Installing Applications with Softaculous

Softaculous is a popular auto-installer available in most cPanel hosting accounts. It lets you install hundreds of web applications — including WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, PrestaShop, and many others — with just a few clicks, without any manual configuration.

Accessing Softaculous

1. Log in to cPanel.
2. Scroll to the Software section.
3. Click on Softaculous Apps Installer (you may also see a dedicated WordPress Manager shortcut).

The Softaculous dashboard displays application categories on the left and featured apps in the main area.

Installing an Application

Here is how to install an application using Softaculous (using WordPress as an example):

1. In the Softaculous dashboard, search for WordPress or browse the Blogs category.
2. Click on the application name, then click the Install tab.
3. Fill in the installation details:
   • Choose Protocol: https:// is recommended if you have an SSL certificate.
   • Choose Domain: Select the domain where you want to install the app.
   • In Directory: Leave blank to install on the root domain, or enter a folder name (e.g., blog).
   • Site Name and Description: Enter your website’s title and tagline.
   • Admin Username and Password: Set strong credentials for the application’s admin panel.
   • Admin Email: Enter a valid email address for notifications.
   • Language: Choose the application’s default language.
4. Under Advanced Options (optional), you can customize the database name, table prefix, and enable automatic backups.
5. Click Install to begin.

Softaculous will create the database, configure the application, and provide you with the login URL once complete.

Managing Installed Applications

To manage applications you have already installed:

1. In the Softaculous dashboard, click the Installations icon (top menu) or All Installations.
2. Here, you can:
   • Edit installation details
   • Create a backup of the installation
   • Clone the installation to another location
   • Stage a staging copy for testing
   • Remove (uninstall) the application

Auto-Updates and Backups

Softaculous can automatically keep your applications up to date:

• During installation, enable Auto Upgrade to receive automatic core updates.
• Set up Automated Backups with a configurable rotation schedule to protect your data.

Commonly Available Applications

Tips

• Always use strong admin passwords when installing applications.
• Keep installed applications updated to protect against security vulnerabilities.
• Use the staging feature to test updates before applying them to your live site.
• If Softaculous is not available on your account, contact your hosting provider to check if it is included in your plan.