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How to Install WordPress on Amazon Web Services

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Recently, one of our readers asked us to cover how to install WordPress on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Often reserved for larger projects, Amazon Web Services is a powerful cloud computing platform that allows anyone to harness the power of Amazon’s superior infrastructure on a pay-as-you-go basis.

In this article, we will show you how to install WordPress on Amazon Web Services.

Installing WordPress on Amazon Web Services

Note: If you are just starting a website, then we recommend using one of the easier solutions from our how to install WordPress guide.

We have split this article into two methods. The first method is a manual process that is very technical and complicated. The second method is an easier solution for beginners because it allows you to use AWS infrastructure by going through a preferred managed WordPress hosting solution.

Method 1. Creating a Custom WordPress Install on AWS

First thing you need to do is visit the Amazon Web Services website. You can create a free account, but you will need to enter credit card information. Amazon will verify your identity by sending a $1 charge to your card.

Once your account is verified, you need to login to your AWS console and click on the ‘Services’ menu. Under the compute section, you need to select EC2 to continue.

Launch AWS EC2 service

EC2 is AWS’s cloud computing platform that allows you to create virtual machines and run web apps like WordPress. For more details on what’s a virtual machine, read our guide on what is a VPS and do you need it.

Next, click on the ‘Launch Instance’ button to launch and configure your instance settings.

Launch your EC2 instance

You will need to select an Amazon Machine Image. These are pre-configured software stacks that you can install with a single click.

Under the ‘AWS Marketplace’ search for WordPress and then select ‘WordPress by Bitnami’.

Install Amazon Machine Image

You will now see a pricing popup where you simply need to click on the continue button.

On the next screen, you will be asked to choose an instance type. You can go ahead and select t2.micro free tier and then click on ‘Configure Instance Details’ button.

Select instance type

On the next screen, you don’t need to change anything. Simply click on ‘Next: Add Storage’ and then click ‘Next: Add Tags’ buttons.

Now we will enter a name for this instance as a tag. Click on the ‘Add Tag’ button and enter ‘Name’ as key, and ‘MyWordPress’ as value.

Review and launch

Click on the ‘Review and Launch’ button to continue.

You will now be presented with an overview of your EC2 Instance configuration. Click on the ‘Launch’ button to start your instance.

Review instance settings and launch

Next, you will be asked to select pair keys. You need to select ‘Proceed without a key pair’ and then check the box below it.

Skip paired keys

After that click on the ‘Launch Instances’ button to store your settings and launch your EC2 instance.

AWS will now show a success message. Click on the ‘View Instances’ button at the bottom right corner of the screen.

You will now be able to see your WordPress instance running.

WordPress instance running

To test your WordPress site, you need to locate its public IP address. You can find it under IPV4 Public IP column next to your instance.

Your WordPress site's public IP address

You can now copy this IP address and enter it in the address bar of a new browser tab to view your website. You will be able to see your WordPress site with the default theme.

Default WordPress theme

To visit your WordPress admin area, simply add /wp-admin/ next to your site’s public IP address, like this:

http://18.191.114.246/wp-admin

You will now see the default WordPress login page.

WordPress login screen

However, you will need to know the username and password to access the admin area.

You can get that by going back to your EC2 Console and clicking on the ‘Actions’ button and then selecting Instance Settings » Get System Log.

This will bring up a log file in a popup window with lots of text. You will need to scroll down towards the bottom, and you will find a line with ‘Setting Bitnami user password to’ surrounded by ## signs. You will also see the default username set by the app.

Copy your WordPress password

You can now copy the username / password and enter it on the login screen of your WordPress site.

Congratulations, you have successfully installed WordPress on Amazon Web Services. However, your website is still only accessible by using the IP address.

If you want to point a domain name to your AWS WordPress install, then you will need to connect your domain name to AWS’s DNS servers.

See our step by step guide on how to register a domain name.

Once you have registered your domain name, you’re ready to add it to your AWS instance.

Add a Domain Name to Your WordPress Site on Amazon Web Services

First, go to your EC2 instances dashboard and then from the left column click on ‘Elastic IPS’ under ‘Network & Security’ section.

Allocate new elastic IP

Next, click on the ‘Allocate New Address’ button to continue.

You will be asked how you want to use the IP address. Simply click on the Allocate button to continue.

AWS will now create a new elastic IP for your WordPress EC2 instance. You will see your IP address listed in a table. Simply select the IP address row and then select ‘Associate Address’ under the ‘Actions’ button.

Associate address

On the next screen, select your WordPress instance from the drop-down menu and click on the ‘Associate’ button.

Associate  IP to your WordPress instance

You will now see your Elastic IP listed in the table. Go ahead and copy the IP address and paste it into a text editor like Notepad. We will need it in the next step.

Copy your elastic IP

Next, you need to click on the ‘Services’ menu at the top and search for ‘Route53′. This is Amazon web services’ DNS management service that allows you to route traffic to your EC2 instance.

Route53 service

On the next page, click on the ‘Get Started Now’ button under the DNS management section.

Get started with DNS management

This will bring you to hosted zones section. Go ahead and click on the ‘Create Hosted Zone’ button.

Create hosted zone button

Next, you need to add your domain name and click on the create button to add it to a hosted zone.

Add domain to a hosted zone

After you have added your domain to a hosted zone, click on the ‘Create Record Set’ button. Now you need to enter www next to the ‘Name’ field. Enter the elastic IP you copied earlier in the ‘Value’ field and then click on the create button.

Add record set

The A record will now be added to your hosted zone along with your domain name. From the left column, you need to copy the lines under NS field. These are Nameserver addresses that you will need in the next step.

Now you need to go to your domain name registrar website and edit your domain name settings. The screenshots below may vary from your provider, but the basic instructions are similar for each provider.

Under your domain’s DNS Nameservers settings, enter the nameserver addresses you copied earlier.

Add DNS nameservers

Don’t forget to save your changes. You can now visit the domain name you added, and it will take you to your WordPress site on Amazon Web Services.

Note: DNS changes may take some time to take effect.

Method 2. Using Amazon Web Services via Managed WordPress Hosting

As you may have noticed setting up a custom WordPress install on Amazon web services is a very technical and complicated process.

The cloud computing infrastructure provided by Amazon Web Services is a pay as you go solution. This means that traffic spikes will increase your hosting bill significantly. Not to mention, that you will still be responsible for managing your own services which is just extra work.

An easier way to use WordPress on Amazon Web Services without any hassle is by using a managed WordPress hosting provider.

We recommend using WP Engine. They run part of their hosting platform on the AWS infrastructure, and you don’t have to worry about traffic spikes, server management, or WordPress maintenance.

Plus, WPBeginner users can get 4 months free on the annual plans with our WP Engine coupon.

Another great alternative is SiteGround, a premium managed WordPress hosting provider. It gives you blazing fast servers, top-notch WordPress security, 24/7 expert WordPress support, amazing developer tools, and more.

We hope this article helped you learn how to install WordPress on Amazon Web Services. You may also want to see our ultimate guide on improving WordPress speed and performance with step by step instructions or our expert picks of the best WordPress plugins for business sites.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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Editorial Staff

Editorial Staff at WPBeginner is a team of WordPress experts led by Syed Balkhi with over 16 years of experience in WordPress, Web Hosting, eCommerce, SEO, and Marketing. Started in 2009, WPBeginner is now the largest free WordPress resource site in the industry and is often referred to as the Wikipedia for WordPress.

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Reader Interactions

27 CommentsLeave a Reply

  1. Syed Balkhi says

    Hey WPBeginner readers,
    Did you know you can win exciting prizes by commenting on WPBeginner?
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  2. Nancy Melucci says

    Just a head’s up – the new interface for EC2 makes it a lot harder to find the system log to recover the password. Fortunately, there’s a toggle button. So I toggled to the old interface.

  3. Gordon Taylor says

    Thank you so much for this excellent guide. I now have my first WordPress site up on AWS.

  4. Rahul Veerwal says

    This was amazing. Thank you so much for the detailed guidance. I was able to setup in under 10 mins.

  5. AJ says

    Hello thank you for the article. I currently have AWS subscription and services. I also have a website that is already being hosted and it is not WP.
    I now want to install a WP website to replace the current site.
    Do I just use the same installation instructions above? Or is there a different process.

    Another question: if I want the designer to install for me, should I create a different AWS log in for them to use? Or

    • WPBeginner Support says

      You would need to remove the old site and then you can follow this guide. It may be a good idea to give your designer their own login information should access need to be removed at a later date.

      Admin

  6. kenny says

    WOW!! What an excellent article. Very thorough, painless and easy to follow.
    I also wanted to let you know that your Pagely link in (Method 2. Using Amazon Web Services via Managed WordPress Hosting) goes to the Pagely website but it pops up with a 404. Just wanted to let you guys know that so you can possibly fix that if you’d like.

  7. Majed Ahmed says

    Thank you so much but i have one important question
    When i installed my wordpress site
    I already have theme ok ? from where can i upload the theme please ?

    Sorry for my bad english

  8. Yaya JATTA says

    What a well documented step by step process laid out simply for any lay man to follow and get the same result as an expert will.

    Thank you!, I landed on the right page will be sure to join your youtube channel.

  9. Nigel says

    Incredibly useful page. Thanks for posting this. Took me 15 minutes to set up 2 WordPress sites. Brilliant.

  10. Vikas Goyal says

    I installed wordpress as guided in the step by step process in this article.

    Everything is working fine except for the backend login page.

    The password that is given in instance log is not working.

    Kindly help

    • WPBeginner Support says

      Don’t forget to exclude the quotes in the password when entering it and it is case sensitive. Otherwise, you would need to use the command line and reset your password using the Bitnami documentation method.

      Admin

  11. Jay says

    Great article and instructions. I did this about a year ago and have been very happy with the service. I have a small personal website that was free for the first year and now $10 per month.

    “As you may have noticed that setting up a custom WordPress install on Amazon web services is a very technical and complicated process.”

    You should at least state that ‘very technical’ is subjective. You should also at least mention the advantages of having a VPS versus a managed hosting service.

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