How to install WordPress (the easy way!)Express version: If you followed the previous lesson on how to sign up for a WordPress hosting account with BlueHost, you may have discovered by now that the automatic installation has already begun! You may have also discovered it’s very simple! Feel free to complete this step on your own before moving onto how to use the BlueHost control panel, or read below for some more tips.

The lesson: Thanks to some recent updates by BlueHost there are now three ways you can install WordPress: 1) automatically via BlueHost (the new and easiest way); 2) with “1-click” via BlueHost (the old way that can still be performed); and 3) manually (the really old way which you’ll probably never need to do).

As some early members of this e-course may have BlueHost accounts that are yet to be upgraded to the new installation method, I’ll go over the new AND old ways. It is important to recognise WHICH METHOD you’re using (probably automatically if you singed up after June 2017) as this will be important for the lessons on the control panel and logging into WordPress.

Option 1. Automatic installation (the new way)

When you first log into BlueHost (after clicking the login button pictured in the last lesson) you’re asked if you’d like any of the themes they’re offering to be installed. This is optional – you can add or remove any WP theme you wish at any time. If you’re not ready or don’t like the ones offered (personally, I’m not a fan and prefer the WordPress themes I’ve featured here), simply click “Skip This Step”.

Now BlueHost will start to automatically install WordPress for you…

And voila! It’s all done! If you took advantage of the free domain name when signing up, your new WordPress site may now be installed on a temporary URL. Don’t worry if this happens, it will be automatically updated by BlueHost as soon as it’s ready (it doesn’t take long either). If you had already registered a domain name elsewhere, simply go to your registrar’s website and update the domain name servers (DNS) with the details that BlueHost e-mailed you (I cover that in a lesson that you’ll see soon).

Option 2. 1-click installation (the old way)

To reiterate, NEW BLUEHOST CUSTOMERS DON’T NEED TO DO THIS. This is only for older customers who have accounts that may not have been upgraded yet. If you’re using another host who doesn’t offer automatic installation, you may also find these instructions helpful.

Before BlueHost made some upgrades mid 2017, the 1-click installation (which actually involves about five steps) was how you’d install WordPress. Originally, the lesson on using the cPanel came before this lesson as it made more sense to have an understanding of how to use the cPanel first, so you may like to read over it and come back to this (it’s up to you!).

Start by logging into BlueHost‘s control panel and you’ll see a screen similar to the below. Click the W (the WordPress icon).

Next, you’ll be taken another website called Mojo Marketplace. Here, you’ll click the install button to begin!

On the next screen you get to select from the dropdown box where you get to choose which domain you’d like to install WordPress. For most people, there’ll only be the option of one domain here, BUT you get the choice of selecting with the “www” or without (I recommend without but this is optional). You don’t need to type anything into the directory field (unless you want your site to live at, for example myblogname.com/blog – but it’s probably not necessary). Click check domain.

If your chosen domain name is currently in use elsewhere (or you’re yet to update your name servers), you can select Temp Domain, finish the set up process, and adjust some settings later when you’re ready to let go of the site it’s currently being used on.

In this screen you’ll see you’re at the last step! You could just click the terms and conditions box and be done, but I recommend clicking advanced options first – it’s for security reasons. A new area will appear, where you get to type in your blog’s name. You’ll also see a pre-populated field for Admin Username – it will have your e-mail address listed, but I recommend changing that as your e-mail address can probably be guessed. It will also have a pre-populated (and very secure) Admin Password. You can keep that if you like, but if you’re wanting something easier to remember, now’s the time to change it (just make sure it’s also secure). Leave the “Automatically create a new database for this installation” box checked, and once you’ve ticked confirmation of the terms and conditions, you can click Install Now.

On the next page, it’s just a matter of waiting patiently until your installation is complete (it shouldn’t be more than a minute or so)! Once that’s done, it’s time to login. Congratulations, you’ve just set up WordPress! It’s time to login!

Option 3. Manual installation

The manual installation is a little trickier and you will probably never need to do this! (But I always think it’s good to have an awareness of all options.) It actually doesn’t take too much longer, but it is a three-part process that first involves creating a database in your cPanel, and then requires using your FTP to upload the WordPress files you’ve downloaded from wordpress.org. You then run a simple script to get everything to work together. I won’t be going into more detail than that since it’s a beginner e-course, so it’s time to move along!

Related video

In this YouTube video by BlueHost, you’ll see how to do the set up (the old way) using a different icon – the Mojo Marketplace icon – which will allow you to do the same thing.

Do you have any questions about this step? Ask below!

Next lesson: How to use the cPanel