Installing WordPress on cPanel

If you have a cPanel hosting account and want to get a WordPress site running, you have two routes available. You can install WordPress manually by uploading files and configuring a database yourself, or you can use Softaculous, the auto-installer built into cPanel. For most people, Softaculous is the right choice. It handles the database setup, file extraction and configuration in a few clicks, and the result is identical to a manual install.

This post covers both methods so you can choose whichever suits your situation.

Installing WordPress with Softaculous

Softaculous is available in cPanel under the Software section. Log in to cPanel, scroll down to Software, and click the Softaculous Apps Installer icon. From there, find WordPress in the list, or use the search bar at the top of the page.

Click Install Now on the WordPress listing. You will be taken to an installation form with several fields to fill in.

Choosing where to install

The first section of the form asks where you want WordPress installed. The key fields are:

• Protocol. Choose https:// if you have an SSL certificate active on the domain. If you are not sure, check under the SSL/TLS section in cPanel first. You can read more about installing a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate in the knowledgebase.
• Domain. Select the domain you want to install WordPress on from the dropdown.
• In Directory. Leave this blank if you want WordPress at the root of your domain (e.g. yourdomain.co.uk). Enter a folder name here only if you want it at a subdirectory, such as yourdomain.co.uk/blog.

Site settings and admin account

Scroll down to the Site Settings section. Enter your site name and a short description. These appear in the WordPress admin area and can be changed later, so do not spend too long on them now.

Below that, you will set up your admin account. Fill in the following:

• Admin Username. Do not use admin as the username. It is the first thing automated attacks try. Pick something less predictable.
• Admin Password. Use a strong password. Softaculous has a password generator if you need one.
• Admin Email. Use an address you check regularly. WordPress sends password reset links and update notifications here.

Completing the installation

Scroll to the bottom of the form and click Install. Softaculous will create a database, extract the WordPress files and write the configuration automatically. The process usually takes under a minute.

Once it finishes, you will see two links: one to your site’s front end and one to the WordPress admin area (/wp-admin). Bookmark the admin link and log in with the credentials you set above.

Installing WordPress manually

A manual installation takes longer but gives you full control over every part of the setup. This approach is worth knowing if you ever need to install a specific version of WordPress, or if Softaculous is not available on your account.

Download and upload the files

Download the latest version of WordPress from wordpress.org. Extract the zip file on your computer. You will get a folder called wordpress containing all the core files.

In cPanel, open the File Manager and navigate to public_html. If you are installing WordPress at the root of your domain, upload the contents of the wordpress folder directly into public_html. If you are installing to a subdirectory, create a new folder inside public_html first, then upload the files there.

Create a database

WordPress needs a MySQL database to store its content. In cPanel, go to MySQL Databases and create a new database. Then create a new database user and assign it to the database with All Privileges. Make a note of the database name, username and password. You will need all three in the next step.

For a more detailed walkthrough, the knowledgebase article on creating a MySQL database in cPanel covers each step with screenshots.

Run the WordPress installer

Visit your domain in a browser. WordPress will detect that no configuration file exists and launch the setup wizard. Select your language, then click Let’s go on the next screen.

Enter the database name, username and password you created above. The Database Host field should stay as localhost in most cases. The Table Prefix defaults to wp_. Changing it to something less predictable adds a small layer of protection against automated attacks, though it is not a substitute for proper security measures.

Click Submit, then Run the installation. On the next screen, enter your site title, admin username, password and email address. Click Install WordPress and the setup will complete. You can then log in at yourdomain.co.uk/wp-admin.

What to do after installation

Once WordPress is installed, a few things are worth doing before you start building. Log in to the admin area and check the following:

• Permalinks. Go to Settings > Permalinks and switch from Plain to Post name. This gives you cleaner URLs and is better for search engines.
• Delete default content. WordPress installs with a sample post, a sample page and a default comment. Remove them before publishing anything.
• Install a security plugin. The best security plugins for WordPress can help protect your site from common threats from day one.
• Check your PHP version. WordPress performs best on PHP 8.1 or later. You can change your PHP version in cPanel if needed.

Getting WordPress installed is the starting point. Whether you used Softaculous or went through the manual process, the result is the same: a clean WordPress install ready to build on. For most cPanel users, Softaculous is the faster route and handles the technical setup reliably. The manual method is there when you need more control or are working in an environment where auto-installers are not available.

If you are looking for hosting built around WordPress, take a look at our WordPress hosting plans, which include cPanel access and Softaculous as standard.

If you run into any issues during installation, our team is available via the contact page.