

Then pick “Create a new site” and click on “Continue”

You’ll be prompted to enter a site name (plus optionally choose a domain name, which will be local to your computer, and select a site path for your files – you can ignore both and just go with the defaults).

Local also gives you the option to choose between different environments (PHP versions, web servers, etc.). If you’re unsure, stick with the recommended settings, which are suitable for most users.

Once you’ve configured your environment, Local will automatically download and install WordPress. You’ll be provided with a username, password, and an admin URL to log in to your local WordPress dashboard.

You can install multiple WordPress instances that way, and you can turn each of them on and off by the click of a button.

Local installations are a safe and flexible way to work on WordPress without the risks associated with live changes. Whether you’re a developer or a WordPress novice looking to learn, Local by Flywheel makes it easy to set up and manage your local WordPress environment.

Beginner-friendly options for live sites

Best for: quick and easy WordPress installation.

For many users, the idea of setting up a WordPress site from scratch can seem daunting. Thankfully, there are beginner-friendly options that make the process incredibly straightforward. Whether you’re a small business owner, a blogger, or someone with minimal technical experience, these methods allow you to get WordPress up and running with just a few clicks.

One-click installers: a hassle-free solution

One-click installers are the easiest way to install WordPress, and they’re offered by many web hosts. These installers simplify the entire process by automating most of the setup steps, making them ideal for users who want to get started quickly without worrying about the technical details.

How one-click installers work

The exact manner in which your one-click installer is going to work will depend on the web host you’re with. However, in general, you can expect it to go like this:

Log in to your web hosting account and navigate to the control panel (often cPanel or Plesk).
Most control panels have a section for script installers like Softaculous, or similar. Click on them and look for the WordPress option.
The installer will guide you through a few simple steps, such as selecting your domain, setting up an admin username and password, and choosing your site’s title.
Once you’ve filled in the necessary details, click “Install” and let the tool handle the rest. In just a few minutes, you’ll have a fully functional WordPress site ready to customize.

Links to official one-click installation docs from different hosts

If the above still seems a bit intimidating, here are some links to official guides published by some of the popular web hosts – you’re likely hosting with one of them:

In the end, these one-click installers are perfect for beginners because they eliminate the need for manual file uploads, database creation, and other technical steps that can be intimidating for newcomers.

Managed WordPress hosting: a done-for-you experience

Managed WordPress hosting takes convenience to the next level by providing a hosting environment that’s specifically optimized for WordPress. In most cases, WordPress comes pre-installed, and the host takes care of all the technical aspects, such as updates, security, and backups.

This means you can focus entirely on building and growing your site without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.

Why choose managed WordPress hosting?

Your host handles core WordPress updates automatically, keeping your site secure and up-to-date.
Managed hosting providers often include advanced security features specifically designed to protect WordPress sites.
These hosts optimize their servers for WordPress, ensuring your site runs fast and smoothly.
Managed hosting providers typically offer specialized support for WordPress, which can be a lifesaver if you run into issues.

Managed WordPress hosting is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a hands-off experience. It’s particularly beneficial for small businesses, bloggers, or anyone who prefers to leave the technical work to the experts while they focus on content and growth.

Some popular managed hosts that come with WordPress pre-installed include:

Manual and command-line installation

Best for: advanced control and customization.

For users who need full control over their WordPress installation, manual installation or command-line installation with WP-CLI offers unmatched flexibility. These methods are perfect for those who want to tailor every aspect of their WordPress environment, whether for custom server configurations, development purposes, or specific security needs.

Manual installation: full control over the setup

Manual installation is a tried-and-true method that gives you complete control over every step of the WordPress setup process. Although it requires a bit more technical know-how, it’s a valuable skill for anyone looking to understand the inner workings of WordPress or customize their installation beyond the default options.

For years, this has actually been the only viable option to install WordPress in most cases. It’s only relatively recently that we got access to things like auto-installs.

Steps for manual installation

Start by downloading the latest version of WordPress from WordPress.org.

Use an FTP client like FileZilla to upload the WordPress files to your web server. You’ll typically upload these files to the public_html or a similarly named directory.

Log in to your hosting control panel and navigate to the database section (usually under MySQL Databases). Create a new database and user, and make sure to assign the user to the database with full privileges.

In your WordPress files, locate the wp-config-sample.php file, rename it to wp-config.php and open it in a text editor. Here, you’ll enter the database name, username, and password you created earlier.

In your browser, navigate to your domain to run the WordPress installation script. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your site title, admin username, and password.

Once the script finishes, you can log in to your new WordPress site and start customizing.

Command-line installation (WP-CLI): automate and speed up the process

WP-CLI (WordPress Command Line Interface) is a powerful tool that allows you to install, configure, and manage WordPress directly from the command line. This method is perfect for developers, system administrators, or anyone managing multiple WordPress sites who needs to automate tasks and save time.

How to install WordPress using WP-CLI

Check if you have WP-CLI installed on your server. Run this:

wp --info

If this shows the CLI status screen then you have WP-CLI installed. If not, then here’s how to handle that.

Next, use WP-CLI to download the latest version of WordPress by running the command:

wp core download

WP-CLI can generate the wp-config.php file for you with a single command:

wp config create --dbname=your_db_name --dbuser=your_db_user --dbpass=your_db_password

Next, create the database based on the config above:

wp db create

Run the installation command to set up your site:

wp core install --url="yourdomain.com" --title="Your Site Title" --admin_user="adminuserlogin" --admin_password="strongpasswordforadmin" --admin_email="youremail@example.com"

Once installed, you can even use WP-CLI to manage plugins, themes, users, and also perform database operations – all from the command line.

WP-CLI is especially useful for developers who need to script WordPress installations or handle bulk tasks across multiple sites. It’s a powerful way to streamline workflows, especially for advanced users who prefer the efficiency of command-line tools.

Installing WordPress on cloud platforms

Best for: enterprise, scalable, and DevOps solutions.

For organizations with advanced infrastructure needs, or development teams focused on continuous integration and deployment, traditional WordPress installation methods may not be sufficient.

In these scenarios, deploying WordPress on cloud platforms or using containerized environments offers the scalability, flexibility, and control required for complex projects.

Cloud platform installations: AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean

Cloud platforms provide the ability to scale your WordPress installation as your site grows, making them ideal for high-traffic websites, enterprise projects, or businesses requiring robust uptime and performance.

Platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean offer various solutions to deploy WordPress with ease.

Since the actual specific details of each step do change quite a bit with each of those platforms, I’m just going to focus on the general outlook on how WordPress installation gets done. Knowing this, you should be able to follow along and find info in the official docs if needed.

Setting up WordPress on AWS (Amazon Web Services)

The easiest path of getting WordPress to run on Amazon is to use Amazon Lightsail:

Step 1: Create an Amazon Lightsail account. Free tier is eligible.
Step 2: Create a WordPress instance.
- In the Lightsail console, choose to create an instance.
- Select Linux/Unix as the platform.
- Choose WordPress as the blueprint.
- Configure your instance settings, including selecting an AWS Region and naming your instance.
- Click on Create instance.
Step 3: Connect to your instance via SSH.
- Use the browser-based SSH client in the Lightsail console to connect to your WordPress instance.
- Retrieve the default password for your WordPress admin dashboard by running the command: cat $HOME/bitnami_application_password
Step 4: Sign in to the WordPress administration dashboard.
- Open a browser and navigate to: http://PublicIpAddress/wp-login.php
- Log in using the username user and the password you retrieved earlier.
Step 5: Create a static IP address.
- To ensure your instance retains the same IP address, create a static IP.
Step 6: Set up a DNS zone.
- Create a DNS zone in Lightsail to manage your domain’s DNS records.

Here’s the official guide by Amazon.

Setting up WordPress on Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

It’s best to follow this official onboarding to deploy WordPress on Google Cloud.

Setting up WordPress on DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean provides a quite neat auto-installer feature that you can use if you don’t want to have to configure “droplets” manually. You can check out the updated version here.

Choosing the right WordPress installation method for your needs

Installing WordPress is the first step toward building a successful website, but the best installation method depends on your specific goals and technical expertise. Whether you’re a beginner looking for a quick and easy setup, a developer needing a local environment, or an enterprise requiring a scalable solution, there’s an option tailored just for you.

For those who want simplicity, beginner-friendly options like one-click installers and managed WordPress hosting offer a fast, hassle-free way to get started.
Developers and tech-savvy users can leverage manual installations or WP-CLI for greater control and customization.
Meanwhile, organizations and development teams with advanced infrastructure needs can benefit from cloud platform installations, ensuring their WordPress environment is both scalable and resilient.
And, of course, if you just want to run a WordPress site on your local machine, then nothing beats Local.

No matter which path you choose, the key is to align your installation method with your project’s requirements and your technical comfort level. With the right approach, you’ll set up a WordPress site that’s not only functional but also ready to grow and adapt to whatever the future holds.