In this guide, we show you how to do a manual installation of WordPress on your web space. You can use this option if you can't, or don't want to, use the 1-click installer that is available in most of our plans.
- Step 1 - Locate your database login details
- Step 2 - Download WordPress
- Step 3 - Extract the WordPress files
- Step 4 - Connect to your web space via SFTP
- Step 5 - Upload the WordPress files and folders
- Step 6 - Open (sub-)domain in your browser and select your language
- Step 7 - Start the installation
- Step 8 - Enter your database details
- Step 9 - Continue with the installation
- Step 10 - Enter your login details
- Step 11 - WordPress is installed
- Step 12 - Log in for the first time
- Tips to help you get started
Tip: Would you rather use the 1-click installer? Then follow our guide: Using 1-click WordPress installation with one.com
Step 1 - Locate your database login details
To install WordPress, you need the login details to your database. You can find them in your one.com control panel under PHP and database settings on the Advanced settings tile. Copy the details to a file, or leave the window open for you to return to later.
Create a database using this guide if you still need one.
Tip: Forgot your database password? Click the pencil icon on the right side of the screen to change it.
Step 2 - Download WordPress
You need to download the WordPress installation files to begin. Click the button below to download the latest version, or go to the WordPress website to download them.
Step 3 - Extract the WordPress files
Next, you need to extract the installation files on your computer.
- Locate the file you just downloaded; it will most likely be in your downloads folder.
- Right-click on the file, and select Extract All in the menu that appears.
- Click Next in the window that appears to begin extracting.
Note: You can unzip a file on Mac by double-clicking on it or by right-clicking and selecting "Open".
Step 4 - Connect to your web space via SFTP
Next, you need to connect to your web space via SFTP. If you don't have an SFTP client yet, we recommend using FileZilla. You can download it here:
You may need to activate SFTP in your one.com control panel before you can connect with SFTP.
- Open your SFTP client.
- Enter the following details, replacing "yourdomain.com" with your own domain name.
Host = sftp.yourdomain.com
Username = yourdomain.com
Password = The password you have chosen for SFTP
Port = 22 - Click on Quickconnect to log in.
Tip: If it's the first time you log in using SFTP on this device, you'll see a popup message saying that the server's host key is unknown and asking whether you trust it or not. You need to click "OK" to approve the connection.
Step 5 - Upload the WordPress files and folders
Next, you need to upload the WordPress installation files to your web space. Locate the files and folders of the WordPress version that you downloaded in step 2. They will show up in the part of the SFTP window that is called "Local site". There you'll see all files and folders that are on your computer. The folders with the new WordPress version are most likely saved in the Downloads folder.
- Click on the WordPress version folder in the local site window.
- Select all files using Ctrl + A on Windows or cmd + a on Mac.
- When all files and folders are selected, press Ctrl (cmd on Mac) again and hold it.
- Right-click on the group of selected files and choose Upload to begin uploading the files to your web space.
- Once all files are uploaded you can close FileZilla.
Step 6 - Open (sub-)domain in your browser and select your language
The remaining installation process takes place in your browser, so open the URL there. If the WordPress installation was uploaded in the root, enter your domain name (yourdomain.com), or if it was uploaded in a subdomain, enter your subdomain name (subdomain.yourdomain.com).
You now need to select which language your WordPress should have. Your dashboard will be available in this language.
- Select in which language you want to install WordPress.
- Click Continue.
Step 7 - Start the installation
Check that you still have your database login details at hand. Click Let's go! to continue.
Step 8 - Enter your database details
Enter your database details, the ones that you located earlier. Click Submit to continue.
Tip: If you plan to install multiple WordPress installations in the same database, we recommend letting the table prefix reflect the location where you will install WordPress, like www_.
Step 9 - Continue with the installation
You will see a confirmation if all details are correct and WordPress can access your database. Click Run the installation to continue.
Step 10 - Enter your login details
It's now time to enter your login details and create your admin user. You need to add the following information:
- A title for your site; you can change this again later.
- Your username; it will be visible on your site if you post something. It should not be Admin.
- The password you use to log in; make sure that you select a strong password.
- An email you have access to; WordPress will send all its communications to this address.
- You can check the box for search engine visibility if you don't want your site to appear on Google. This can be handy while you are still creating your website. You can change it again later.
Click Install WordPress when you are ready.
Step 11 - WordPress is installed
Success! If everything went alright, you should now see the confirmation that WordPress has been installed. Click Log in to continue to the login page, where you can access your dashboard.
Step 12 - Log in for the first time
You are now ready to log in to your WordPress dashboard for the first time. Here you manage your themes, plugins, posts, and pages.
Type in your username and password and click Log in.
Tip: Save this page to your bookmarks bar, so you can easily access it again.
Tips to help you get started
Install the one.com plugin
We have developed our own plugin to help you get the most out of your WordPress website. It allows you to install other plugins, like the one.com Online Shop, and specially designed themes only available for one.com customers. Check our guide on how to install it.
Improve security
WordPress is the most used CMS in the world. Unfortunately, this means it is also very popular with hackers. For this reason, we have created a guide to help you improve the security of your WordPress site.
Disable anonymous comments
One of the things you can do right away to make your site less vulnerable to abuse is to disable anonymous comments. Go to Settings > Discussion and check the box for "Users must be registered and logged in to comment".
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