How to install WordPress on GHost Cloud

This guide shows how to install WordPress by hand in cPanel: create a database, upload WordPress and run the installer. It takes about 15 minutes.

Create a database

1. Log in to cPanel and open MySQL Databases.
2. Under Create New Database, enter a name such as wp and select Create Database. cPanel adds your username to the front, so the full name looks like username_wp.
3. Under MySQL Users, create a user with a strong password. Use the password generator and keep a copy.
4. Under Add User to Database, choose the user and the database, select Add, tick All Privileges and save.

See How to create and manage MySQL databases in cPanel.

Upload WordPress

1. Download the latest WordPress from wordpress.org.
2. In cPanel, open File Manager and go to public_html.
3. Select Upload and upload the zip file.
4. Select the zip file and choose Extract. This creates a wordpress folder.
5. Open the wordpress folder, select all the files and move them up into public_html. Then delete the empty wordpress folder and the zip file.

Run the installer

1. Go to your domain in a browser. The WordPress installer opens.
2. Choose your language.
3. Enter the database name, user and password from the first step. Leave the database host as localhost.
4. Enter your site title, an admin username (not admin), a strong password and your email address.
5. Select Install WordPress, then log in at yourdomain.co.za/wp-admin.

After you install

• Go to Settings > Permalinks and choose Post name.
• Delete the sample post, page and comment.
• Check that your site loads over HTTPS. See How to install and manage SSL certificates.
• In cPanel, choose the newest PHP version your theme and plugins support.
• Set up backups. See How to back up and restore your WordPress site.
• Remove themes and plugins you don't use. See How to secure your WordPress site.

If something goes wrong

• Error establishing a database connection. Check the database name, user and password in wp-config.php. Remember that the names start with your cPanel username.
• A blank page. This is usually a PHP error. Check Errors in cPanel, or see WordPress troubleshooting: common errors and fixes.
• You see your old site or a default page. Your domain may not point to us yet. See How to point your domain to GHost Cloud.

Related guides

• How to speed up your WordPress site
• How to secure your WordPress site
• How to back up and restore your WordPress site
• WordPress troubleshooting: common errors and fixes
• How to manage files with cPanel File Manager