How to Install WordPress on Ubuntu 24.04

Running WordPress on your own server gives you full control and no shared-hosting limits. This guide takes you from a bare Ubuntu 24.04 machine to a working site.

Prepare the server

Start with updates and a firewall so you are building on a safe base.

• Update all packages.
• Enable a firewall allowing SSH, HTTP and HTTPS.
• Create a swap file on small servers.

Install the stack

You need a web server, PHP and a database.

• Install Nginx.
• Install PHP and the required extensions.
• Install and secure MySQL.

Configure and install WordPress

Create the database, download WordPress and point Nginx at it.

• Create a database and user.
• Download the latest WordPress.
• Set the correct file permissions.

Finish by enabling HTTPS with a free certificate and setting up automatic backups. A live site is a site you can restore.