How to Install WordPress on an Ubuntu VPS in 5 Minutes (No Linux Skills Needed)

Installing WordPress on a VPS by hand means typing quite a few commands: install nginx, PHP, MySQL, create a database, download the source, configure a virtual host, request an SSL certificate… For newcomers, every step is a chance to get something wrong.

This article shows a faster and safer approach: use a control panel to install WordPress in just a few minutes, even if you’re not comfortable with Linux.

What You’ll Need

• A VPS running Ubuntu 22.04+ or Debian 12+ (1 CPU and 1 GB RAM is enough to get started).
• A domain name already pointed at your VPS’s IP address (an A record).
• SSH access as the root user (only needed for the first panel installation).

Step 1 — Install the Control Panel With a Single Command

Instead of installing each component by hand, let the panel handle it. On MyPanel, the install command automatically sets up nginx, Docker, MySQL, certbot and Nixpacks:

curl -fsSL https://get.mypanel.vn | sudo bash

Once it finishes, open the panel at http://<server-IP>:8888 and log in with the admin account (the first-run password is printed to the console). For details, see the installation guide.

Step 2 — Create a WordPress Website

In the panel, go to Websites → Add website and choose the WordPress type. The panel will automatically:

1. Create a dedicated MySQL database for the site.
2. Download and install WordPress via wp-cli.
3. Configure an nginx reverse proxy pointing to the site.

All you need to do is enter your domain name and wait a few dozen seconds. See the full details in the WordPress guide.

Step 3 — Enable Automatic SSL (HTTPS)

If your domain already points correctly to the VPS, MyPanel automatically requests a Let’s Encrypt certificate and renews it for you as soon as the site is created. Your website runs on HTTPS with no extra steps. Learn more in the SSL guide.

Step 4 — Log In to wp-admin and Get Started

Open https://your-domain/wp-admin, log in with the WordPress account the panel created, and start installing themes and plugins as usual.

Operating Tips After Installation

• Back up regularly: enable database backups (the Free plan already includes manual and scheduled backups). The Pro plan lets you push backups to remote S3 storage.
• Monitor resources: the panel shows realtime CPU/RAM/disk usage and alerts you via Telegram/Email when the server is overloaded or a site goes down.
• Multiple sites on one VPS: each site runs in its own container so they don’t conflict — you manage them all from a single interface.

Why Use a Panel Instead of Installing by Hand

Installing by hand gives you a deeper understanding, but in real-world operation you’ll have to handle updates, SSL renewals, backups and monitoring yourself — all easy to overlook. A control panel wraps everything into one place, reducing mistakes and saving time.

If you’d like to try it, MyPanel installs with a single command and is free forever for up to 5 websites.