Title: using wordpress when installed on a different machine Last modified: August 18, 2016 --- # using wordpress when installed on a different machine * [pixies](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pixies/) * (@pixies) * [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/) * hello all, i have a blog i only just set up, however it was set up for me and on a different machine. i don’t have wordpress installed yet, but im assuming if i want to change layouts and add images etc i will need folders etc that belong to wordpress. if i install wordpress now what do i have to look out for so it will work properly? i seem to be able to log on fine but i havent dared to change anything. i realise i’m asking a question that is potentially very daft, but if anyone could help me out that would be really appreciated 🙂 Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total) * [Marc](https://wordpress.org/support/users/marc/) * (@marc) * [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/#post-268976) * You’ll have to be a little more clearer about what you need. * Has WordPress been installed online? Or is it just on your home computer? * If it’s on a home computer only obviously you need to be on that machine. * If it has been installed online you will need the URL where it is located and whatever password your friend setup to access it. * Thread Starter [pixies](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pixies/) * (@pixies) * [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/#post-268997) * thank you for replying so quickly. i can access wordpress via the URL of my website and have a password to login. the instructions for wordpress confuse me a little since i dont have any files locally, how do i use the instructions in this case? think i’m a little confused :/ * [TechGnome](https://wordpress.org/support/users/techgnome/) * (@techgnome) * [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/#post-269014) * Before we go any further, what’s the url? Is it a wordpress.com site, or are you on your own domain? * -tg * Thread Starter [pixies](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pixies/) * (@pixies) * [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/#post-269031) * wordpress is running on my own website, so if i open my website on the browser it shows up as the wordpress blog thanks, barbara * [TechGnome](https://wordpress.org/support/users/techgnome/) * (@techgnome) * [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/#post-269032) * So how was it installed onto your website? * -tg * Thread Starter [pixies](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pixies/) * (@pixies) * [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/#post-269042) * it was installed from another computer that isnt connected to mine, my own pc hasnt got wordpress installed. the reason for that was because i didnt know how to so it was done for me, just from another pc than mine… * [TechGnome](https://wordpress.org/support/users/techgnome/) * (@techgnome) * [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/#post-269047) * Nooooowwww it all makes sense….. OK, at *some* point you will need to have a local copy of the files, typicaly this is going to be the set of files downloaded before installing. These are also going to be the files you should work on before uploading them to the server (or where ever it’s going to be). * What you will probably want to do is get a hold of an FTP client of some kind( SmartFTP, WS_FTP, among others) and download what’s on the server onto your local machine somewhere. * Then you’ll be able to work on the files. When you are done, you can then upload them back to the server and check it out. * -tg * Thread Starter [pixies](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pixies/) * (@pixies) * [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/#post-269053) * ahhhh i have just looked on my ftp (i use filezilla) and have found all the wp- files :))) so, when i alter them (or just individual ones) and reupload them will they just overwrite the existing ones? * you have already been of great help to me – thank you! * [TechGnome](https://wordpress.org/support/users/techgnome/) * (@techgnome) * [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/#post-269055) * _so, when i alter them (or just individual ones) and reupload them will they just overwrite the existing ones?_ * That’s the idea. * -tg * [Marc](https://wordpress.org/support/users/marc/) * (@marc) * [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/#post-269095) * You might be better off to delete the files to modify first (and keep a BASCKUP), then upload the new ones. * Sometimes overwritting old files will corrupt the files. Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total) The topic ‘using wordpress when installed on a different machine’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 10 replies * 3 participants * Last reply from: [Marc](https://wordpress.org/support/users/marc/) * Last activity: [20 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-wordpress-when-installed-on-a-different-machine/#post-269095) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics