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?

• 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

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.