How to create a WordPress site in CloudPanel

CloudPanel includes a WordPress-specific site type that pre-configures the Nginx vHost with the correct rules for WordPress. It handles PHP-FPM, caching headers, and URL rewriting automatically.

Create the WordPress site

1. Add a new site

   Log in to CloudPanel, click Sites → + New Site, and choose Create a WordPress Site.

2. Configure the site

   • Domain Name: Your domain (e.g., yourdomain.com)
   • PHP Version: PHP 8.1 or 8.2 recommended for current WordPress versions
   • System User / Password: Used for SFTP access to this site's files
   • Admin User: Your WordPress admin username (avoid admin)
   • Admin Password: A strong WordPress admin password
   • Admin E-Mail: Your WordPress admin email address
   • Database Name, User, Password: CloudPanel can create these automatically-leave the auto-generated values or customise them

3. Create

   Click Create. CloudPanel downloads WordPress, creates the database, runs the WordPress installer, and sets up the Nginx config-all automatically. This takes about 30–60 seconds.

Database setup

CloudPanel creates the WordPress database during the site creation process. To manage it later, go to Sites → your site → Database and click phpMyAdmin. See Database management in CloudPanel.

If installing WordPress manually

If you prefer to install WordPress yourself (e.g., you have an existing WordPress backup to restore):

1. Create a PHP Site instead of WordPress Site
2. Connect via SFTP and upload your WordPress files to /home/SYSTEM_USER/htdocs/yourdomain.com/
3. Create a database in CloudPanel → Databases
4. Create and configure wp-config.php with the database credentials
5. Run the WordPress installer by visiting your domain in a browser

Issue SSL and enable HTTPS

Before issuing SSL, make sure your domain's A record points to the server IP and DNS has propagated. Then:

1. Go to Sites → your site → SSL/TLS
2. Select Let's Encrypt
3. Click Save & Install Certificate

CloudPanel issues the certificate and automatically enables HTTPS. After SSL is active, update your WordPress URLs: in WordPress admin go to Settings → General and change both addresses to https://.

For a full guide, see SSL certificates in CloudPanel.

Post-install steps

• Log in to WordPress at https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin
• Update any plugins and themes that came pre-installed
• Set the permalink structure: Settings → Permalinks → Post name
• Install a caching plugin (LiteSpeed Cache or WP Super Cache) to improve performance
• Install a security plugin (Wordfence or Sucuri)
• Set up a backup plugin or use CloudPanel's built-in backup feature

Nginx and WordPress notes

WordPress on Nginx works well but has some differences from Apache:

• .htaccess files are not read by Nginx-WordPress permalink rules, redirect rules, and security rules you would normally put in .htaccess must be added to the Nginx vHost configuration instead
• CloudPanel's WordPress vHost template already includes the necessary permalink rewriting rules-do not delete the default vHost config
• To add custom Nginx rules, use the Vhost Editor in CloudPanel-see Managing vHost settings
• WordPress plugins that rely on Apache-specific mod_rewrite behaviour may need alternative configuration-most modern plugins handle both Apache and Nginx correctly

Related: How to create a website in CloudPanel | How to create and manage databases in CloudPanel | SSL certificates in CloudPanel-Let's Encrypt free SSL | How to manage vHost settings in CloudPanel | How to install WordPress on UnderHost

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