Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsAfter installing WordPress, start by setting your site identity and address, choosing a permalink structure, and making sure you can recover the site before updating it. Then review themes, plugins, automatic updates, and Site Health; test the site as a visitor; and publish only when the basics work. This is a practical first-day checklist, not an official WordPress ranking.
1. Set your site identity and basic settings
Open Settings > General and review the information WordPress uses to identify and localize your site. Set the site title and tagline, confirm the WordPress Address and Site Address, and check the administration email. Also review whether registration is enabled and which role new users receive by default.
Set the site language, timezone, and preferred date and time formats. These choices affect how dates and times appear and how scheduled activity is handled. The General Settings screen documents these controls: Settings General screen.
2. Choose a permalink structure before publishing much
Permalinks are the permanent URLs for posts and pages. Choose a structure that suits your site before you have many links in circulation, then avoid changing it casually: changing established URLs can disrupt links people already use.
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Go to Settings > Permalinks to review the available structures. WordPress uses the Plain format by default; other structures can make URLs more readable or reflect the way you organize content. There is no single structure that is best for every site. Compare readability, content organization, and the need to preserve existing links when choosing. See Settings Permalinks screen and Customize permalinks.
After saving, open a few sample post and page links to confirm they load. If a pretty permalink structure does not work, the server may need configuration; contact your hosting provider if you cannot change that configuration yourself.
3. Choose a theme that fits the site
Select a theme based on what your site needs to publish and how visitors should navigate it. A blog, portfolio, and business site may need different layouts, so there is no universal theme recommendation here. Preview the theme and check the resulting pages before building extensively around it.
Keep the installed theme set lean. If you switch themes, remove themes you do not intend to keep, while retaining any theme your site depends on. WordPress’s getting-started guide treats setup as the beginning of ongoing site management, rather than a requirement to install a particular stack.
4. Install plugins only to meet a real need
Before adding a plugin, state the job it will do. Avoid installing several tools that overlap or adding features the site does not yet need. For each candidate, check whether it is maintained and whether it is compatible with your WordPress version.
Compatibility may be listed as unknown when a plugin has not been updated since a recent WordPress core release. That does not prove it will fail, but it is a reason to investigate rather than assume it is suitable. WordPress explains plugin management and updating in Manage Plugins.
5. Arrange backups and know how recovery works
Make sure you have a way to back up the site and a plan for restoring it before changing core, theme, or plugin software. An update can cause a problem; a usable backup gives you a recovery path.
WordPress recommends backing up before updates, but its guidance does not establish one schedule, retention period, or storage arrangement for every site. Choose an approach appropriate to how often your site changes and how much lost work you could tolerate. Know where to find the backup and how to restore it before you need it. See Updating WordPress and Manage Plugins.
6. Apply available WordPress updates
Once you have a recovery plan, open Dashboard > Updates and review available WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates. Apply the updates that are offered, then check that the site still loads and its important functions work.
Use the release currently offered to your installation rather than relying on a version number from an older guide. WordPress says the latest major release is the only officially supported version. Older branches may receive security backports, but there is no guarantee or fixed support timeframe. Check Supported Versions and the current update guidance.
7. Decide whether to enable automatic updates
WordPress lets you enable theme and plugin automatic updates individually. In the installed themes or plugins screens, use the relevant automatic-update control for each item rather than assuming every component updates automatically.
WordPress says these scheduled updates normally run twice daily, but that schedule depends on WordPress Cron. Cron may not run as expected in some server, installation, or plugin configurations. Keep backups available, and do not treat an enabled setting as proof that updates succeeded. The Plugin and themes auto-updates documentation explains the controls and their limitations.
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8. Review Site Health
Open Tools > Site Health and review critical issues and background update status. The diagnostic information can also surface details about the server, database, and filesystem permissions that help explain a problem.
Some fixes require access to server settings or permissions that a site owner cannot change from WordPress. If Site Health identifies an issue outside your control, ask your hosting provider to investigate. See Site Health screen.
9. Test the site as a visitor
Open the home page and a few important pages on both a desktop-sized screen and a phone-sized screen. Follow the navigation, open links, and check that the pages display and behave as expected. If a page is meant to support a particular action, such as reaching a contact page, try that route yourself.
- Confirm the home page and key pages load.
- Follow navigation menus and check that important links reach the intended pages.
- Look for layout or text that is difficult to use on a small screen.
10. Begin publishing, then adjust as the site grows
Once the essentials are in place, start publishing useful content. Treat the initial setup as a foundation, not a reason to install tools for hypothetical future needs. Revisit themes, plugins, and settings when the site’s actual goals or audience make a change worthwhile.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →WordPress’s Get started with WordPress guide frames setup as part of continued use and learning. A small, understood setup is easier to maintain than one full of components whose purpose is unclear.
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