How To Add Wordpress To HostGator
HostGator has a nice CPanel, but if you’re not familiar with how it works, it may as well be Greek. I’m not the greatest techie on earth, and so when I wanted to add WordPress to my website it took me several days to figure out how to do it. Once I figured it out, it was so simple. HostGator even has a program called Fantastico to do it for you!
I figure others may have the same problem that I had, and so I’m doing a series of basic steps that I took to get my sites up and running.
#1- Follow the link in your welcome email from HostGator that opens your CPanel and sign in.
#2- You’re now looking at CPanel. Scroll to the bottom of the icons and look towards the right. You should see a blue smiley face labeled Fantastico De Luxe. Click this icon.
#3- You should see a screen with a big white block on the right with some babble on it. To the left is a list of programs. Look down the left side until you see WordPress (it should be the second group with the lable “blogs”).
#4- Now, in the right hand column (the big white block) you’ll see “WordPress” in big letters at the top. There will be some more babble in the block- just look until you find “New Installation”. Click it.
#5- In the new screen you’ll see “install on domain” followed by a drop down list of the domains you have hosted by HostGator. Choose the domain you want to add WordPress to.
#6- Directly below where you choose the domain, is a box labeled “directory”. Now, if you want to build a single website with WordPress, leave this blank. If you want to build multiple websites on the same domain with WordPress, enter the name you want. For instance- my site is Afflove.com. This site is Afflove.com/internet. Afflove.com is the “root directory”, but when I built this site I entered “internet” into the directory slot.
#7- Fill in the rest of the information. Admin Access Data is simply what you want your login and password to be for getting into your WordPress account. Base Configuration is your screen name (you can use your real name if you want), email address for important information, and the title of your website. You’ll need to fill in your email information as well.
#8- Click “Install WordPress” and click on the button on the next window when it comes up to finalize installation.
#9- Type your URL into your web browser. A window should automatically pop up asking for your log in information. Enter it into the correct boxes. You’re done!
If you need more help in building your WordPress website, try these video tutorials or click here to read my step-by-step WordPress articles.
Hi,
Thank you for writing about adding WordPress to Hostgator. I am so stuck attempting to add it and change themes. The only problem is that I can not read your directions because of the ads that overlay the text of the instructions. Is there some way for me to read your excellent step-by-step directions without the double text that prevents reading? I’ve tried with both FireFox and IE as browsers but it is the same problem with both. Please help me get my wordpress up on HostGator. Thanks again!
Eileen
Comment by Eileen — February 21, 2008 @ 6:47 am
Eileen- Thank you for bringing that to my attention. I couldn’t see the problem in my browser, but I removed the HostGator ad at the top of the post. I hope that fixes the problem. If it doesn’t, please let me know and I’ll email you a plain text version of the article. I’ve been considering changing the theme as well, the problem could be there.
Comment by afflove — February 21, 2008 @ 7:07 am
Hello. I enjoyed reading your website.
Have a wonderful day and keep up the good work.
Brutellio.
Comment by Brutellio — July 7, 2008 @ 10:00 am
Wordpress sounds real simple to install. I wish there was a blog created with ASP.net which was free too and just as easy to install as Wordpress which is a PHP blog.
Comment by Speed Dating NYC — October 22, 2008 @ 2:51 am
Help!! I did this once a couple of weeks ago and got WP installed. I am doing a second one and am stuck. I get to the end, but when I try to go to the website/wp,, I get a message that say IE cannot display the web page. Any thoughts??
Comment by patti — October 27, 2008 @ 10:06 pm
You’re typing in wp-admin at the end? If so, I honestly don’t know how to help. Although, Fantastico does seem to have changed recently (I just installed 3 more blogs last week), but mine have all worked.
Did you type something into the directory box? I’d check your file manager to make sure that it installed under the correct name, and if so, then you might want to check with HostGator’s customer service. Or, you could try uninstalling, and then re-installing. One install didn’t want to load up for me right away, but worked fine the next day…
Please let me know if you get it to work! Sorry I’m not more help.
Comment by afflove — October 27, 2008 @ 10:47 pm
Thanks buddy .. “Fantastico De Luxe” is really hard to guess ..
Comment by Mithun Dhali — December 4, 2008 @ 6:20 am
I installed myself the script and really it is very easy to do, just need :
-Create a database
-Upload Wordpress
-Install it
and working
if you are unsure just check my website
Comment by José David — February 2, 2009 @ 4:05 pm
Very helpful. I have encounter a plethora of instruction for installing this or that. Unfortunately, at the end of the tutorial, I was still lost.
You did a good job. I am impressed. I will definitely recommend your site for anyone in the same fix.
AMysticWeb
Comment by Mike — March 3, 2009 @ 2:32 am
Thank you!!
Comment by Sean — March 23, 2009 @ 6:47 pm
Thanks this was super-useful!
Comment by david — April 5, 2009 @ 7:03 pm
You’re all welcome! Sorry I didn’t get around to approving comments sooner- I’ve sort of abandoned this blog, but I am keeping the site up for exactly this reason.
In fact, HostGator’s Fantastico got even easier a few months ago. Now you can actually update WordPress through Fantastico.
Comment by afflove — April 13, 2009 @ 3:26 am
thanks a lot for the easy to follow instructions!
Comment by sports trivia — September 7, 2009 @ 7:14 am
Good day,
I am using hostgator, I would like to create a wordpress blog.
I would like to ask if is it possible to create a wordpress blog even the domain is not hosted by hostgator?
Thank you very much.
Comment by Kenneth Entea — October 22, 2009 @ 11:50 am
Kenneth- Yes, you absolutely can have a wordpress blog even if you’re not using Hostgator hosting. Many other hosts use Fantastico to auto-install WP, though I don’t know which ones. You don’t need Fantastico to install a wordpress blog either, it’s just easier that way.
If you do use a host that doesn’t use Fantastico to install a blog, try checking your host’s FAQ and WordPress’ FAQ. Hope that helps!
Comment by afflove — October 22, 2009 @ 5:50 pm
Your instructions are perfect. Thanks for making this post, it was very helpful.
Comment by secure — January 20, 2010 @ 9:51 pm
Thank you so much. This information is very useful. It saved me a lot of headache.
Comment by Aisha — February 9, 2010 @ 10:35 pm
Sports- you’re most welcome! I haven’t updated this post in a long time, so I’m glad that it’s still useful.
Secure- Thank you, and you’re welcome.
Aisha- You’re welcome, and I’m glad to help!
Comment by afflove — April 3, 2010 @ 3:46 am
Hi, Thanks for the great instructions. When you install the way you have described through Fantastico De Lux, does it set up the database and all that too or does that have to be done up front.
Thanks for any light you can shed on this.
Comment by Bonnie — April 17, 2010 @ 9:26 pm
Bonnie- you’re most welcome! I’m always glad to see that these instructions help other people as much as they would have helped me had they existed.
Fantastico does auto install/set up the database and everything else that you need in connection with the basic wordpress set up. The current versions of wordpress allow you to upload and install new themes and plugins, so there’s really no need to get into the wordpress files or fantastico except to upgrade versions. Luckily, HostGator’s Fantastico DeLuxe auto upgrades too at the click of a button (go into your CPanel, then into Fantastico, then into WordPress, and it’ll have a list of your wordpress installs with an “upgrade now” link beside each one that needs the upgrade.
Hope that helps!
Comment by afflove — April 18, 2010 @ 3:33 am
It is also easy to backup and transfer all your websites from one server to another server if you have cPanel installed’`:
Comment by Riley Carter — May 5, 2010 @ 3:47 am
I just load word press onto hostgator. Thank you, thank you, thank you for caring enough to post the directions. Awesome.
Comment by Donna — May 23, 2010 @ 11:38 pm
New hostgator coupon code: hostgatorbaby Just thought I would share.
Comment by Hostgator Coupon Code — June 16, 2010 @ 12:24 pm
Thanks - this is the first tutorial I found for Wordpress on HostGator, and I was set up in moments.
Comment by Eugenia — June 18, 2010 @ 12:13 am
Great to enjoy finally see your site. I sent a reply in your past page but I didn’t receive a reply.Is this particular theme the standard design template or have you hand crafted your web site Thanks again.
Comment by cincinnati's best chiropractic — August 13, 2010 @ 6:02 am
Hi
Can someone help me with this one please? Ive installed WP 3.0, ive gone through the step by step instructions and set-up but as soon as I click view website it takes me back to where I purchased the domain with a message ‘This Domain name is registered and parked with Crazy Domains’ any ideas???????
Comment by Mark — September 20, 2010 @ 9:20 am
both cPanel and DirectAdmin are great tools for managing hosting accounts and vps servers _
Comment by Melatonin Information and Side Effects · — November 8, 2010 @ 12:59 pm
Mark- Sorry, I have no idea. The only time I’ve had something like that happen with me was when I built a site from scratch- not using WP. :-/ If you can’t find the answer, I suggest contacting your hosting company.
Cincinnati- This is the standard template with WordPress.
HostGator Coupon- Thanks for the coupon code!
Everyone else, thank you and you’re welcome. I’m glad that I could help you to install WordPress on HostGator.
Comment by afflove — November 15, 2010 @ 7:07 am
Can someone help me with this one please? Ive installed WP 3.0, ive gone through the step by step instructions and set-up but as soon as I click view website it takes me back to where I purchased the domain with a message ‘This Domain name is registered and parked with Crazy Domains’ any ideas?
Comment by chiropractor cincinnati — November 29, 2010 @ 7:40 am
I’m sorry, CC, but I have no idea what that means. I hope that you find the answer, and maybe you can come back here and tell us how you fixed it when you do? I’m sure that others would find it very helpful.
Comment by afflove — November 29, 2010 @ 7:09 pm
Thanks for the guidelines.
Comment by cincinnati chiropractors — December 1, 2010 @ 2:45 pm
I have it hard to log in on word press, it sometimes denied my password… what would I do?
Comment by cincinnati roofing — December 2, 2010 @ 1:42 pm
Hostgator is awesome thanks!
Comment by mold remediation cincinnati — December 3, 2010 @ 8:41 am
Hi, I am wondering if your directions apply to Wordpress.org blogs only or does it include Wordpress.com blogs also. I am trying to move my sitte from WP.com on to hostgator, any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Comment by Liam — December 3, 2010 @ 4:55 pm
*lol* Cincinnati- I don’t know how much link juice you’re going to get from all those comments, but I’m going to laugh my tush off if I start ranking for Cincinnati keywords.
Liam- These directions are specifically for how to install WordPress.org onto a domain that you own and host on HostGator. If you have an account with HostGator, you’ll want to install the WordPress software by using Fantastico (you’ll see it on your CPanel).
To import the content of your old blog on WordPress.com, you’ll want to go into your new, hosted blog and find “tools”. Click on tools, and it’ll have a drop down menu of options. Click “import”. Simply follow their instructions. I’ve never imported a WordPress.com blog, but I’ve imported from Blogger, and that was easy.
Comment by afflove — December 3, 2010 @ 6:42 pm