cPanel Walkthrough

How to Install WordPress on cPanel Step by Step With Softaculous

A direct walkthrough of finding Softaculous in cPanel, filling in the install form correctly and landing on a working WordPress dashboard.

Under 2 Min

Typical Softaculous install time

1-Click

Database creation handled automatically

Free

SSL applied to the new install

24/7

Support if a setting looks unclear

In short

To install WordPress on cPanel, log in and open Softaculous (usually shown as a WordPress icon under Software), click Install, choose the domain and protocol, set the install directory, then fill in the site name and admin username, password and email before clicking Install Now. Softaculous creates the MySQL database and uploads the core files automatically, so no manual database setup is needed.

The entire process, including the setup form, typically takes under two minutes on a cPanel-style panel like Hosting Cheap's, ending with a working wp-admin login.

Softaculous is the installer built into nearly every cPanel account, and it's the fastest way to get WordPress running without touching a database or configuration file directly. The install form asks for a handful of decisions — domain, directory, admin details — that are easy to get wrong on a first attempt if the fields aren't understood ahead of time.

This walkthrough covers exactly where to find the installer, what each setting on the form actually controls, and which choices avoid the most common beginner mistakes, like installing into the wrong directory or leaving the default admin username in place.

Finding Softaculous in the cPanel Dashboard

Softaculous typically appears in the Software section of cPanel, often shown directly as a WordPress icon for quick access, or under an 'Autoinstallers' heading alongside other CMS options. Clicking either the general Softaculous icon or the WordPress-specific shortcut opens the same installer.

From the Softaculous overview screen, an 'Install' tab (sometimes shown as a plus icon or 'Install Now' button) starts the setup form. Existing installs, if any, are listed on the same screen, which is also where updates and backups for an already-installed site are managed later.

Filling In the Install Form: Domain, Directory and Protocol

The first section of the form asks for a protocol (https:// should be selected if SSL is already active, which keeps the site loading securely from install day one) and a domain, chosen from a dropdown of every domain and subdomain on the account. Getting this pairing right matters, since it determines the exact address the finished site will load at.

The 'In Directory' field controls whether WordPress installs at the root of that domain or inside a subfolder. Leaving this field blank installs WordPress directly at the domain's root address; typing a folder name like 'blog' installs it at yourdomain.com/blog instead, which matters for anyone adding WordPress to a subsection of an existing site.

Site Settings and Admin Account Details

The Site Settings section sets the site name and description shown in WordPress itself (both editable later from Settings > General), while the Admin Account section is where the actual login credentials get created. Choosing a username other than the default 'admin' and a strong, unique password here matters more for security than almost any other setting on the form.

An admin email address also gets set at this step — this is where password reset links and WordPress notifications go, so using a real, checked inbox rather than a placeholder address avoids getting locked out later.

Advanced Options, Themes and Finishing the Install

Softaculous's Advanced Options section, often collapsed by default, includes settings like automatic updates, automated backups on a schedule, and sometimes a limit-login-attempts plugin installed alongside WordPress for basic security. A theme can also be selected from this screen, though it's just as easy to change later from inside WordPress.

Clicking 'Install' after reviewing these settings starts the automated process — Softaculous creates the database, uploads WordPress core files, and writes the configuration — finishing with a confirmation screen showing both the site's public address and the wp-admin login URL.

How to Install WordPress on cPanel (Softaculous)

The Exact Setup Every Hosting Cheap Account Includes

Every Hosting Cheap web hosting and managed WordPress plan runs a cPanel-style panel with Softaculous included, so the install form described in this guide is exactly what a new account opens into — the same fields, the same automated database creation, no extra software to purchase.

Because the install runs on pure NVMe SSD storage with LiteSpeed underneath, the finished WordPress dashboard responds quickly from the very first login, rather than needing extra caching setup just to feel usable.

Softaculous 1-click installer included on every plan
Free auto-renewing SSL ready to select during setup
NVMe SSD and LiteSpeed speed up the finished dashboard
24/7 human support if a form field is unclear

Why Hosting Cheap

What you get

Softaculous Included Free

Every plan includes the one-click installer this walkthrough covers, at no extra cost.

Automatic Database Setup

Softaculous creates and connects the MySQL database without manual configuration.

SSL Ready at Install Time

Choose https:// directly on the install form since free auto-renewing SSL is already active.

NVMe SSD and LiteSpeed

The finished WordPress dashboard loads quickly from the very first login.

Daily Backups

A new install is covered by daily backups from day one, beyond Softaculous's own backup option.

24/7 Human Support

Get help interpreting a form field or resolving an install error in real time.

How It Works

Get set up in a few steps

Open Softaculous from cPanel

Find it in the Software section, either as its own icon or a direct WordPress shortcut.

Set the domain, directory and protocol

Choose https://, the correct domain, and leave the directory blank for a root install.

Enter admin details and click install

Set a non-default username, a strong password and a real email, then start the install.

Included

Everything you need, on every plan

Confirm SSL is active before selecting https:// on the form
Choose the correct domain from the dropdown
Decide whether the install belongs at the root or a subdirectory
Set an admin username other than 'admin'
Use a strong, unique admin password
Enter a real, monitored admin email address
Review Advanced Options for auto-updates and backups
Save the wp-admin URL from the confirmation screen

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Softaculous in cPanel?

It's usually in the Software section, shown either as a general Softaculous icon or a direct WordPress shortcut. Both open the same installer.

Do I need to create a database first?

No. Softaculous creates the MySQL database and connects it to WordPress automatically as part of the install process.

What does the 'In Directory' field control?

It sets whether WordPress installs at the domain's root address or inside a subfolder. Leaving it blank installs at the root; entering a folder name installs into that subdirectory instead.

Should I pick a theme during the Softaculous install?

It's optional. A theme chosen here can just as easily be changed later from inside the WordPress dashboard under Appearance > Themes.

What username should I use for the WordPress admin account?

Anything other than the default 'admin', paired with a strong, unique password, reduces exposure to automated login attempts against the new site.

How long does the Softaculous install actually take?

Typically under two minutes on a cPanel-style panel like Hosting Cheap's, from submitting the form to reaching the finished confirmation screen.

Install WordPress on cPanel in Minutes

Softaculous, free SSL and NVMe speed on every Hosting Cheap plan, backed by 24/7 human support.

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