Magento is an open-source platform that allows you to create eCommerce websites, much like WordPress’s WooCommerce. Written in PHP, Magento is very popular with website owners who have large online stores or mid-size stores that are looking to expand.
Installing Magento on your Magento Hosting account may seem overwhelming at first, but we’re here to guide you through the steps to show you how straightforward it actually is.
We’ll be covering the following steps on how to install Magento:
- Preparing your server
- Downloading Magento
- Creating a database
- Uploading Magento
- Setting up Magento
- Installing Magento
Table of Contents
1. Preparing Your Server For Magento
Before installing Magento, you’ll need a web hosting provider that supports Magento. Our recommendation for the best Magento web host is SiteGround.
SiteGround supports the automatic installation of Magento and is free to install. If you already have a web hosting provider, then you can proceed to the next steps to install Magento.
SiteGround's Magento Hosting
SiteGround is an extremely powerful web host. While they are more expensive than some other hosting providers, the extra investment is 100% worth it.
In fact, SiteGround has a dedicated page on how to optimize your Magento installation to ensure your online store is as fast as it can be.
2. How To Download Magento
Before you can install Magento on to your web host’s server, you’ll need to download the software. Click here to download Magento.
There are three different Magento installation options as you can see above. We’ll be explaining how to install Magento Archive as it’s ideal for beginners and the easiest option to install.
The archive file will be downloaded onto your computer as a ZIP file or in TAR format. Once you’ve downloaded Magento, you can run it on a local server (your computer).
Once it’s downloaded onto your computer, you can upload it to a remote server via your web hosting provider.
Include Sample Data
When you download the Archive version of Magento, there’s an option to include sample data with the download. We recommend this because it’s free and helps to learn Magento.
The sample data contains a template storefront for you to use. This allows you to get a better idea of how Magento works and what it will look like. It’s also a great way to test performance.
3. Create A Database
Next, you’ll need to create a MySQL database and user for your Magento software to work. We’ll be taking you through the steps to do this with SiteGround, but the steps will mostly be the same regardless of which hosting provider you use.
Log in to your web hosting account’s control panel and navigate to the database section. If like me you’re using SiteGround, here are the steps you’ll need to take:
- Navigate to SiteTools
- Click on Site in the left-hand panel
- Select MySQL
- Choose Create Database
Some hosting providers will ask you to name your database, but SiteGround conveniently does this for you. Once your database has been created, navigate to the Users tab and select Create User.
You’ll then receive a notification with the username and password.
To manage a new database, you’ll need to set user permissions. Next to the new username, you can select Add New Database.
4. Upload Magento
You’ll now need to upload Magento onto the server that’s associated with your hosting account. You can either do this via File Manager in your control panel or use an FTP service like FileZilla.
To save time, we’re going to use file manager as it’s a lot quicker.
Once you’re in the file manager section, select the root folder of your website. If you’re a SiteGround user, this is usually named public_html folder.
Click the Upload button and select the files or folder you downloaded from Magento. Once the Magento folder is uploaded to your file manager, extract the files into your website’s directory by right-clicking on the folder and selecting Extract.
5. How To Setup Magento
Now your Magento files will be ready and you can start to install Magento.
Type your website’s domain into your browser after following the steps above. This will prompt the Magento installer application.
You’ll need to select Agree and Setup Magento to proceed.
There are several steps that the Magento installer will run through which include:
- Readiness check
- Add a database
- Web configuration
- Customize your store
- Create admin account
Readiness Check
Click Start Readiness Check to begin the verification process. It will check you have the right PHP version and file permissions to support the Magento install.
Add a Database
Here you’ll need to input the information about the database you set up back in step 3. This contains information like your database name, username, and password.
Web Configuration
Now you’ll have the option to edit your online store’s address and your Magento admin details. Your store address is the URL that leads your website visitors to your online store, and the admin address is the URL where you can access the Magento Admin.
If you don’t want to change the store address, just leave it as it is. You will need to change the admin address though to protect your website against hackers.
Under Advanced Options, you can choose whether you want Magento to use a generated encryption key or use one of your own. If you want Magento to encrypt sensitive information like credit card information, usernames, and passwords, etc. then select this option.
Customize Your Store
At this stage, you can edit the default time zone, currency, and language of your eCommerce website. You can change these through your Magento admin panel at any point, so don’t worry if you input the incorrect information.
Create Admin Account
Just fill in the username, password, and email account you want to use to manage your online store. Make sure this information isn’t something like “admin” as that could leave your website open to hackers.
6. Install Magento
Once you’ve completed all of the above steps, you’ll be able to click Install Now to install Magento. It won’t take very long for the process to complete.
When the installation has finished, a page will open to present you with a summary of the details you’ve just entered. Click Launch Magento Admin to get started with Magento.
How To Install Magento: Conclusion
See, that wasn’t that difficult, was it? It’s entirely possible for you to install Magento by yourself using our Magento installation guide.
To recap, these are the steps we took to install Magento:
- Getting your server ready – Ensuring you have signed up to a web hosting provider
- Downloading Magento – Downloading the free open-source version of Magento onto your PC
- Creating a database – Creating a database where your Magento files will be stored
- Uploading Magento – Upload the Magento files to your database
- Setting up Magento – Configuring the settings of your Magento store
- Installation – Finalizing the installation of Magento