Getting WordPress working on my website

  • I have installed WordPress for Mac on my Apple Powerbook with a view to making changes to my website hosted by Fasthosts which was designed by a web designer.

    I can access the database via PHPMyAdmin and FTP and can see the wp-xxx files and, via the wp-users file, the web designer’s login details (which I have not yet changed in case I decide to have them redesign the site in future).

    As a newbie I’d appreciate guidance on how to make changes using WordPress. I can’t at present justify paying monthly to Fasthosts for their WordPress offering and they suggested that I download the free version of WordPress and upload the unzipped files to my HTC docs folder. I downloaded WordPress, dragged it to my Applicatons folder and used Filezilla to upload WordPress to the HTCdocs folder where it now sits. I am anxious not to do anything further for the moment in case I disable the site.

    When I open WordPress on my Powerbook I get the sign-in page for wordpress.com which is not what I need. How do I access my website dashboard using WordPress to make changes to the site please?

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    WordPress for Mac is a product from wordpress.com. Please see https://apps.wordpress.com/support/ for support for it. It’s not WordPress running on your Mac, but a front end to let you access your sites hosted at wp.com or elsewhere.

    There are many ways to run a self hosted WordPress website on your desktop computer, but beware making it publicly available without a hosting account is difficult and generally not advisable.

    These are some search terms to help you research
    – Docker WordPress Quickstart
    – MAMP WordPress
    – XAMMP WordPress
    – Local WordPress

    Thread Starter rabra

    (@rabra)

    Your re3plies are appreciated. Given that my site is hosted (by Fasthosts) I’m not proposing to self-host. I have not yet been able to access the site’s dashboard using WordPress for Mac and its not clear to me what software I would need to make changes (eg insert a new image, change some text).

    Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    Go directly to your site… https://example.com/wp-admin

    No software, other than a browser, is needed on your Mac.

    If you want a local copy for testing, etc, I like https://localwp.com and use that on my Mac.

    Thread Starter rabra

    (@rabra)

    Iread a good bit of useful information about login problems experienced by WordPress newbies but haven’t been able to resolve my difficulty of not going directly my site using you suggest when trying with various names and passwords, so I’ve got one or both wrong and can’t arrange a reset email to be sent to me.

    I’ve tried using the web designer’s user name and password showing in the wp-users file, without success; same result using the names and passwords that I use to login via PHPMyAdmin and via the file manager link in my Fasthosts control panel.

    Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    This article lists 7 completely different ways to reset your password. Any one of them will work and do the job. Find the one that’s right for you and use that: https://www.ads-software.com/support/article/resetting-your-password/

    Thread Starter rabra

    (@rabra)

    Sorry for the garbled reply which should be:
    I did read a good bit of useful information about login problems experienced by WordPress newbies but haven’t been able to resolve my difficulty of not being able to go directly my site using as you suggest when trying with various names and passwords, so I’ve got one or both wrong and can’t arrange a reset email to be sent to me.

    I’ve tried using the web designer’s user name and password showing in the wp-users file, without success; same result using the names and passwords that I use to login via PHPMyAdmin and via the file manager link in my Fasthosts control panel.

    Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    If you’re unable to login to your site after trying the directions I linked, please contact your host’s support.

    Thread Starter rabra

    (@rabra)

    Thank you.

    Thread Starter rabra

    (@rabra)

    I’m glad to say that your directions worked for me. I have a different challenge now:

    Objective: copy and backup existing WordPress website to my (Mac) computer to be able to experiment with possible amendments before making any changes to the public website.

    So far using Local I have set up a site on the computer – it shows the ‘Hello World’ message and I can access its dashboard – and used Duplicator’s archive and installer.

    Problem: I can see mysql and php folders listed on the computer but when I attempt to run the installer script by browsing http:/[mywebsite]/installer.php I get the notification:

    ‘If you’re seeing this text when browsing to the installer, it means your web server is not set up properly.

    Please contact your host and ask them to enable “PHP” processing on your account’

    Can you offer guidance pease?

    Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    >> So far using Local <<

    Because you’re using a commercial application, please use their official support channel. We feel they are best equipped to support their products.

    https://localwp.com/forums

    Commercial products are not supported in these forums.

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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