How to Install Joomla - A Step by Step Guide (Updated 2020)

How to install Joomla is a frequently asked question from new users of Joomla. Though it is very easy to install, sometimes, it becomes a nightmare for beginners who don't know the right procedures to do it. As a result, I have prepared a details guide on Joomla installation that covers both how to install Joomla on the localhost and web server. 

In this article, I have also shown how to install Joomla 4; as you know, Joomla 4 is a bit different than Joomla 3 in terms of Joomla 4 installation process. However, Installing Joomla 4 is as easy as the Joomla 3 installation. 

I have described how to install Joomla on the localhost, including XAMPP, AMPPS, and Laragon, so that you won't face any trouble no matter which localhost you are using.

So, let's explore each and every step of how to install Joomla guide. 

Joomla Installation 

1. How to Manually Install Joomla Using cPanel?
2. How to Install Joomla on Localhost?

How to Manually Install Joomla Using cPanel?

Step 01: Log into cPanel

• Go to yourdomain.com/cpanel.
• Log in with the username and password. Hosting companies usually send an email with this info when you first sign up with them.

Step 02: Create Database 

• Click on the "MySQL Databases Wizard" icon. 

• ​Create a new database

• Create a database user
• Make sure your password is strong enough.

• Give user all privileges

• You will see a success message like this one.
• Your database creation is done.
• Return home

Step 03: Download Joomla

• Go to Joomla official site and download Joomla latest file.

Step 04: Upload Joomla

• ​In your cPanel, access the File Manager

• ​Access the /public_html folder and click the Upload button
• Or if needed, access a subfolder of the /public_html folder if you're setting up a test site and/or if another site is in the /public_html folder.
  

• Upload the Joomla installation package that you downloaded previously

• Point your mouse to the package, right click on it and in the drop-down menu click Extract.

Step 05: Configure Joomla 

• Visit the domain of the website. If you upload the files to a subfolder, add the subfolder name to the end of the domain e.g.  https://yourdomainname/subfolder/installation/index.php
• ​Now, follow the below mentioned procedures

• ​​Site Name: The name of your website — this can be changed at any point later in the Site Global Configuration page.
• Description: Enter a description of the website (optional).
• Admin Username & Password: Joomla uses a default "admin" as the username for the Super User. You can leave it as is, or you can change it. Set a password.
• Site Offline: Click the Yes or No box. Yes - this means when installation is complete, your Joomla website will display the 'Site is offline' message when you browse to yoursitename.com to view the home page. No - this means the site is live when you browse to yoursitename.com to view the home page. You can use the Site Global Configuration in the Administration interface to change the Offline status at any time.
• Click the Next button.

• ​Database Type: MySQLi is the common database used.
• Hostname: Where is your database located? Common is localhost, but some hosts use a specific database server such as dbserver1.yourhost.com
• Username: The username used to connect to the database
• Password: The password for the database's username (keep it empty if you don't save password when you were creating your database).
• Database Name: The name of the database.
• Click the next button to proceed.
  

Clink on the install button and it will take some time to finish the installation process.

You will now be presented with a very similar Congratulations! Joomla! is now installed screen.

​Now you can delete the Installation Folder. Click on Remove Installation folder and a success message will appear. Now you can navigate to the Administrator log in by clicking Administrator or go right to your site by clicking Site.

How to Install Joomla on Localhost?

Here, I'm going to cover the following topics.

1. How to install Joomla using XAMPP?
2. How to install Joomla using AMPPS?
3. How to install Joomla using Laragon?

How to Install Joomla Using XAMPP?

Step 01: Download XAMPP

• Download XAMPP from their official site.
• Make sure you are downloading the appropriate one for you e.g. if you are a windows user, download XAMPP for windows version. 

• Install XAMPP 
• Start your XAMPP and turn on the options shown in the screenshot below.

Step 02: Create Database

• Navigate to localhost/phpmyadmin in your browser.
• Click the Databases tab at the top and then create a database from there.

Step 03: Download Joomla

• Go to Joomla official site and download Joomla latest file.
• Downloaded Joomla file needs to be unpacked in the root of your site e.g. C drive > Xampp > htdocs > Create a folder and unzip there. My one is C drive > Xampp > htdocs > try-joomla

Step 04: Configuration 

• Open your browser and go to localhost/yourfoldername. Here 'yourfoldername' is where you have moved your downloaded Joomla file and unzipped that file e.g. localhost/try-joomla

• You will be presented with the following screen.

Note: Now, follow the above stated STEP 05 of "How to install Joomla using XAMPP" ​ ​to complete the rest of the steps. 

How to Install Joomla Using AMPPS?

Step 01: Download AMPPS

• Download AMPPS from their official site.
• Make sure you are downloading the appropriate one for you e.g. if you are a windows user, download AMPPS for windows version. 

• Install AMPPS
• Start your AMPPS and turn on the options shown in the screenshot below.

Step 02: Create Database

• Navigate to localhost/phpmyadmin in your browser.
• Click the Databases tab at the top and then create a database from there.

Step 03: Download Joomla 

• Go to Joomla official site and download Joomla latest file.
• Downloaded Joomla file needs to be unpacked in the root of your site e.g. C drive > Program Files (x86) > Ampps > www > Create a folder and unzip there. My one is C > Program Files (x86) > Ampps > www​ > Joomla

Step 04: Configuration 

• Open your browser and go to localhost/yourfoldername. Here 'yourfoldername' is where you have moved your downloaded Joomla file and unzipped that file e.g. localhost/Joomla

• You will be presented with the following screen.

​Note: Now, follow the above stated STEP 05 of "How to install Joomla using XAMPP" ​to complete the rest of the steps.

​How to Install Joomla Using Laragon?​

Step 01: Download Laragon

• Download AMPPS from their official site.

• ​Install Laragon
• Start laragon and press Start All button.

Step 02: Configure Laragon

• ​Go to Menu > Quick app. There is no Joomla. 

• To enable Joomla, go to Menu > Quick app > Configuration.
• Remove ### before Joomla and save (ctrl+s) it.

Step 03: Create Project

• Now, go to Menu > Quick app > Joomla and create a project. 

Step 04: Configure Joomla

• Go to Menu > www > yourprojectname

• ​You will be presented with the following screen.

​Note: Now, follow the above stated STEP 05 of "How to install Joomla using XAMPP" ​to complete the rest of the steps.

How to Install Joomla 4?

Here, I'm going to show you the procedures to install Joomla 4 on your localhost. I'm using XAMPP here as a localhost. Let's start.

Note: Follow Step 01 & Step 02 from above stated How to Install Joomla Using XAMPP ​to download XAMPP & create database.

• To download Joomla 4 go to Joomla-CMS-release and download the latest file.

Joomla 4 Configuration 

• Downloaded Joomla file needs to be unpacked in the root of your site e.g. C drive > Xampp > htdocs > Create a folder and unzip there. My one is C drive > Xampp > htdocs > joomla4​
• Open your browser and go to localhost/yourfoldername. Here, "yourfoldername" is where you have moved your downloaded Joomla file and unzipped that file e.g. localhost/joomla​4
• ​You will be presented a UI like following one. Now, configure it as below;

• Select Language: choose the language you want. You can set more language options after finishing setting up in "Customize Installation".
• Site Name: you have to add your site name, for example Joomla 4 Alpha 8
• Click "Setup Login Data" to continue.

• Set the Username: enter your username, example: admin
• Set the Password: enter your password, example: 123456
• Enter the Email Address: enter your email, example: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

• Database Type: Select MySQLi. (You should select MySQLi since that's the database type used mostly on web servers)
• Host Name: Enter "localhost".
• Username: Enter "root".
• Password: Leave it blank if it is the default ( or enter the password that you set before )
• Database Name: Enter the name of the database you have created earlier.
• Table Prefix: It is generated automatically by default. However, you can change its value.
• Then click on "Install Joomla" to continue.

• A​fter successfully installing Joomla 4, you can continue to customize your Joomla site in terms of language (for a multi-language site) and sample data by clicking "Customize Installation" button.
• Or,  you can click on "Open Site" to open the front-end site

• Or, you can click on "Open Admin" to open the back-end site.

Login to your admin by using your Superuser account you have set up before.​

Congratulation! You have installed Joomla 4 successfully. 

Final Words 

I have tried here to demonstrate every possible way to install Joomla. Which one is the most preferable and easiest way, let me know. You can give us your suggestions and feedback through the comment box below. We always appreciate your valuable thoughts.