Install WordPress in 90 seconds with Softaculous.

Manual WordPress installs are still possible (download zip, upload, create database, edit wp-config.php) but Softaculous makes the process literally 90 seconds. Use it.

The install

1. cPanel → Softaculous Apps Installer
2. Click WordPress (top of the list usually)
3. Hit the blue Install Now button

You're now on the install form. Most defaults are fine, but change these three:

Choose Domain — pick the domain or subdomain you want. The default is your primary domain at root (yourdomain.com).

In Directory — leave blank if you want WordPress at the root URL. If you put blog here, the site lives at yourdomain.com/blog. Most beginners accidentally type wp here and end up at yourdomain.com/wp — annoying to undo.

Admin Username — change from the default admin. Bots try admin constantly. Use something specific like your name or company name.

Admin Password — let Softaculous generate a strong one. Click the key icon. Save it in a password manager before you close the page.

Admin Email — use an email you actually read. WordPress sends recovery links here.

After install

Two things you'll see:

• Site URL: yourdomain.com (or whatever you picked)
• Admin URL: yourdomain.com/wp-admin

Log in to wp-admin with your username and password.

First-day cleanup

After your first login, do these:

1. Settings → General — set proper Site Title and Tagline (default is "Just another WordPress site")
2. Settings → Reading — make sure "Discourage search engines" is unchecked for live sites
3. Settings → Permalinks — change from "Plain" to "Post name". Better URLs, better SEO.
4. Plugins → Installed Plugins — delete Hello Dolly and any other pre-installed plugins you don't need
5. Appearance → Themes — keep one default theme installed as a fallback, delete the rest

SSL

Once the site is live, go back to cPanel → SSL/TLS Status → Run AutoSSL. Your site gets a free Let's Encrypt cert. Then in WordPress, go to Settings → General and change the WordPress Address and Site Address to use https://.

Multisite, staging, multiple installs

Softaculous can clone WordPress sites for staging — useful for testing changes. After install, the My Installations view in Softaculous has a Clone button next to your site.

For multiple WordPress installs (one per addon domain), each gets its own database — Softaculous handles this automatically, just pick the right domain on the install form each time.

Removing an install

Softaculous → My Installations → trash icon next to the site. This deletes both files and database. Take a backup first if you might want it back.