How to Install WordPress from cPanel

WordPress stands as a colossus in the realm of content management systems (CMS), powering millions of websites across the globe. Since its inception in 2003, WordPress has been lauded for its user-friendly interface, extensive feature set, and robust support for developers. Its versatility, manifested through countless themes and plugins, allows users to manage a wide array of website types, from personal blogs and online portfolios to comprehensive portals and bustling e-commerce stores. Learning how to install WordPress is a fundamental skill for any aspiring webmaster.

This guide will walk you through the straightforward process of installing WordPress using Softaculous, a popular auto-installer often integrated within cPanel hosting environments. Softaculous simplifies the installation process, abstracting away much of the technical complexity. This guide is designed for beginners, providing step-by-step instructions.

Installation Steps

Let’s dive into the process. Ensure you have access to your cPanel account before beginning.

Log in to your cPanel account. This is usually done through your hosting provider’s website. Look for a login link or button in your hosting account dashboard.
Find the Softaculous Apps Installer. Once logged into cPanel, scroll down until you find the "Software" section. Look for an icon labeled "Softaculous Apps Installer". The icons may vary slightly based on the cPanel theme your host uses.
Select WordPress. Within Softaculous, you’ll see a list of popular scripts. You can either find WordPress directly or use the search bar to locate it quickly.
Click "Install". This will take you to the installation form where you’ll configure your WordPress site.
Configure the Installation:
- Choose Protocol: Select either http:// or https://. If you have an SSL certificate installed, choose https://. Otherwise, stick with http://.
- Choose Domain: Select the domain name where you want to install WordPress from the dropdown menu.
- In Directory: This field determines where WordPress will be installed. To install it directly on your domain (e.g., yourdomain.tld), leave this field blank. To install it in a subdirectory (e.g., yourdomain.tld/blog), enter the directory name here.
- Site Name: Enter the name of your website.
- Site Description: Provide a brief description of your website.
- Admin Username: Choose a strong and unique username for your WordPress administrator account. Do not use "admin".
- Admin Password: Create a strong password for your administrator account.
- Admin Email: Enter a valid email address for the administrator account. This email will be used for password resets and important notifications.
Advanced Options: Expand the "Advanced Options" section.
- Database Name: Softaculous will automatically generate a database name. You can change it if you wish, but the default is usually fine.
- Table Prefix: This is a security measure. The default is usually wp_, but changing it to something more unique is recommended.
- Disable Update Notifications Emails: Choose your preference.
- Auto Upgrade: It is recommended to enable auto upgrades to keep the WordPress Core, Plugins, and Themes up to date for security reasons.
- Automated backups: Set up automated backups. Daily or weekly backups are highly recommended.
Select Theme: You can choose a theme during the installation process. This is optional; you can always change the theme later from the WordPress dashboard.
Click "Install". Softaculous will now install WordPress for you. This process may take a few minutes.

Congratulations!

You have now successfully installed WordPress using Softaculous. You can now access your WordPress dashboard to start editing your site by visiting https://yourdomain.tld/wp-admin (replace “yourdomain.tld” with your current domain).

Alternative Installation Methods

While Softaculous offers a convenient one-click solution, there are alternative methods for installing WordPress that provide more control and a deeper understanding of the underlying processes. Here are two such methods:

1. Manual Installation via FTP and cPanel Database

This method involves manually downloading the WordPress files, uploading them to your server via FTP, creating a database in cPanel, and then running the WordPress installation script.

Steps:

Download WordPress: Download the latest version of WordPress from the official WordPress website (https://wordpress.org/download/).
Upload via FTP: Use an FTP client (like FileZilla) to connect to your server. Upload the downloaded WordPress files to the desired directory (usually public_html for the main domain or a subdirectory).
Create a Database: In cPanel, navigate to "MySQL Databases". Create a new database and a new database user. Grant the user all privileges to the database.

Configure wp-config.php: Rename the wp-config-sample.php file to wp-config.php. Open the file and enter your database details (database name, username, password, host).

<?php
define( 'DB_NAME', 'your_database_name' );
define( 'DB_USER', 'your_database_user' );
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'your_database_password' );
define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' ); // Usually localhost
define( 'DB_CHARSET', 'utf8mb4' );
define( 'DB_COLLATE', '' );
// ... other configurations ...

Run the Installation Script: Visit your domain in a web browser. You should be redirected to the WordPress installation script (wp-admin/install.php). Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Advantages:

More Control: You have complete control over the files and database.
Deeper Understanding: You gain a better understanding of the WordPress installation process.
Troubleshooting: Easier to troubleshoot issues as you know exactly what files are where.

Disadvantages:

More Complex: Requires more technical knowledge and time.
Error-Prone: More opportunities for errors during the manual process.

2. Using WP-CLI (WordPress Command Line Interface)

WP-CLI is a command-line tool for managing WordPress installations. It allows you to install, update, and manage WordPress sites without using a web browser. This method is best suited for developers and advanced users.

Steps:

Access SSH: Access your server via SSH (Secure Shell).
Navigate to Directory: Navigate to the directory where you want to install WordPress.
```
cd /path/to/your/web/directory
```
Download WordPress: Use WP-CLI to download the latest version of WordPress.
```
wp core download
```

Create wp-config.php: Create the wp-config.php file using WP-CLI. You’ll need to have already created the database.

wp config create --dbname=your_database_name --dbuser=your_database_user --dbpass=your_database_password --dbhost=localhost

Install WordPress: Install WordPress using WP-CLI.

wp core install --title="Your Site Title" --admin_user=your_admin_user --admin_password=your_admin_password --admin_email=your_admin_email

Verify Installation: Visit your domain in a web browser to verify the installation.