How to install WordPress in aaPanel

aaPanel can run WordPress well on an UnderHost VPS or dedicated server when PHP, MySQL, rewrite rules, SSL, caching, and backups are configured carefully. Depending on the aaPanel build and installed plugins, you may use an App Store installer or install WordPress manually. This guide covers both paths.

Installation overview

The steps at a glance:

1. Create the website in aaPanel
2. Create a MySQL database
3. Upload WordPress files
4. Configure wp-config.php and run the installer
5. Set up URL rewrite rules
6. Issue SSL certificate

Step 1: Create the site

Go to aaPanel → Website → Add Site. Enter your domain, select a currently supported PHP version compatible with your theme/plugins, and click Submit. PHP 8.2 or 8.3 is a good default for modern WordPress sites, while older plugins may require PHP 8.1. See How to create a website in aaPanel for full steps.

Step 2: Create the database

Go to aaPanel → Database → Add Database. Create a database with a name, user, and password. Note all three-you will need them for wp-config.php. The database host is 127.0.0.1 or localhost.

Step 3: Download and upload WordPress

Option A-aaPanel App Store (easiest):

1. Go to aaPanel → App Store and search for WordPress
2. Click Install and select the domain you created
3. aaPanel downloads and configures WordPress automatically

Option B-Manual upload:

1. Download WordPress from wordpress.org
2. Upload and extract the ZIP to /www/wwwroot/yourdomain.com/ via File Manager or FTP

Step 4: Configure wp-config.php and run the installer

Open your domain in a browser. WordPress detects no configuration and starts the install wizard:

1. Choose your language and click Continue
2. Enter the database name, username, password, and host (127.0.0.1)
3. Click Submit-WordPress creates wp-config.php automatically
4. Fill in the site title, admin username, password, and email
5. Click Install WordPress

Step 5: Enable SSL and HTTPS

Point your domain's A record to the server IP first, then go to aaPanel → Website → your site → SSL. Select Let's Encrypt, click Apply. See Free SSL certificates in aaPanel.

After SSL is active, update WordPress site URL to HTTPS: in WordPress admin → Settings → General → change both URLs from http:// to https://. Then add an HTTPS redirect rule.

URL rewrite rules

WordPress requires URL rewriting for clean permalinks. In aaPanel:

1. Go to Website → your site → URL rewrite
2. Select WordPress from the dropdown template
3. Click Save

aaPanel applies the correct rewrite rules for your web server (Nginx or Apache) automatically. Without this step, WordPress pages other than the homepage will return 404 errors.

After installation

• Log in to WordPress at https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin
• Set permalinks: Settings → Permalinks → Post name
• Install a caching plugin that matches your stack, such as LiteSpeed Cache for OpenLiteSpeed/LiteSpeed or a standard page-cache plugin for Nginx/Apache
• Install a security plugin (Wordfence or Sucuri)
• Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated
• Set up a backup schedule-see Backups in aaPanel
• Use CustomerPanel to open a or optimization ticket if you want UnderHost to review performance, PHP limits, or a move from another provider

Related: Create a website in aaPanel | aaPanel databases | aaPanel SSL | WordPress security

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