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Installing Software with Softaculous

Install WordPress, Joomla, or Magento instantly using Softaculous. Follow our guide to configure your domain, protocol, and admin settings.
Control Panel cPanel
4 min read

Introduction

Softaculous is a powerful auto-installer built into cPanel, Plesk, and InterWorx that allows you to deploy web applications, such as WordPress, Joomla, and Magento, in just a few clicks. It handles the database creation, file permissions, and installation automatically.

Steps to Install Other Software is Nearly Identical
This tutorial demonstrates installing WordPress, but the steps are nearly identical for most applications available in Softaculous.

Prerequisites

  • A Liquid Web server or plan with a Control Panel.
  • Control panel access.
  • Softaculous installed.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Log into your Control Panel (Eg. see Logging Into cPanel).
  2. Locate the Software section or type “Softaculous” in the search bar. Click the Softaculous Apps Installer icon.
  3. On the Softaculous homepage, hover over the application you wish to deploy (e.g., WordPress) and click Install.
Over 380 Scripts!
Use the search bar on the left to find specific scripts to install the software you need to get started quickly.

  1. You will be taken to the Software Setup page. Fill in the required details:
    • Choose Protocol: Select https:// if you have an SSL installed (Recommended). If not, select http://.
    • Choose Domain: Select the domain name where you want the site installed.
    • In Directory: (Important) Leave this blank to install on your main domain (e.g., yoursite.com). If you type something here (like blog), the site will only be visible at yoursite.com/blog.
  2. Enter your Site Name and Site Description.
  3. Create your administrative username and password.
Use Strong Credentials
Do not use “admin” as a username. Use the Key icon or our password generator to generate a strong, random password.

  1. Advanced Options (Optional): Click the + icon to configure automated backups and database names. We recommend enabling Automated Backups if space permits.
  2. Review your settings and click Install at the bottom of the page.

Once finished, you will see a success message with links to your new website and its administrative login page.

Next Steps

Now that your application is installed, here are the immediate actions you should take to secure and manage your new site:

  • Log into your Dashboard: Use the “Administrative URL” provided on the success screen (usually yoursite.com/wp-admin for WordPress) to start building your site.
  • Secure with SSL: If you selected https:// during installation but see a “Not Secure” warning, you may need to install an SSL certificate.
  • Configure Backups: If you didn’t enable backups during installation, you can set them up now to protect your data. See: Backing Up Applications in Softaculous
  • Remove Unwanted Installs: If you installed the software in the wrong folder or want to start over, you can wipe the installation cleanly. See: Removing an Application from Softaculous.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

This happens if you typed text (like “wp” or “blog”) into the “In Directory” field during setup. To fix this, you must uninstall the application and reinstall it, ensuring the “In Directory” field is completely blank.

Softaculous cannot install a new application if files specifically related to that application already exist in the target folder. You must manually delete the conflicting files using the your Control Panel’s File Manager, or check the “Overwrite Files” box (if available) to force the installation.

You don’t need to reinstall! Log back into Softaculous, click the “All Installations” icon (looks like a box) at the top right, find your website, and click the “Edit Details” (pencil) icon. There, you can save a new administrator password.

We strongly recommend choosing https:// or https://www.. This ensures your website traffic is encrypted. However, you must have an active SSL certificate installed on your domain for this to work. If you select HTTPS without an SSL, your site will show a privacy error.

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