By THE JOURNAL
in Installation
-28 JUL 2026

Complete Guide to Ghost Installation

Learn how to install and configure Ghost from scratch with this comprehensive step-by-step tutorial.

Getting Started with Ghost

Welcome to the ultimate Ghost installation tutorial. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of setting up Ghost on your own server. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned developer, this tutorial has something for everyone.

Prerequisites for Installation

Before we begin, you need to ensure that your server meets the necessary requirements.

Here is a quick checklist of what you'll need:

  • A server running Ubuntu 22.04
  • Node.js installed (version 18.x is recommended)
  • A registered domain name
  • NGINX and MySQL installed

Server Setup

Setting up your server correctly is crucial for a smooth installation experience.

  1. Update your packages: Always start by updating your package lists.
  2. Install NGINX: This will act as your reverse proxy.
  3. Install MySQL: Ghost uses MySQL to store all your data.

"A well-prepared server is the foundation of a stable and performant Ghost publication." - The Ghost Team

Installation Steps

Let's dive into the installation process. We will use the Ghost-CLI, a command-line tool that makes installing and updating Ghost incredibly easy.

First, you need to install the Ghost-CLI globally using npm:

sudo npm install -g ghost-cli@latest

After the CLI is installed, you can proceed to install Ghost in your preferred directory. Create a directory and give it the appropriate permissions:

sudo mkdir -p /var/www/ghost
sudo chown $USER:$USER /var/www/ghost
sudo chmod 775 /var/www/ghost
cd /var/www/ghost

Now, run the installation command:

ghost install

During the installation, you'll be prompted to enter your blog URL, MySQL credentials, and other basic configuration settings.

Adding Media and Visuals

Ghost allows you to create visually appealing content. For example, you can easily embed images in your posts:

Ghost Logo

Useful Links

If you run into any issues during the setup, there are plenty of resources available to help you out:

Good luck with your new Ghost publication!


Your guide to Ghost

If you get through all those and you're hungry for more, you can find an extensive library of content for creators over on the Ghost blog.

Getting help

If you need help, Ghost Help is a great place to start. You can always reach out to the support team by clicking on the Ghost(Pro) link in the main navigation menu.

If you're a developer reading with max-attributes or self-managed install, check out our developer community forum to chat with other users.

Have fun!

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