The Softaculous Apps Installer is usually located in the "Software" section of your cPanel dashboard.
Step 1: Access Softaculous Apps Installer.
Log in to your cPanel account. Look for the "Software" section (the name might vary slightly depending on your hosting provider). You should find an icon labeled "Softaculous Apps Installer" or something similar like "WordPress Manager by Softaculous." Click on it.
Step 2: Find WordPress.
Once you're in the Softaculous interface, you'll see a list of various web applications. You can either search for "WordPress" using the search bar at the top or find it listed under the "Blogs" category. Click on the WordPress icon.
Step 3: Initiate the Installation.
On the WordPress overview page, you'll see information about the application. Click the "Install Now" button to begin the installation process.
Step 4: Configure the WordPress Installation.
This is where you'll set up the details for your WordPress website. Pay close attention to the following settings:
- Choose Protocol: Select the protocol you want to use for your website. If you have installed an SSL certificate (as discussed in the previous tutorial), choose "https://" or "https://www." Otherwise, select "http://" or "http://www." It's highly recommended to use HTTPS for security.
- Choose Domain: Select the domain name where you want to install WordPress from the dropdown menu.
- In Directory: By default, WordPress will be installed in the root directory of your chosen domain. If you want to install it in a subdirectory (e.g.,
yourdomain.com/blog), enter the directory name here. For most new websites, it's best to leave this field blank to install WordPress directly in the main domain. - Database Settings (Usually Auto-Generated): Softaculous will typically handle the database creation automatically. You'll see fields for the database name and table prefix, but you usually don't need to change these unless you have specific requirements.
- Site Settings:
- Site Name: Enter the name of your website (you can change this later within WordPress).
- Site Description: Provide a brief tagline for your website (you can also change this later).
- Enable Multisite (WPMU): Only check this if you want to create a network of multiple WordPress sites from a single installation. For most users, leave this unchecked.
- Admin Account:
- Admin Username: Choose a strong and unique username for your WordPress administrator account. Avoid using "admin" as it's a common target for security attacks.
- Admin Password: Create a strong, secure password for your administrator account. Softaculous usually generates a strong password for you, which you should note down in a safe place.
- Admin Email: Enter a valid email address for the administrator account. This email will be used for notifications and password recovery.
- Choose Language: Select your preferred language for your WordPress installation.
- Select Plugins (Optional): Softaculous might offer to install some popular plugins during the installation process. You can choose to install them now or later from within the WordPress dashboard.
- Advanced Options (Optional): You can expand the "Advanced Options" to customize database settings, automatic backups, and upgrade settings. For most beginners, the default settings are sufficient.
Step 5: Click "Install."
Once you have configured all the necessary settings, click the "Install" button at the bottom of the page. Softaculous will then begin the WordPress installation process, which usually takes just a few moments.
Step 6: Access Your WordPress Website.
Once the installation is complete, Softaculous will display the URLs for your new WordPress website and your WordPress admin dashboard (usually yourdomain.com/wp-admin). Make sure to save these URLs and your admin login credentials. You can now log in to your WordPress dashboard and start building your website!
Installing WordPress with Softaculous is a remarkably simple and efficient way to get your website online. By following these steps, you can bypass the complexities of manual installation and start exploring the powerful features of WordPress in no time.
