Before you can use Movable Type to create your own blog, you'll need to activate Movable Type by installing the Movable Type software in your site. We've made the process quick and easy. To get started, visit your Web Hosting Control Panel.

Note: If you have already activated Movable Type using the tools in your Web Hosting Control Panel, you do not need to activate again to create new blogs. Learn more.

To add Movable Type:

1. Go to the Create & Update tab of your Web Hosting Control Panel and click the "Activate a Movable Type blog" link.
   
   
2. In step 1, choose a user name and password for your Movable Type blog. (Note that your user name is case sensitive; USER and user, for example, are considered different names.) You'll use this information to sign in to your Movable Type administration page. Be sure to choose a unique name and password; you should not use your Yahoo! ID and password. Learn more.
   
   
3. Enter a password hint and email address. In the event that you forget your password, you'll use the password hint (which functions much like a second password) to notify Movable Type that you need to reset your password; a temporary new password will be sent to the email address you specify here. Please note that you must choose an email address that matches your domain, such as you@widgetdesigns.com.
   

4. In step 2, you can decide if you want your blog to be your web site home page. To make your blog your home page, click the corresponding checkbox. If you'd prefer not to make your blog your home page, leave the checkbox unselected.
   
   Important: If you have already created a home page for your site, please be aware that if you select this option, your blog will replace your current home page. If you'd like to preserve your current home page, or link from your home page to your blog, you should not select this option.
   
   
5. Select the standard or custom activation path. Recommended for most users, the standard path speeds the activation process by preselecting the most popular Movable Type settings and saving your Movable Type blog files in a default directory. If you'd rather choose your initial blog settings and blog directory yourself, choose the custom path. Don't worry too much about which path you choose — you'll be able to change your blog settings anytime.
   

6. Click the "Next" button to continue.
   
   
7. If you chose the standard path, you can skip ahead. If you chose the custom path, you'll be able to choose an installation location for your Movable Type files now.
   
   
8. Click the radio button that corresponds with the directory into which you'd like to save your Movable Type files. The directory you choose will store the files that make up your blog, such as your archives; we'll automatically create a second directory based on the name of the first that will store your blog administration files — the files that make your blog work. You can choose from three options.
   

   default folder (recommended): Your blog files will be saved in a designated Movable Type folder we name and create for you.
   
   new folder: Your files will be saved in a new folder you name yourself. (Be sure to enter a name for this new directory in the field provided.)

   

   existing folder: Your files will be saved in a folder you have already created. If you decide to use an existing folder, click the "Browse" button to find and select your preferred location.

   Note: Be sure not to install Movable Type in a directory in which you have already installed a PHP-based tool, such as phpMyAdmin or any advanced add-on.

9. Choose "Next" to continue.
   
   
10. Choose a style for your blog. Your style controls the general look and feel of your blog pages, including the page colors and layout. You can view a larger image of any available style by moving your mouse over the style's thumbnail image.
    

11. Click the checkbox next to each blog plug-in you'd like to activate now. To learn more about a particular plug-in, click its name.
    
    
12. Choose "Next" to continue.
    
    
13. On the following page you can decide how you'd like to upgrade your Movable Type software. We recommend choosing the first option, which will automatically upgrade your software whenever updates become available. If you don't want to upgrade your Movable Type software automatically, you can choose instead to be notified of Movable Type updates in your Web Hosting Control Panel or via email. When you receive these updates, you can upgrade your software manually.
    

14. Choose "Next" to continue.
    
    
15. Read and agree to the Movable Type terms of service and the MySQL Database user license, the GNU General Public License Agreement, by clicking the "I have read and agree to the Movable Type terms of service and the terms of the GNU General Public License" checkbox.
    

16. Choose "Activate" to activate your Movable Type blog.
    
    
17. You'll arrive on the "Congratulations" page, which includes your blog's web address, a list of your initial blog settings, and helpful links you can use to begin working with your blog.