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Installing Concrete CMS Manually

Concrete CMS (formerly Concrete5) is a flexible, open‑source content management system. While Softaculous can automate installation, you may sometimes need to install it manually for example, if you want a specific version or are working on an unmanaged server.

Why Install Manually?

Section titled “Why Install Manually?”
  • Greater control over version selection.
  • Works on unmanaged servers without cPanel/Softaculous.
  • Useful for developers who want custom setups.

Steps to Install Concrete CMS Manually

Section titled “Steps to Install Concrete CMS Manually”

  1. Download Concrete CMS.

    • Visit concretecms.com.
    • Click Get Started → Download.
    • Save the latest .zip file (e.g., concrete5-8.5.5.zip) to your computer.

  2. Extract Files.

    • Unzip the downloaded package locally.
    • You’ll see a folder containing the CMS files.

  3. Upload Files to Hosting Account.

    • Use FTP or File Manager in cPanel to upload the extracted files.
    • Place them in the public_html directory if you want Concrete CMS at the root (e.g., example.com).
    • Alternatively, upload to a subdirectory (e.g., example.com/cms).

  4. Create a MySQL Database.

    • In cPanel, use the MySQL Database Wizard to create a database and user.
    • Assign full privileges to the user.
    • Note the database name, username, and password.

  5. Run the Installer.

    • Open your browser and go to your domain (e.g., http://example.com).
    • The Concrete CMS installer will launch.
    • Select your language and click Continue to Installation.

  6. Configure Site Settings.

    • Site Name → Enter the name of your site.

    • Admin Email → Provide the administrator’s email.

    • Admin Password → Choose a strong password.

    • Starting Point → Choose:

      • Full Site (with sample content) — recommended for beginners.
      • Empty Site (blank installation).

  7. Enter Database Details.

    • Server → localhost
    • MySQL Username → the user you created
    • MySQL Password → the password you created
    • Database Name → the database you created

  8. Agree to Privacy Policy.

    • Check the box to accept the terms.

  9. Install.

    • Click Install Concrete CMS.
    • Wait a few minutes for the process to complete.
    • Once finished, click Edit Your Site to access the dashboard.