Title: Get started with WordPress
Author: Tom Ford
Published: October 22, 2018
Last modified: May 12, 2026

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# Get started with WordPress

## In this article

 * [Step one – Read](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#step-one-read)
 * [Step two – Make a plan](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#step-two-make-a-plan)
 * [Step three – Install WordPress](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#step-three-install-wordpress)
 * [Step four – Set up WordPress](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#step-four-set-up-wordpress)
 * [Advanced use of WordPress](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#advanced-use-of-wordpress)
 * [Need more help?](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#need-more-help)
 * [Giving back to WordPress](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#giving-back-to-wordpress)

[ Back to top](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#wp--skip-link--target)

If you are new to [WordPress](https://www.wordpress.org/), here is a step-by-step
plan for getting started. If you [need help](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#need-more-help)
along the way, plenty of options for assistance are listed in this article. Welcome
to the exciting world of WordPress!

## 󠀁[Step one – Read](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#step-one-read)󠁿

WordPress is a great product. It’s easy-to-use, powerful, and flexible. Creating
a website, and maintaining a website, is a science and art that has quickly evolved.
In order to fully appreciate this it is important to be well read on the subject.
One major thing to keep in mind is your investment of time. Being knowledgeable 
will without a doubt save you much time in the long run. With that in mind, before
you invest your valuable time and energy into installing WordPress, there are some
documents you need to read to help you get started.

[⌊flow chart of content journey for starting on wordpress⌉⌊flow chart of content
journey for starting on wordpress⌉[

**Suggested reading includes**:

 * [Introduction to Blogging](https://wordpress.org/support/article/introduction-to-blogging/?output_format=md)
 * [WordPress Features](https://wordpress.org/about/features/)
 * [Before You Install WordPress](https://wordpress.org/about/requirements/)

## 󠀁[Step two – Make a plan](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#step-two-make-a-plan)󠁿

Based upon the information you’ve just read, including instructions on installing
WordPress, you should have a list of the things you need and things to do. If not,
make that list now. You’ll want to make sure it includes the following information:

 * [Environment requirements](https://wordpress.org/about/requirements/)
 * Your Website Username and Password
 * [Text Editor Software](https://wordpress.org/support/article/glossary?output_format=md#text-editor)
 * [An FTP Client Software](https://wordpress.org/support/article/ftp-clients/?output_format=md)
 * Your Web Browser of Choice

The following documents will help you understand more about how WordPress works 
and how to make a plan for your WordPress site:

 * [WordPress terminology](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-semantics/)
 * [First Steps With WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/article/first-steps-with-wordpress/?output_format=md)
 * [WordPress Lessons](https://learn.wordpress.org/)

It is important to make a plan about how you want to use WordPress on your site.
Here are some questions to ask yourself.

 * Will you install WordPress in the [root directory](https://wordpress.org/support/article/giving-wordpress-its-own-directory/?output_format=md),
   subdirectory, or you just want to [make a test site](https://wordpress.org/support/article/test-driving-wordpress/?output_format=md)
   to make sure you want to use it?
 * Have you made a list of your site [categories](https://wordpress.org/support/article/glossary/?output_format=md#category)
   to organize your content by groups?
 * Have you made a list of [Pages](https://wordpress.org/support/article/pages/?output_format=md)
   you may want to add to your site, such as **About**, **Contact**, or **Events**?
 * Have you thought about what you want in the header part of the site?
 * Have you developed a content strategy and list of topics to help start blogging?
 * Have you thought about how to integrate social media into your WordPress site
   and workflow?

## 󠀁[Step three – Install WordPress](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#step-three-install-wordpress)󠁿

With this information and your plan, it’s time to install WordPress. 

 * [Before You Install WordPress](https://wordpress.org/about/requirements/)
 * [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/article/how-to-install-wordpress/?output_format=md)
 * [Editing the ](https://wordpress.org/support/article/editing-wp-config-php/?output_format=md)`
   [wp-config.php](https://wordpress.org/support/article/editing-wp-config-php/?output_format=md)`
   [ file](https://wordpress.org/support/article/editing-wp-config-php/?output_format=md)
 * [Frequently Asked Questions About Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/article/faq-installation/?output_format=md)
 * [Using FTP Clients and Software](https://wordpress.org/support/article/ftp-clients/?output_format=md)
 * [Changing File Permissions](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/changing-file-permissions/)
 * [Updating WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/article/updating-wordpress/?output_format=md)
 * [Common Installation Problems](https://wordpress.org/support/article/how-to-install-wordpress/?output_format=md#common-installation-problems)
 * [Trouble: I Can’t Login](https://wordpress.org/support/article/login-trouble/?output_format=md)

## 󠀁[Step four – Set up WordPress](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#step-four-set-up-wordpress)󠁿

With your installation complete, it’s time to set up WordPress so it will work the
way you want it to work.

To help you understand how all the various features and screens on the WordPress
Administration Screens work, check out the [Administration Screens](https://wordpress.org/support/article/administration-screens/?output_format=md)
guide for a detailed walk-through.

For help on creating your user profile information, of which some or all may appear
on your WordPress Theme, see the Users > [Your Profile](https://wordpress.org/support/article/users-your-profile-screen/?output_format=md)
pages for guidance.

To set the site name and other information, go to Administration > Settings > [General](https://wordpress.org/support/article/settings-general-screen/?output_format=md)
in the dashboard.

After you’ve published a few posts, you can experiment with the full edit or quick
edit features in the Administration > Posts > [Posts](https://wordpress.org/support/article/posts-screen/?output_format=md)
screen.

Add your “About,” “Contact,” and other information Pages by going to Administration
> [Pages](https://wordpress.org/support/article/pages-screen/?output_format=md) 
> Add New.

Want to change the look and feel of your WordPress site? Go to Administration > 
Appearance > [Themes](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/appearance-themes-screen/).

You’ll find helpful information by reading [WordPress Lessons](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/wordpress-lessons/),
and these helpful documents:

 * [Learn WordPress](http://learn.wordpress.com/) for WordPress.com and beginning
   self-hosted WordPress tutorials and guides.
 * [Moderating Comments](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/comment-moderation/)
 * [Introduction to Dealing with Comment Spam](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/comment-spam/)

#### 󠀁[Appearance and themes](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#appearance-and-themes)󠁿

Changing the look of your WordPress website is easy with just a few clicks.

 * [Using WordPress Themes Introduction](https://wordpress.org/support/article/using-themes/?output_format=md)
 * [The WordPress Theme Directory](https://wordpress.org/themes/) features thousands
   of WordPress Themes
 * [WordPress Widgets](https://wordpress.org/support/article/wordpress-widgets/?output_format=md)
   can quickly add more information and content to your Theme

If you want to create a new WordPress Theme from scratch, or do major renovations,
or even design WordPress Themes for public release, you should visit [WordPress Theme Developer Handbook](https://developer.wordpress.org/themes/).

If you want a custom-made WordPress Theme created especially for you by expert web-
designers, it is recommended you search for qualified web designers on the Internet,
or look in your local community.

#### 󠀁[Adding WordPress plugins](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#adding-wordpress-plugins)󠁿

There are many “add-on” scripts and programs for WordPress called [Plugins](https://wordpress.org/support/article/plugins/?output_format=md)
that add more capabilities, choices, and options to your WordPress site. WordPress
Plugins do many things, including customizing the results of your site information,
adding weather reports, adding spell check capability, and presenting custom lists
of posts and acronyms. For more on how to work with Plugins and where to find WordPress
Plugins for your site:

 * [Managing your WordPress Plugins](https://wordpress.org/support/article/managing-plugins/?output_format=md)
 * [WordPress Plugins](https://wordpress.org/support/article/plugins/?output_format=md)
 * [The WordPress Plugin Directory](https://wordpress.org/plugins/)

As like as Theme, you can create a new WordPress Plugin from scratch, or do major
renovations. Please visit [WordPress Plugin Developer Handbook](https://developer.wordpress.org/plugins/)
for detail. 

## 󠀁[Advanced use of WordPress](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#advanced-use-of-wordpress)󠁿

Now that you are familiar with the basic features and functions of how WordPress
works, it might be time for you to plunge deeper into the power of WordPress.:

 * [WordPress Developer Resources](https://developer.wordpress.org/)
 * [Tutorials](https://learn.wordpress.org/tutorials/)
 * [Using Permalinks](https://wordpress.org/support/article/using-permalinks/?output_format=md)

## 󠀁[Need more help?](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#need-more-help)󠁿

As simple and easy as it is to use WordPress, if troubles arise, if something is
confusing, if things aren’t working, don’t worry because help is available! Even
though WordPress is free and open source, there are literally hundreds of volunteers
eager to help you. Here are some helpful official resources for WordPress:

[Support Forums](https://wordpress.org/support/welcome/)

## 󠀁[Giving back to WordPress](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/get-started-with-wordpress/?output_format=md#giving-back-to-wordpress)󠁿

Now that you’re a full-fledged WordPress user, [consider contributing](https://make.wordpress.org/)
to the WordPress Documentation, Support Forum, Development, and other volunteer 
efforts that keep WordPress going. WordPress is free and totally supported by volunteers,
and your help is needed.

 * [Using the Support Forums](https://wordpress.org/support/welcome/)
 * [WordPress Forum](https://www.wordpress.org/support)
 * [Lesson plans](https://learn.wordpress.org/lesson-plans/)
 * [FAQ](https://codex.wordpress.org/FAQ)

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First published

October 22, 2018

Last updated

May 12, 2026