How to install WordPress on your site

Do you want to build your own website or web shop with WordPress? Then it starts with the installation of the system itself. That sounds complicated, but it's easier than you think. There are several ways to put WordPress on your hosting package: automatic, manual or completely outsourced.
In this article, we explain how each method works, what you need and when which option is most useful. In doing so, we use Surver as an example, so you can see exactly how this works in practice.

Three ways to install WordPress

There is no one set way to install WordPress. How you approach it depends on how much you already know about it and how much time you want to spend on it. Some want to get started quickly and opt for an automatic installation. Others like to have more control over files and settings themselves. And those who prefer not to take any technical steps at all can have the hosting party do it for them.

Broadly speaking, you can install WordPress in three ways:

1. Automatically through your hosting panel - the easiest and fastest DIY option
2. Manually via FTP and database - more control, a little more technical
3. Having your hosting party install it - completely relieved

At Surver, you can install WordPress with one click via Installatron, or we'll set it up for you so you can get started right away.

Method 1: Install WordPress automatically through your hosting

Most hosting providers make it easy to install WordPress automatically. This is handy if you want to get started quickly, without having to upload or technically set up anything.

What you need

• An active hosting package
• A domain name linked to your hosting
• Your hosting panel login information

This is how it works step by step

1. Look for the option to install WordPress.
   You can usually find those under a heading like 1-click installations or app-installers. Don't see that listed right away? Then search for "WordPress" or "Installatron" in the menu.
2. Log in to your hosting account.
   Use the login information you received from your hosting provider. This will take you to your hosting control panel, where you can manage your domain and website.
3. Click on WordPress and choose where you want to install it.
   You will now be asked which domain or folder you want to put WordPress on.
   • Do you want your website to be seen on yourdomain.com? Then choose the main domain (also known as root domain mentioned).
   • If you want to place WordPress in a separate folder, such as for a test environment, you can enter a subfolder, such as yourdomain.com/test.
4. Fill in the basic details.
   Name your website and come up with a username and password to log into the WordPress dashboard later.
5. Click "Install."
   The hosting provider now automatically sets up WordPress for you. This usually only takes a few minutes.
6. Log in to your website.
   Once the installation is complete, you will see a confirmation with a link to your new website and the login screen. This is often on:
   https://jouwdomein.nl/wp-admin

Within minutes you will receive a confirmation of the installation. The login link to the WordPress dashboard (/wp-admin) can usually be found in that confirmation or in the hosting panel itself.

This is how you do it at Surver

At Surver, you install WordPress easily via Installatron.
You log into your hosting dashboard, choose WordPress, enter your domain name and administrator information, and click Install. Within minutes, your website will be up and running.

Want to see the full explanation with screenshots? Read our guide:
Installing WordPress via Installatron at Surver

Common mistakes in automatic installation

• The domain is linked to the wrong directory (e.g. /wordpress instead of root).
• No SSL certificate enabled.
• Chosen a weak admin password.
• Updates or backups not activated.

Tip: Always use a strong password and turn on automatic updates to keep your site secure.

Method 2 - Install WordPress manually (more control)

The manual way requires a few more technical steps, but gives you complete control over exactly what happens on your server. You upload the WordPress files yourself and link them to a database. Handy if you like to control everything yourself or want to know exactly how WordPress is built.

You'll need a little more patience for this than with the automatic method, but the step-by-step plan below will get you there even if you're not a developer.

What you need

• A hosting package with PHP and MySQL support
• FTP or SFTP access
• A MySQL database with username, password and hostname

Step 1 - Download WordPress

Go to wordpress.org/download and download the latest Dutch version.
Unpack the ZIP file on your computer. You will now see folders like wp-admin, wp-content and wp-includes.

Step 2 - Create a database

WordPress needs a database to store everything you will soon put on your website: pages, posts, settings and users.
You don't have to program anything in there, you just create an empty database that WordPress itself will work with.

Here's how you do it

1. Log into your hosting provider's control panel.
2. Search the menu for something similar to 'Databases', 'MySQL' or 'Database management'.
3. Click on 'Create new database'.
4. Give the database a name (for example wordpress_site).
5. Enter a username and password.
6. Click on Create or Save.

Write down the following information, you will need it later during WordPress installation:

• Database name
• Username
• Password
• Database host (usually "localhost")

At Surver: log in to your Surver dashboard, open your hosting account and click on MySQL databases. There you create a new database in one click. You will then see the required data immediately.

Step 3 - Upload the WordPress files to your hosting

To install WordPress, you need to transfer the files from your computer to your hosting provider's server. You do this with a program that connects to your hosting via FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Think of it as a way to copy folders and files from your computer to your Web site, just as you move files to a USB flash drive.

What is FTP and what do you need

FTP allows you to log into your hosting's storage space and manage files there.
To connect, you need a few pieces of information. You can usually find these in your hosting provider's welcome email or in the hosting dashboard.

With most providers (such as Surver), you need this information:

At Surver: You can find this data in the Surver dashboard under File Management or SFTP settings. We recommend using SFTP as it is more secure than regular FTP.

This is how you upload the WordPress files

1. Download and install the free program FileZilla via filezilla-project.org.
2. Open FileZilla and enter your FTP data in. You can find those in your hosting panel or in your hosting provider's e-mail.
   • Host: usually your domain name (e.g. yourdomain.com)
   • Username and password: are in your hosting data
   • Port: leave this blank or fill 21 in when prompted
3. Click on Connect. Now you will see your computer's folders on the left and your hosting server's files on the right.
4. On the left side, locate the folder where you unzipped WordPress.
5. Select all the files and drag them to the right, in the folder public_html. That is the root folder of your website.

Important: upload only the contents of the WordPress folder, not the folder itself. If you upload the folder itself, WordPress will end up in a subfolder such as yourdomain.com/wordpress instead of on yourdomain.com.

The upload process may take a few minutes. Please wait until all files are transferred before continuing.

At Surver: Do you prefer to use a secure connection? Then use SFTP instead of FTP. The correct login information can be found in your Surver dashboard under File Management or SFTP settings.

Step 4 - Start the installation in the browser

The WordPress files are now on your hosting. That means your website technically "exists," but is not yet set up. In this step, you're going to start WordPress for the first time and connect it to the database you created earlier. You no longer do this in FileZilla, but simply in your web browser.

Here's how it works

1. Open your web browser (for example, Chrome, Safari or Edge).
2. Type your domain name in the address bar, for example https://jouwdomein.nl, and press Enter.
   • If you put the files in a subfolder, add it, e.g. https://jouwdomein.nl/test.
3. If everything is correct, a WordPress welcome screen will automatically appear asking you to choose a language.
   Click on Continue.

Link WordPress to your database

4. Enter the details of the database you created in step 2:
   • Database name
   • Username
   • Password
   • Database host (usually localhost)
5. Click on Shipping and then on Perform installation.

Complete the installation

6. Give your website a title (you can always change it later).
7. Set up a username and password to log in to your website.
8. Enter your email address so WordPress can send notifications to you.
9. Click on WordPress install.

After a few seconds, you will see a confirmation that the installation was successful.
From now on, you can log in to the admin area of your website via:
https://jouwdomein.nl/wp-admin

At Surver: once the installation is complete, you can start building your website right away. Would you prefer us to perform this step for you? Then we are happy to set up WordPress for you through our webmaster service.

Common mistakes in manual installation

• The database information is incorrect (wrong password or hostname).
• Files uploaded to wrong folder.
• PHP version is too old.

With Surver, you can easily check these settings in your dashboard - without having to dive into the server.

Method 3 - Having WordPress installed by your hosting party

No time or inclination for technical steps? Then you can also have WordPress installed by your hosting provider.
At Surver, we do this for free for new customers.

How it works at Surver

1. While ordering your hosting package, specify that you want WordPress installed.
2. Our team sets up the installation for you with SSL and caching.
3. You will immediately receive your login credentials for the WordPress dashboard.

This way you don't have to worry about it your site is immediately secure, fast and ready to use.