✅ Step-by-Step Guide: Hosting WordPress Website on AWS Lightsail

Want to host a WordPress website on AWS Lightsail but don’t know where to start? In this easy step-by-step guide, I’ll show you exactly how to deploy and manage a WordPress site using Amazon Lightsail — from setting up the instance to connecting your domain, installing SSL for HTTPS, and customizing your site. Whether you’re a beginner or exploring affordable cloud hosting options, this guide will help you launch a fully functional WordPress website on AWS Lightsail quickly and efficiently.

WordPress website on AWS Lightsail

Step 1: Set up an AWS Account (if not already done)

1. Go to: https://aws.amazon.com
2. Click “Create an AWS Account” and follow the signup process.
3. Add payment details (credit/debit card) — AWS charges only for what you use.
4. Complete identity verification and login.

Step 2: Access Lightsail Console

1. Login to AWS Console.
2. Navigate to Lightsail:
   • From AWS Console, type “Lightsail” in the search bar and open Amazon Lightsail.
   • Direct link: https://lightsail.aws.amazon.com

Step 3: Create a WordPress Instance (Server)

1. Click on the “Create Instance” button.
2. Choose a location/region closest to your target audience (e.g., Mumbai for India).
3. Select Platform: Choose Linux/Unix (default).
4. Select Blueprint (Software):
   • Click on Apps + OS tab.
   • Select WordPress (latest version).
5. Add SSH Key (Optional): For advanced users, otherwise, Lightsail gives one by default.
6. Instance Plan (Pricing Tier):
   • Start with $5/month plan (₹415) — 1 GB RAM, 40 GB SSD, 2 TB transfer (good for small to medium sites).
7. Name Your Instance (e.g., “my-website-wordpress”).
8. Click “Create Instance” — it will take a few minutes to set up.

Step 4: Get Static IP Address (Public IP)

1. Go to Networking tab in Lightsail.
2. Create Static IP.
3. Attach this IP to your WordPress instance.
4. This will ensure your website always points to the same IP (necessary for domain setup).

Step 5: Access WordPress Admin Panel

1. Visit your static IP in a browser (e.g., http://54.12.34.56).
2. You should see your WordPress site home page.
3. To log in to admin panel:
   • Go to http://your-static-ip/wp-admin.
4. Retrieve admin password:
   • Go to Lightsail > Instances.
   • Click on your instance.
   • Go to Connect > SSH (browser terminal).
   • Run this command to get the WordPress password: bashCopyEditcat bitnami_application_password
   • Copy that password.
5. Login using:
   • Username: user
   • Password: (the one you just copied)

Step 6: Connect Domain to Lightsail (Optional but Recommended)

If you have a domain (e.g., from GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains):

a) Add Domain in Lightsail

1. Go to Networking.
2. Create a DNS Zone.
3. Add your domain (e.g., yourwebsite.com).
4. Add an A record:
   • Name: @ (root domain)
   • IP: your Static IP.

b) Update Nameservers at Domain Registrar

1. After adding DNS in Lightsail, AWS will give you nameservers (e.g., ns-123.awsdns-45.com).
2. Go to your domain provider (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.).
3. Replace existing nameservers with the AWS ones.
4. Save changes — propagation may take a few hours.

✅ Now, your domain (e.g., https://yourwebsite.com) will point to your WordPress site!

Step 7: Set Up SSL (HTTPS) for Free

To ensure your site is secure (with HTTPS):

Option A) Using Bitnami HTTPS Configuration Tool

1. Connect to Lightsail instance via SSH (from Lightsail console).
2. Run: bash

sudo /opt/bitnami/bncert-tool

1. Follow prompts:
   • Enter domain name (e.g., yourwebsite.com www.yourwebsite.com).
   • Agree to redirect HTTP to HTTPS.
   • Choose to enable auto-renewal for SSL.
2. After setup, visit https://yourwebsite.com (secured!).

Step 8: Set Up WordPress and Customize

1. Login to WordPress Admin (https://yourwebsite.com/wp-admin).
2. Change site title, tagline, and other settings.
3. Go to Appearance > Themes to install a theme.
4. Go to Plugins to install essential plugins (e.g., Elementor, Yoast SEO).
5. Start creating pages (About, Contact, Blog, etc.).

Step 9: (Optional) Setup Backups & Snapshots

1. Go to Lightsail > Snapshots.
2. Create snapshot of your instance (manual backup).
3. You can also enable automatic snapshots for peace of mind.

Step 10: Monitor Usage and Costs

1. Lightsail Console > Account > Billing to track costs.
2. Instances > Metrics to check resource usage (CPU, bandwidth).
3. Upgrade plan anytime if traffic increases.

✅ Bonus: Estimated Time to Complete

Task	Time Estimate
AWS Account Setup	10-15 minutes
Lightsail Instance Setup	5-10 minutes
Domain & DNS	15-30 minutes (depends on propagation)
SSL Setup	10 minutes
WordPress Setup	1-2 hours (themes, content)

✅ Summary

Step	Purpose
AWS Signup	Create hosting account
Lightsail Instance	WordPress-ready server
Static IP	Permanent IP for website
Domain & DNS Setup	Connect your domain
SSL Certificate	Secure your site with HTTPS
WordPress Customization	Make the site your own
Backups & Monitoring	Ensure uptime and safety

🎯 Final Tips

• Start small (₹415/month) — upgrade only if needed.
• Set up Cloudflare (free) for additional DNS management & security if desired.
• Regularly update WordPress, themes, and plugins to avoid security risks.

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