How to Install WordPress in cPanel (Installer or Manual)

There are two ways to install WordPress on cPanel hosting: with an app installer (such as Softaculous or WordPress Toolkit, if your host provides one), which takes a few minutes, or manually: create a MySQL database and user, upload the WordPress files, and run the setup wizard in your browser. Either way, make sure your domain points to the hosting and has SSL before you start, so WordPress is installed on https://.

Before you start

• Your domain points to the hosting account; see how to point a domain to hosting.
• An SSL certificate is active; see how to install a free SSL certificate in cPanel.
• The PHP version is current; see how to change the PHP version in cPanel.

Method 1: With an app installer

App installers vary between hosts. The steps below follow the usual Softaculous flow; other installers are similar.

1. Log in to cPanel and open Softaculous Apps Installer (or WordPress Manager / WordPress Toolkit).
2. Choose WordPress → Install.
3. Protocol and domain: choose https:// and your domain (with or without www, matching how you want the site addressed).
4. Directory: leave empty to install at the domain's root. Entering wp would install it at yourdomain.com/wp.
5. Site name and description: you can change these later.
6. Admin account: choose a unique username (not "admin"), a strong password and an email address you check.
7. Language, and optionally plugins such as login-attempt limiting.
8. Advanced options: keep automatic backups if offered, and note the database name.
9. Click Install and wait for confirmation.

Log in at https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/.

Method 2: Manual installation

Step 1: Create the database

In cPanel → MySQL Database Wizard:

1. Create a database (for example example_wp).
2. Create a user with a strong password.
3. Grant the user All Privileges on the database.

Note the database name, username and password, including the cPanel prefix. Detailed steps are in how to create a MySQL database in cPanel.

Step 2: Upload WordPress

1. Download the latest WordPress from wordpress.org.
2. In cPanel → File Manager, open public_html (the root of your main domain).
3. Upload the ZIP file and Extract it. This creates a wordpress folder.
4. Move the contents of wordpress into public_html, then delete the empty folder and the ZIP.

See how to upload website files.

Step 3: Run the setup wizard

1. Visit https://yourdomain.com.
2. Choose the language, then enter the database name, username, password, database host (localhost on most cPanel servers) and a table prefix (changing it from wp_ is optional).
3. WordPress creates wp-config.php. Click Run the installation.
4. Enter the site title and admin account details (unique username, strong password, your email).
5. Click Install WordPress, then log in.

After installation: first steps

1. Settings → Permalinks: choose "Post name".
2. Settings → General: check site title, timezone and that both URLs use https://.
3. Delete sample content and unused default plugins and themes.
4. Install a backup solution and enable 2FA for your account; see the WordPress security checklist.
5. Make sure Settings → Reading → Discourage search engines is unchecked when you are ready to launch.

Then continue with how to create a WordPress website step by step.

Installing with WP-CLI (if you have SSH)

WP-CLI installs and configures WordPress from the command line, which is quick and repeatable. From the domain's document root:

wp core download
wp config create --dbname=acme_wp --dbuser=acme_wpuser --prompt=dbpass
wp core install --url=https://example.com --title="Example Ltd" \
  --admin_user=example_admin [email protected] --prompt=admin_password
wp rewrite structure '/%postname%/'

--prompt asks for passwords interactively, so they do not end up in your shell history. Check with your host whether WP-CLI is available on your plan.

Choosing a secure admin account

• Username: not "admin", not your domain name, not the name shown publicly as the author.
• Password: long and unique, generated by a password manager.
• Email: an address you control long term, ideally on your own domain.
• Second factor: add 2FA with a plugin as soon as the site is installed; see two-factor authentication explained.

Create separate, lower-privilege accounts (Editor or Author) for people who only write content.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
"Error establishing a database connection"	Check database name, user, password and privileges; see the fix guide
Site shows the host's default page	Remove index.html from public_html
Installed in a subfolder by mistake	Reinstall with an empty directory field, or move the site carefully
Mixed content warnings	Make sure both WordPress URLs start with https://

Frequently Asked Questions

Which method should I use?

The installer is quicker and often sets up updates and backups. The manual method works on any host and teaches you how WordPress is put together.

Can I install WordPress on a subdomain?

Yes. Create the subdomain in cPanel → Domains, then install into its document root.

Related reading

See WordPress hosting: what it is and how to choose, and compare ServerNeed WordPress hosting.

Sources

• WordPress Developer Resources: How to install WordPress
• cPanel documentation: MySQL Database Wizard