Introduction
Softaculous is an auto-installer included in most cPanel hosting plans. It allows you to install WordPress (and hundreds of other applications) in just a few clicks, without needing to manually configure databases or upload files.
Prerequisites
- A cPanel hosting account with Softaculous Apps Installer
- A domain name pointed to your hosting server
Steps
1. Log in to cPanel
Access your cPanel account through your hosting provider's client area or by navigating to https://yourdomain.com:2083.
2. Open Softaculous
In the cPanel dashboard, scroll down to the Software section and click Softaculous Apps Installer.
3. Select WordPress
In the Softaculous panel, find WordPress (it is usually featured on the home page). Click Install Now.
4. Configure the installation
Fill in the installation form:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Choose Protocol | Select https:// if you have an SSL certificate (recommended) |
| Choose Domain | Select the domain where you want to install WordPress |
| In Directory | Leave empty to install on the root domain, or enter a folder name (e.g., blog) |
| Site Name | The name of your website |
| Site Description | A short tagline for your site |
| Admin Username | Choose a username (avoid "admin" for security) |
| Admin Password | Use a strong password with letters, numbers, and symbols |
| Admin Email | Your email address for admin notifications |
| Select Language | Choose your preferred language |
5. Install
Click the Install button at the bottom of the page. Softaculous will automatically:
- Create a MySQL database and user
- Download and extract WordPress files
- Configure the
wp-config.phpfile - Run the WordPress installation
6. Access your new site
Once the installation is complete, Softaculous will display two links:
-
Site URL:
https://yourdomain.com— your live website -
Admin URL:
https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin— the WordPress dashboard
Post-installation recommendations
- Log in to
/wp-adminand change the permalink structure under Settings > Permalinks (recommended: "Post name"). - Delete the default "Hello World" post and "Sample Page".
- Install a security plugin such as Wordfence or Sucuri.
- Set up automatic backups.