Softaculous is an auto-installer built into your hosting control panel that sets up WordPress and other applications for you, creating the database, downloading the software, and generating the admin login in one pass. It saves you from installing WordPress manually through file uploads and database setup.
In cPanel
- Log in to cPanel and open Softaculous Apps Installer, usually under the Software section.
- Find WordPress in the list, or search for it, and click its icon.
- Click Install on the WordPress overview page.
- Under Software Setup, choose the domain to install on and leave the directory field blank to install at the domain's root, or enter a folder name to install into a subfolder.
- Under Site Settings, enter a site name and description.
- Under Admin Account, set an admin username, a strong password, and the admin email address. Avoid using admin as the username, since it is the first guess in automated attacks.
- Review the language and plugin options, then click Install.
- Softaculous will show a progress bar and, once finished, display your site URL and admin login link.
In DirectAdmin
- Log in to DirectAdmin and open Softaculous Apps Installer from the left-hand menu or the Extra Features section.
- Search for or click WordPress, then click Install.
- Choose the domain and installation folder, following the same rule that a blank folder installs to the domain root.
- Fill in the site name, admin username, password, and admin email.
- Click Install and wait for the confirmation screen showing your site and admin login links.
Write down the admin username and password shown at the end of installation. Softaculous does not store passwords in plain text after installation, so if you lose it you will need to reset it from WordPress's own login page rather than looking it up again in Softaculous.
Once installed, log in at yourdomain.com/wp-admin (or the subfolder you chose) using the admin credentials to start customizing your site.