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By Basharat Ali Khan | Last updated: November 6, 2026
How to install WordPress comes down to three things: a domain, hosting and about fifteen minutes. In this guide I use Cloudways, a managed cloud hosting platform, as the example, and I also cover the settings to check right after you install WordPress, which many beginner guides skip. You do not need coding skills, but you will create a server in the Cloudways dashboard, which feels a little different from basic shared hosting.
WordPress runs about 42 percent of all websites, according to W3Techs, and the software itself is free. You only pay for hosting and a domain name.
Quick Answer: How to Install WordPress on Cloudways
To install WordPress on Cloudways, sign up, click Launch Now, choose WordPress as the application, pick a cloud provider and a server size, then launch. Your server and WordPress site are usually ready in 5 to 10 minutes, with a temporary URL. After that, add your domain, point it with an A record, install the free SSL certificate and check three settings: permalinks, HTTPS and search engine visibility.
How to Install WordPress: What You Need First
- A domain name, for example yoursite.com
- A Cloudways account
- Access to your domain registrar’s DNS settings
- About 15 to 20 minutes
Having these ready makes how to install WordPress much faster. This guide covers self-hosted WordPress, the free software from WordPress.org. WordPress.com is a different, hosted service, so these steps do not apply to it.
Cloudways is a managed platform that runs your site on cloud providers such as DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS and Google Cloud. It is listed in my recommended tools, and I cover it in detail in my Cloudways review.
Step 1: Create Your Cloudways Account
Sign up through Cloudways and check the current pricing and any trial offer on their site, because these change. The dashboard shows an estimated monthly cost before you launch anything, so you know what you will pay.
If you do not own a domain yet, buy one from a registrar first. I compare registrars in my guide to the best domain registrar for WordPress.
Step 2: How to Install WordPress on Cloudways
This is the core of how to install WordPress on a Cloudways server.
- Log in and click Launch Now (or Add Server, depending on your dashboard).
- Choose WordPress as the application.
- Name your application, server and project. These names are only visible to you.
- Select a cloud provider. DigitalOcean is a common choice for beginners, and Vultr, Linode, AWS and Google Cloud are also available. If you want to compare two of them, read my DigitalOcean vs Vultr on Cloudways guide.
- Choose a server size and location. A small plan is enough for a new blog or small business site, and you can scale up later. Pick the location closest to your visitors.
- Check the estimated monthly cost and click Launch Now.
Your server and WordPress application are usually ready in 5 to 10 minutes. You get a temporary URL and an admin username and password for your new site. Cloudways also publishes its own WordPress onboarding guide with screenshots of each screen.
Step 3: Log In to Your New WordPress Site
In your Cloudways dashboard, open the application and look under Access Details for the admin URL and login. Sign in and you will see your WordPress dashboard, where you manage posts, pages, plugins and settings.
Step 4: Connect Your Domain
Until your domain points to the server, your site only works on the temporary URL.
- Open your application, go to Domain Management, enter your domain as the primary domain and save.
- Under Access Details, copy the application’s public IP address.
- At your domain registrar, create an A record for @ (and one for www) that points to that IP address.
DNS changes usually take from a few minutes to a few hours. If the domain does not load yet, check that the A record matches the public IP exactly, then wait a little longer.
Step 5: Install the Free SSL Certificate
Once your domain resolves, open SSL Certificate in your application, choose Let’s Encrypt, enter your domain and email address and install it. Keep auto renewal turned on so the certificate does not expire. If the padlock is missing afterwards, see my guide to fixing a WordPress SSL error.
Step 6: Settings to Check After You Install WordPress
Now that you know how to install WordPress, these settings make sure the site is set up properly.
Check your URLs
Go to Settings, then General. The WordPress Address and Site Address should match and start with https.
Set your permalinks
Go to Settings, then Permalinks, and choose Post name. This gives you clean URLs such as yoursite.com/my-first-post. If posts show a 404 after you change this, my guide to WordPress permalinks not working covers the fix.
Allow search engines
Go to Settings, then Reading. The option “Discourage search engines from indexing this site” is useful while you build, but it must be unticked when you launch. Forgetting it is a common reason a new site never shows up in Google.
Delete the sample content
Remove the “Hello world!” post, the sample page and any default plugins you do not use. A clean start is easier to maintain.
Step 7: Choose a Lightweight Theme
Your theme controls how the site looks, and a lightweight one keeps a new site fast. GeneratePress, Astra and Blocksy are all common choices. Pick one that loads quickly and is updated regularly. I wrote a full GeneratePress review if you want the details.
To install a theme, go to Appearance, Themes, Add New, search for the theme, then install and activate it.
Step 8: Install Only the Plugins You Need
Every plugin is one more thing to update, so start small. A new site usually needs four kinds of plugin:
- SEO: Rank Math helps with titles, descriptions and sitemaps.
- Backups: UpdraftPlus is a common choice. Read my UpdraftPlus review.
- Security: Wordfence adds a firewall and malware scanning.
- Caching: Cloudways has its own caching plugin called Breeze, and its onboarding guide explains how to set it up.
If you plan a multilingual site, I build WPEL Language Switcher Pro, so treat that as my own product. You can read about it on the plugin page, or compare options in my list of the best WordPress multilingual plugins. To keep everything healthy after launch, use my WordPress maintenance checklist.
Common Problems After You Install WordPress
Even when you follow every step of how to install WordPress, small problems can appear.
Error establishing a database connection
This means WordPress cannot reach its database. The usual causes are wrong database details in wp-config.php or a problem on the database server. On a fresh install it is rare, so if the details look correct, contact your host’s support.
White screen after installing
A plugin or theme is crashing the site. Use SFTP to rename the /wp-content/plugins/ folder to plugins-old. If the site loads, rename it back and reactivate plugins one at a time to find the culprit.
404 error on posts
Go to Settings, then Permalinks, and click Save Changes without changing anything. This refreshes the rewrite rules.
Your domain does not load yet
Check that the A record points to the application’s public IP and that you added the domain in Domain Management. If both are correct, DNS may still be spreading, so wait and try again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it free to install WordPress?
The WordPress software is free. You pay for hosting and a domain name.
How long does it take to install WordPress?
On Cloudways, the server and WordPress application are usually ready within 5 to 10 minutes. Connecting your domain can add a few hours while DNS spreads.
Do I need coding skills to install WordPress?
No. You create the server and install WordPress by choosing options in a dashboard.
Is Cloudways good for beginners?
Cloudways handles server management for you, but it is billed per server and its dashboard has more options than basic shared hosting. It suits beginners who are willing to learn a few concepts. My Cloudways review goes into the details.
What is the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com?
WordPress.org is the free software you install on your own hosting, which is what this guide covers. WordPress.com is a hosted service run by Automattic, with its own plans and limits.
Final Thoughts
How to install WordPress is the quick part. The settings you check afterwards, especially permalinks, HTTPS and search engine visibility, are what keep a new site out of trouble later. Once you understand how to install WordPress on Cloudways, repeating it for a second site takes minutes.
You can start with Cloudways here, and if you would rather have someone set it up for you, get in touch or see my WordPress services.
About the author Basharat Ali Khan is a WordPress developer in Gilgit, Pakistan with 8+ years of experience building custom plugins, Elementor sites and WooCommerce stores. LinkedIn | WordPress.org profile
Related: Best WordPress Hosting 2026 | Cloudways Review | WordPress Plugins
