--- title: "How to use SiteWorx to install ExpressionEngine" source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/control-panel/interworx/siteworx/file-management/how-to-use-siteworx-to-install-expressionengine/" description: "Learn how clients on physical (non-cloud) servers can install ExpressionEngine using SiteWorx. This method requires SSH access." vertical: "Hosting" date: "2019-09-08" last_modified: "2026-07-02" --- # How to use SiteWorx to install ExpressionEngine ## **What you need** - This method is intended for existing clients on physical (non-cloud) servers. If you are not yet a Liquid Web client, see the [ExpressionEngine page on our website](https://www.nexcess.net/expressionengine/hosting). - This method requires SSH access. See [How to enable SSH access](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/control-panel/interworx/siteworx/security/ssh-access/) for details. ## **Step 1: Download ExpressionEngine** 1. Navigate to the[ EllisLab ExpressionEngine website](https://store.ellislab.com/#ee-core). 2. Log in to your EllisLab account by clicking **Sign In > Buy Now**. 3. Scroll down the EllisLab store page, find your corresponding ExpressionEngine download link and click **Download**. ## **Step 2: Configure SFTP credentials to transfer ExpressionEngine files** If you already have SFTP credentials, you may skip this section. Otherwise, see [How to reset your SSH password and add SSH keys in SiteWorx](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/control-panel/interworx/siteworx/security/reset-ssh-password/). ## **Step 3: Prepare files for transfer** 1. Navigate to the ExpressionEngine download. 2. Right-click on the ExpressionEngine zip file and select **Extract All…**. 3. Select the destination directory for the extraction and then click the **Extract** button. 4. After the files have extracted, open the new folder. ## **Step 4: Use SFTP to connect to your server** If you do not have a preferred SFTP client, see [How to transfer files to a server with SFTP](https://docs.nexcess.com/sites-stores/managed-magento/file-management/transfer-files-with-sftp/). 1. Launch your preferred SFTP client and in the **Host, Username,** and **Password** fields, type the Nexcess server name, username, and password you created earlier in SiteWorx. 2. In the local computer pane of your FTP client, locate the unzipped ExpressionEngine file. 3. The remote computer pane is the Nexcess server. Click the **appropriate** folders to navigate to the target directory for ExpressionEngine installation. 4. Click-and-drag the **ExpressionEngine** file from your local computer window to the server window. This will start the file copying process to your site. ## **Step 5: Configure your database** 1. Log in to your SiteWorx account. - If you do not know your password, click **Forgot your password** on the login page. - If you do not know the web address for your SiteWorx login page, either [refer to your Welcome Email](https://docs.nexcess.net/article/how-to-retrieve-your-welcome-email-from-the-client-portal.html) or [contact our 24-hour Support Team for assistance](mailto:support@nexcess.net). 2. In the SiteWorx main menu, click **Hosting Features > MySQL > Databases**. **![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1567975877163-1567975877163.png)** 3. In the MySQL Database Management panel, in the **Database Name** field, type a name for your ExpressionEngine database and select the **Create User** check box. ![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1567975999001-1567975999001.png) 4. Enter a **name** for your database and username. We recommend both names to be the same as the database for the sake of consistency. 5. Within the **Password** and **Confirm Password** fields, either provide your own password, or click **Generate**. 6. Verify all of the **MySQL User Permissions** check boxes are selected and click **Add**. ## **Step 6: Configure ExpressionEngine** 1. Navigate to your domain with the path of your ExpressionEngine installation. For example, if your domain name is yourdomain.com, and your ExpressionEngine installation is EE, navigate to the following path: example.com/EE/admin.php. If your ExpressionEngine installation is at the top level of your domain, then navigate to [yourdomain.com/admin.php](//yourdomain.com/admin.php). ![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1567976040945-1567976040945.png) 2. The **ExpressionEngine Installation and Update Wizard** page will appear; click **Click here to begin!**. 3. The next page is a pre-installation test that will check whether you are installing or upgrading the version of ExpressionEngine. Once the pre-installation test is complete, select **Click here to install a brand new copy of ExpressionEngine Core,** **![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1567976056014-1567976056014.png)** 4. You will now see the ExpressionEngine License agreement. Read the agreement, and if you agree, select the **I agree** check box, then click **Submit**. ![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1567976075761-1567976075761.png) 5. The server settings window will appear. Type your email address in the **Email address of webmaster** field. ![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1567976088568-1567976088568.png) 6. The “Database Settings” window displays. Enter the database credentials created earlier. 7. Type your username, password, and database name in the **corresponding** fields. Ignore all other settings. ![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1567976102142-1567976102142.png) 8. The “Create your Admin Account” window displays. Fill-in the fields with the appropriate information. ![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1567976117295-1567976117295.png) **ATTENTION**: For steps I to K, refer to the figure below. ![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1567976149908-1567976149908.png) 9. In the “Choose your Site Theme” section, choose a pre-existing theme or maintain it as a “None-Empty Installation.” 10. The “Optional Modules” section allows you to install various modules that are not included with ExpressionEngine. You may now choose to include any or all of those modules. 11. In the **Localization Settings** fields, enter your country and city. Click **Install ExpressionEngine**. 12. A message will display once the installation is complete. Launch your SFTP client, navigate to ExpressionEngine, and locate the /system/installer folder. Right-click on the folder and select **Delete**. ![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/1567976168958-1567976168958.png) ***For 24-hour assistance any day of the year, contact our support team [by email](mailto:support@nexcess.net) or [through your Client Portal](https://portal.nexcess.net/).***