Using Plesk to install WordPress

This guide will walk you through how to install WordPress on your domain using the WP Toolkit in Plesk. The process is quick and straightforward — Plesk’s WP Toolkit handles the entire setup automatically, including creating the database, configuring files, and securing your installation.

Prerequisites

• Access to your Plesk control panel
• A domain or subdomain already added to your Plesk account
• Sufficient disk space for the WordPress installation

Step 1: Log In to Plesk and Navigate to Your Domain

Log in to your Plesk control panel. Once logged in, click on Websites & Domains in the left-hand sidebar. You will see a list of all domains on your account. Locate the domain where you want to install WordPress.

Step 2: Open the WP Toolkit

In the left-hand sidebar, click on WordPress. This opens the WP Toolkit — Plesk’s built-in tool for managing WordPress installations. If no WordPress sites have been installed yet, you will see a message saying “You don’t have WordPress sites connected yet.”

Step 3: Start the WordPress Installation

Click the Install WordPress button to begin. This will open the installation options dialog.

Step 4: Configure Your Installation Settings

The Install WordPress dialog lets you configure all the settings for your new WordPress site. Here is what each option means:

• Installation path — This is the URL where WordPress will be installed. By default it installs to the root of your domain (e.g. https://plesk.web39.co.uk/). You can optionally set a subdirectory (e.g. /blog).
• Website title — The name of your WordPress site (e.g. “My Website”). This can be changed later from within WordPress.
• Website language — The default language for your WordPress installation.
• Version — Plesk will default to the latest stable version of WordPress.
• WordPress Administrator — Plesk will auto-generate a username, password, and pre-fill your email address. You can customise these or use the Generate button to create a new secure password. Make a note of these credentials — you will need them to log in to WordPress.
• Database — Plesk automatically creates and configures a database for your WordPress site. You can expand this section to customise the database name if needed.
• Automatic Update Settings — You can configure whether WordPress, plugins, and themes should be updated automatically.

Once you are happy with the settings, click Install.

Step 5: Wait for the Installation to Complete

Plesk will now install WordPress automatically. You will see a progress screen showing the following steps completing in sequence:

1. Downloading and unpacking WordPress
2. Creating the database
3. Configuring the installation
4. Securing the website
5. Applying update policies

This usually takes under a minute to complete.

Step 6: Installation Complete

Once the installation finishes, a dialog will appear confirming that “WordPress has been installed.” You will also see a toast notification in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Plesk may offer to install additional plugins — click No, thanks to skip this step if you do not need any right now.

Step 7: Manage Your New WordPress Site

You will now be taken back to the WP Toolkit dashboard, where your new WordPress installation is listed. From here you can:

• Click Log in to go directly to the WordPress admin dashboard
• Click Home (top right) to visit the live website
• Manage plugins, themes, backups, and security settings from within the WP Toolkit

Summary

Installing WordPress via Plesk’s WP Toolkit takes just a few clicks. Plesk handles all the technical setup — database creation, file configuration, and security hardening — automatically. Once installed, you can log in to your new WordPress site and start building straight away.

💡 Tip: Make sure to save your WordPress administrator username and password somewhere safe. If you lose them, you can reset access from the WP Toolkit by clicking the site and using the security options.