Softaculous is a one-click application installer available in cPanel. It allows you to install hundreds of popular web applications — including WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, PrestaShop, and many more — without any manual configuration.
Please note: Screens and options may vary slightly depending on your cPanel version and hosting plan.
Accessing Softaculous
- Log in to your cPanel account.
- In the Software section, click Softaculous Apps Installer.
- Browse or search for the application you want to install.
Installing an Application
- Find the application and click on it.
- Click Install Now.
- Configure the installation settings:
- Choose Protocol — https:// (recommended if SSL is installed). - Choose Domain — Select the domain to install on. - In Directory — Leave blank to install in the root of the domain, or enter a subdirectory (e.g. blog for yourdomain.com/blog). - Site Name / Description — Your website's name and tagline. - Admin Username / Password — The login credentials for the application's admin panel. Don't use "admin" as the username. - Admin Email — For password resets and notifications. - Language — Select your preferred language. - Select Plugins/Theme — Some applications offer optional pre-installed components.
- Click Install.
Softaculous will create the database, configure the application, and set everything up automatically.
Managing Installed Applications
- In Softaculous, click All Installations (the icon in the top menu).
- You'll see a list of all applications installed through Softaculous.
- For each installation, you can:
- Edit Details — Change settings. - Create Backup — Back up the application's files and database. - Clone — Create a copy of the installation. - Staging — Create a staging copy for testing changes. - Remove — Uninstall the application.
Auto-Updates
Softaculous can automatically update your installed applications:
- Click the Edit icon next to the installation.
- Under Auto Upgrade, enable automatic updates for the core application and/or plugins.
- Save the settings.
Tips
- Always back up before running updates, even automatic ones.
- Softaculous handles the database creation for you — you don't need to create one manually in MySQL Databases first.
- Use the staging feature to test major updates before applying them to your live site.
- If an installation fails, check the Softaculous logs for error details.
What Next?
- Installing and Managing WordPress — Detailed WordPress guidance.
- Selecting and Configuring PHP Versions — Ensure your PHP version is compatible with your application.
