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+----- Thread: Guide Install WordPress Manually in aaPanel Free Edition (/Thread-guide-install-wordpress-manually-in-aapanel-free-edition)
Install WordPress Manually in aaPanel Free Edition - DEV - 10-11-2026
Quick answer
To install WordPress manually on aaPanel Free Edition, prepare a working PHP website with HTTPS, create a dedicated database/user, place the official WordPress files in the intended website folder, supply the database configuration, and complete installation. Verify both the site and login page.
Requirements
- A domain already pointing to the VPS and a working HTTPS website in aaPanel.
- A compatible PHP version with the extensions your application requires.
- MySQL or MariaDB and a dedicated database user. Our lab uses MariaDB 10.11.
- A backup if you are using a folder or database that already contains anything important.
1. Decide where WordPress should live
For a fresh website homepage, place the WordPress package contents in that site's document root. For a separate installation under /wordpress/, keep the package in that subfolder. Do not accidentally create an extra nested wordpress/wordpress folder.
Our dedicated lab uses https://adminslab.com/wordpress/ so the original homepage and other tutorial examples remain available. This is an example URL, not the location you should enter for your own site.
2. Create a dedicated database
Use Databases → MySQL → Add DB in aaPanel, or the equivalent panel-managed database operation. Record the database name, username, password and host privately. Use a user scoped to the application database; do not put the MariaDB root password into WordPress.
See Create a database and user in aaPanel Free Edition. A database on the same VPS does not require exposing port 3306 publicly.
3. Download the official package
Get the package from WordPress.org. Extract the ZIP on your computer and upload its contents to the chosen folder using File Manager or a secure transfer method. Confirm files such as index.php, wp-admin and wp-includes are in the intended location.
Our lab used the official ZIP package in private server staging. We checked the extracted WordPress core files against official checksums before making the completed installation available.
4. Configure the database and install
For the browser method described in the official installation guide, open the installation URL for the chosen folder. Supply the database details privately when prompted, then set your site title, administrator account and email. Use a strong unique administrator password and save it securely. Avoid screenshots containing passwords or configuration secrets.
If WordPress cannot create wp-config.php, configure that file securely using the official instructions. Never make it world-writable as a general workaround.
How our lab completed this step
We completed configuration and database installation with WP-CLI from the server, rather than entering a new administrator credential into the browser installer. This guide does not claim that the browser installation form was tested end to end.
An operator using WP-CLI should use the intended site's path and explicit URL, provide credentials privately, and check siteurl/home after moving a staged installation. We set both to the final HTTPS /wordpress address. Credentials are kept out of the public guide.
5. Check the installed site
Open the site's HTTPS URL and the wp-login.php page in its installation folder. Check that internal links point to the correct hostname and folder, and that styles and images load.
Original AdminsForum WordPress Tutorial Lab after installation on aaPanel Free Edition.
For your own site, log in and check the dashboard, save a draft, upload a small test image and verify the functions you need. A homepage response alone is not a full application acceptance test. Confirm outgoing email separately before relying on password-reset or notification messages.
6. Choose permalink rules separately
The lab initially uses plain query-string permalinks. If you enable pretty permalinks, configure the matching WordPress rewrite rules for your web server and installation folder, then test a post URL. Nginx does not apply Apache .htaccess rules. Do not paste a root-directory rewrite into a subfolder installation without adapting it.
7. Basic checks after installation
- Keep WordPress, themes and plugins updated after compatibility checks and backups.
- Remove unused plugins/themes and use only trusted sources.
- Take both file and database backups and test recovery.
- For a tutorial/staging site, discourage search indexing and use stronger access restrictions if it contains private data. A search-indexing preference is not access control.
- Verify email delivery separately; it was not configured or tested in our lab.
Common problems
- Error establishing a database connection: check database name, user, password, host and the database service.
- Blank page or fatal error: inspect PHP logs and extension/application compatibility.
- Wrong links after moving files: check WordPress Address/siteurl and Site Address/home.
- Pretty permalinks return 404: verify the correct web-server rewrite rules for the actual installation folder.
- Uploads fail: check ownership, permissions, PHP upload limits and free space without using 777 as a blanket fix.
Verified on 10 October 2026
Our lab installed WordPress 7.1.3 from the official ZIP, verified core checksums, configured a dedicated local database and completed installation with WP-CLI. The website runs on aaPanel Free Edition 8.0.6 with PHP 8.5.11 and MariaDB 10.11. The final HTTPS homepage and login page both returned HTTP 200, and homepage links used the correct /wordpress address. On 11 October 2026 we also verified administrator browser login and uploaded an original test image through the WordPress media uploader. Mail delivery and pretty permalinks remain separate checks.
Related guides
Upload website files with aaPanel File Manager
Back up website files
Back up the database