Install WordPress Without a Control Panel: A Step-by-Step Guide

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) globally, known for its flexibility and user-friendly interface. While many web hosting providers offer one-click installations through control panels like cPanel, you may find yourself in situations where you need to install WordPress manually, without the aid of such panels. In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the process of installing WordPress from scratch, enabling you to have full control over the setup.

Prerequisites: Before we begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites in place:

1. A web hosting account or server with access to a domain or subdomain.
2. FTP access or access to your server’s file manager.
3. A text editor for making configuration changes (e.g., Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code).
4. An FTP client (e.g., FileZilla) or SSH access to upload files to your server.

Step 1: Download WordPress: Visit the official WordPress website (https://wordpress.org/download/) and download the latest version of WordPress to your local computer.

Step 2: Prepare Your Database: Create a MySQL database and a user with the necessary privileges using your web hosting control panel or a command-line interface.

Step 3: Upload WordPress Files: Using FTP or SSH, upload the WordPress files to your server in the desired directory (e.g., public_html or a subdirectory).

Step 4: Configure wp-config.php: Rename the wp-config-sample.php file to wp-config.php and open it with a text editor. Enter your database information, including the database name, username, and password.

Step 5: Run the WordPress Installation: Access your website using a web browser. You will be prompted to set up your WordPress site. Provide the necessary information, including the site title, username, password, and email address. Click “Install WordPress.”

Step 6: Log In and Customize: After the installation is complete, you can log in to your WordPress dashboard using the provided credentials. From here, you can customize your website, install themes and plugins, and start creating content.