Title: What does 'upload' mean? Last modified: August 22, 2016 --- # What does 'upload' mean? * [powys](https://wordpress.org/support/users/powys/) * (@powys) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/) * Hi, * I have just downloaded WordPress from wordpress.org. * The ReadMe file tells me in Instruction 1 to: “Unzip the package in an empty directory and upload everything.” Doing the unzip was easy. But ‘upload’? Where? It does not say. * Tim Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 15 total) * Moderator [t-p](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t-p/) * (@t-p) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604333) * > “Unzip the package in an empty directory and upload everything.” Doing the > unzip was easy. But ‘upload’? Where? * After downloading a fresh copy of the WordPress to your computer and unziping it, then use that to copy up all files and folders in an empty directory where you want WP installed. * You can thus upload via [FTP or SFTP ](http://codex.wordpress.org/FTP_Clients) or whatever file management application your host provides (cpanel…). * [jon](https://wordpress.org/support/users/adiant/) * (@adiant) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604335) * Stepping back a bit, I’m assuming you want to use WordPress to build a web site for the world to see, on the Internet. * If so, you have two choices: 1. buy Web Hosting where you can upload to, as Tara discusses above; or 2. forget about wordpress.org and go to wordpress.com where they do it all for you, for free * [Clayton James](https://wordpress.org/support/users/claytonjames/) * (@claytonjames) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604336) * “Upload” means to transfer files or data to a remote location. In this case, it means to transfer the WordPress files to the web space at your [hosting provider](https://codex.wordpress.org/Glossary#Hosting_provider). This is a good place to start: [What You Most Need to Know About WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/?output_format=md) * [Installing WordPress](https://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress) * [Detailed Installation Instructions](https://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress#Detailed_Instructions) * [Clayton James](https://wordpress.org/support/users/claytonjames/) * (@claytonjames) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604338) * I feel like we just accidentally mugged [@powys](https://wordpress.org/support/users/powys/)… * 🙂 * [leejosepho](https://wordpress.org/support/users/leejosepho/) * (@leejosepho) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604344) * > The ReadMe file tells me… “Unzip the package … upload everything.” * If your host has cPanel available for you, just use File Manager at cPanel to upload the zip to your root folder at your server and unzip it there, and then either copy or move everything inside the unzipped /wordpress/ directory to wherever your installation is intended to be. * [RossMitchell](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rossmitchell/) * (@rossmitchell) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604345) * (while composing this reply, 4 good responses were made above) * You upload the files to your website hosting server. Nearly everyone rents space from a web hosting company who has rooms full of computers, supervised 24/7, with backup power supplies and redundant internet links. A very few people connect their own servers to the internet. Many developers install small web servers on their own computers for development and testing. * Do you have web hosting ? If you don’t yet have it then there are many options, choose one who offers the cPanel management console, it is by far the commonest and gives you everything you need. Price varies, you largely get what you pay for, look for technical support hours (24/7 vs 9-5) and means (phone vs email vs text chat), also backup policy. * The best way to do this upload is via FTP (or SFTP) using a program called Filezilla, it is free. * There are various getting started articles here: [https://wordpress.org/support/](https://wordpress.org/support/) * Feel free to ask more questions, either on this thread, or start a new one. * Thread Starter [powys](https://wordpress.org/support/users/powys/) * (@powys) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604427) * Thanks for all the replies. But none have made the point that the ReadMe file should make it clear what ‘upload’ really means. I do not think this issue will be ‘resolved’ until the ReadMe file has been altered. * I suspected it meant what you mostly have said but was not sure. * My next problem is that in all previous programming tasks, I have installed the program on a test environment. I do not think it is right to bash WordPress straight into a live environment, such as my web host site. How can I set up a test environment so that I can see what it looks like before I open it to The World? I would prefer to have the test environment on my Mac here. * (I already have a web site, written and uploaded by hand, and I am trying to see if WordPress would be easier or better or both.) * Tim * [Clayton James](https://wordpress.org/support/users/claytonjames/) * (@claytonjames) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604453) * > But none have made the point that the ReadMe file should make it clear what‘ > upload’ really means. I do not think this issue will be ‘resolved’ until the > ReadMe file has been altered… > …I suspected it meant what you mostly have said > but was not sure * I’m hoping you wrote that “tongue-in-cheek” however; You’re referring to basic terminology used in almost every electronic transaction or interaction between computers and the internet. “Upload”, “Download”, “Transfer”… it isn’t the purpose of a readme file to instruct an end user in basic terminology that isn’t intended to be a synopsis of information specific to the software itself. Even then, in depth installation and usage details are usually handled by[ the software documentation](https://codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page), rather than a readme file. * > My next problem is that in all previous programming tasks, I have installed > the program on a test environment. I do not think it is right to bash WordPress > straight into a live environment, such as my web host site. How can I set up > a test environment so that I can see what it looks like before I open it to > The World? I would prefer to have the test environment on my Mac here. * I not sure why you have the impression you need to install WordPress directly to a live environment. There are a multitude of ways to install a local test environment. * [Installing WordPress on your own Computer](https://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress#Installing_WordPress_on_your_own_Computer) * [RossMitchell](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rossmitchell/) * (@rossmitchell) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604457) * There are various ways of installing in a test environment. * You can install a web server on your own computer, the AMPPS package is one way of doing this. [http://www.ampps.com/](http://www.ampps.com/) * OR you can install upon an obscure URL on your hosted site, like “trial.mysite. com” you can even password protect this website. * Thread Starter [powys](https://wordpress.org/support/users/powys/) * (@powys) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604470) * **ClaytonJames wrote**: * > I’m hoping you wrote that “tongue-in-cheek” however; You’re referring to basic > terminology used in almost every electronic transaction or interaction between > computers and the internet. “Upload”, “Download”, “Transfer”… it isn’t the > purpose of a readme file to instruct an end user in basic terminology that > isn’t intended to be a synopsis of information specific to the software itself. > Even then, in depth installation and usage details are usually handled by the > software documentation, rather than a readme file. * The problem with writing about a subject you are familiar with is just that: you don’t know how to approach the person who is unfamiliar. I was not, that is, writing tongue-in-cheek. * > I not sure why you have the impression you need to install WordPress directly > to a live environment. There are a multitude of ways to install a local test > environment. > Installing WordPress on your own Computer * The impression was from the above responses to the ReadMe file, all of which gave me the impression that this is what I had to do. * But thanks for the advice on installing on my own computer. * **RossMitchell wrote**: * > There are various ways of installing in a test environment. > You can install a web server on your own computer, the AMPPS package is one > way of doing this. > [http://www.ampps.com/](http://www.ampps.com/) > OR you can install upon an obscure URL on your hosted site, like “trial.mysite. > com” you can even password protect this website. * Thanks for the info about the AMPPS package; another one to follow up. * And I am not keen on putting experimental stuff in an unlinked folder on my web- site. The horrible danger is that the search engines will find it. On the other hand password protection may not hinder as much as is hoped. * Tim * PS: wish there was a Preview button for this forum – I’ve no ide what the above is going to look like. Though I soon will! * [leejosepho](https://wordpress.org/support/users/leejosepho/) * (@leejosepho) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604475) * > PS: wish there was a Preview button for this forum – I’ve no idea what the > above is going to look like. Though I soon will! * You might not have yet noticed the edit “button” immediately beneath your profile, and I use that a lot! However, anyone who has clicked to be notified of new posts at a given thread will have already been sent an e-mail containing the initial post and no edit update will follow that. So, it is somewhat common here to make edits — you have one hour — where needed or desired, and to then add an “Edit” note at the bottom of the post (or anywhere within) to let the reader know to take notice of any significant change. * Edit: * > The problem with writing about a subject you are familiar with is just that: > you don’t know how to approach the person who is unfamiliar. * Some folks do better than others there, but you do have a valid point. Parts of the Codex and such are comprehensible for the newbie, but many parts are not. * [Clayton James](https://wordpress.org/support/users/claytonjames/) * (@claytonjames) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604477) * > The problem with writing about a subject you are familiar with is just that: > you don’t know how to approach the person who is unfamiliar. I was not, that > is, writing tongue-in-cheek. * You’ll have to forgive me for thinking perhaps you were. * Your topic title is “What does ‘upload’ mean?”. * ..And then you made this statement: _“I already have a web site, written and uploaded by hand..”_ * So, I came to the conclusion that you probably already did in fact have a reasonable understanding of what “upload” meant, and your issue was simply that there isn’t enough instructions to suit your desire in the readme file. * You might actually gain a huge advantage and a rapid increase in knowledge about WordPress by taking a look at the actual documentation as a source of instruction and reference. The readme file can never do what the [WordPress Documentation](https://codex.wordpress.org/Main_Page) can. Good luck, and sorry for any confusion! * Thread Starter [powys](https://wordpress.org/support/users/powys/) * (@powys) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604489) * **ClaytonJames** wrote: * > You’ll have to forgive me for thinking perhaps you were. > Your topic title is “What does ‘upload’ mean?”. > ..And then you made this statement: “I already have a web site, written and > uploaded by hand..” > So, I came to the conclusion that you probably already did in fact have a reasonable > understanding of what “upload” meant, and your issue was simply that there > isn’t enough instructions to suit your desire in the readme file. > You might actually gain a huge advantage and a rapid increase in knowledge > about WordPress by taking a look at the actual documentation as a source of > instruction and reference. The readme file can never do what the WordPress > Documentation can. Good luck, and sorry for any confusion! * And uploading to a phone? Or to a computer from a phone? * The point is that I, in my ignorance, was expecting a program from WordPress. org that I could put on my computer and run from there. I had originally found the WordPress.com site which certainly did not do what I wanted. * In relation to WordPress I did not know what I was talking about and the ReadMe file made something of the five minutes it would take to get going. And at that stage I knew I was not sure so I asked the question. * I have already said this question was not tongue-in-cheek, so what can I do to convince you that it really, absolutely was NOT tongue-in-cheek? * ReadMe files, to my simple mind, are just that: an instruction to read, preferably before going any further. I think this particular file needs a minor clarification and that this problem will not be resolved until it gets that treatment. * What will the next new user of WordPress understand by Instruction No 1? * Tim * [leejosepho](https://wordpress.org/support/users/leejosepho/) * (@leejosepho) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604492) * > What will the next new user of WordPress understand by Instruction No 1? * Nothing but pure speculation, however simple or logical, could possibly offer any answer there. * > I, in my ignorance, was expecting a program from WordPress.org that I could > put on my computer and run from there. * Now you know to be more cautious about foregone conclusions, assumptions, expectations and such in the future! 😉 * Experience truly is a great teacher. * [RossMitchell](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rossmitchell/) * (@rossmitchell) * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604525) * [@powys](https://wordpress.org/support/users/powys/), Since WordPress is an open source project, and since the support and documentation community is also open, the invitation is always open for you to create for the community the documentation you would like to have been available when you started. You are in a privileged position to create this since you are still close to your WordPress baptism. * You can present and discuss your docs in the forums here (I would suggest “requests and feedback”), there is also a weekly online chat meeting each Thursday afternoon( UTC), though this schedule is somewhat disrupted by the Xmas + New Year season. Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 15 total) The topic ‘What does 'upload' mean?’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/) * 15 replies * 6 participants * Last reply from: [RossMitchell](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rossmitchell/) * Last activity: [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/what-does-upload-mean/#post-5604525) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics