How to Create a New WordPress Installation in WP Engine

This post is more than 2 years old. It uses an out-dated version of WP Engine’s control panel.

In this tutorial, we’re going to create a new WordPress website installation in WP Engine.

Why WP Engine?

There are many different types of hosting providers to choose from, but we use WP Engine as our preferred provider, specifically because they provide excellent hosting for WordPress sites. They have many different pricing plans and options to choose from, and are very easy to set up.

Once you’ve picked the hosting plan the fits your website needs, it’s time to start setting up your website.

1. Start by logging into my.wpengine.com
2. Next, click on the green “Add Install” button at the top right
3. For “Installation name” – it has to be between 3 and 14 characters.
   • We usually type the domain name out, but if the domain is longer than 14 characters, we just type until we can’t type any more letters. It’s completely your choice on what the installation name should be. In our case, wpsmackdown fits the requirements.
4. Leave “Enable Multisite” unchecked – this option can always be changed later. We’ll talk about WordPress multisite in another tutorial.
5. Now click the “Save Install” button
6. It may take a little time, but as soon as your install is available, click on the install name in the left sidebar
7. Under the install name, click on the “Domains” link
8. Now click the green “Add Domain” button
9. In the text box, first add the “www” version of your domain and click the “Add Domain” button
10. Next, add the “non-www” version of your domain and click the “Add Domain” button
11. Once you’ve added the domains, open another browser tab, and navigate to [your installation name].wpengine.com.
12. In our case, it’ll be wpsmackdown.wpengine.com.

When you visit [your installation name].wpengine.com, you’ll see that your WordPress installation is set up and live.

Logging into your brand new WordPress site

1. Go to [your installation name].wpengine.com/wp-login.php
2. Click on the “lost your password” link to reset and setup the password for your new installation.
3. Either enter in the email that you signed up with for your WP Engine account, or use the username which would also be the installation name from [your installation name].wpengine.com.
4. Click “Get New Password.”
   • An email will be sent to the email address tied with your WP Engine account. It’ll have a link to reset your password.
5. You’ll be directed to a page where you will input your new password.

• Click “Reset Password,” and then click the “Log In” button.

1. Input your username and password, and you now have access to the backend user interface of your new WordPress site.

Your new WordPress website installation is now setup in WP Engine and is ready to be used and customized.

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