Softaculous is a one-click installer built into cPanel that lets you install WordPress (and many other applications) in minutes. This is the easiest and recommended way to set up a WordPress website on your Allanux Web hosting account.

### Step 1: Open Softaculous

1. Log in to your **cPanel** account.
2. Scroll down to the **Software** section and click **Softaculous Apps Installer**.
3. In the left sidebar, click **WordPress** (under "Blogs").
4. Click **Install Now**.

### Step 2: Configure the Installation

1. **Software Version:** Choose the latest version (recommended).
2. **Choose Protocol:** Select `https://` if you have SSL, or `http://` if not.
3. **Choose Domain:** Select the domain where you want to install WordPress.
4. **In Directory:** Leave blank to install in the root (e.g., `yourdomain.com`). Enter a name like `blog` to install in a subdirectory (e.g., `yourdomain.com/blog`).
5. **Site Name:** The title of your website.
6. **Site Description:** A tagline for your site (can be changed later in WordPress).
7. **Enable Multisite (WPMU):** Leave unchecked unless you need multiple sites under one WordPress installation.
8. **Admin Username:** Choose a username for the WordPress admin (do not use "admin" for security).
9. **Admin Password:** Use a strong password (or click the key icon to generate one).
10. **Admin Email:** Your email address for receiving WordPress notifications.
11. **Select Language:** Choose your preferred language.
12. **Choose a Theme:** You can pick a starter theme now or change it later.

### Step 3: Install

1. Click the **Install** button at the bottom.
2. Wait for the installation to complete (usually 30-60 seconds).
3. Softaculous will show your **admin URL**, username, and password.
4. Click the admin link to log in to your new WordPress site.

### Important Notes

- WordPress requires at least **PHP 7.4**. Check and update your PHP version if needed (see our guide: How to Change Your PHP Version in cPanel).
- Do not install WordPress in a subdirectory if you want your site at the root domain. Leave the "In Directory" field blank.
- Save the admin credentials Softaculous shows after installation — you will need them to log in.
- Softaculous also provides an **auto-update feature** — enable it to keep WordPress, themes, and plugins automatically updated.
- You can install multiple WordPress sites on different domains or subdomains.

### Troubleshooting

- **"Could not connect to the database" during installation:** Your database credentials may be wrong, or the database user does not have the correct permissions. Softaculous usually handles this automatically — if it fails, contact support.
- **"Error establishing a database connection" after installation:** Check that your database is not corrupted. Go to **cPanel → MySQL Databases** and verify the database exists. Also try repairing the database via **cPanel → MySQL Databases → Repair Database**.
- **"Installation directory must be empty":** There are existing files in the directory where you are trying to install. Either choose a different directory, or use File Manager to remove the existing files first.
- **Admin page returns 404 Not Found:** Your .htaccess file may be missing or corrupted. Go to **WordPress Dashboard → Settings → Permalinks** and click "Save Changes" to regenerate the .htaccess file.
- **Want to re-install WordPress:** You must first remove the existing installation. Go to **Softaculous → Installations**, find your WordPress installation, and click **Remove**. Then install again.

Want WordPress handled for you? See [managed WordPress hosting](https://www.allanuxweb.com/wordpress-hosting).

Need help? [Contact our support team](https://www.allanuxweb.com/submitticket.php).

### Related Guides

- [Log in to WordPress](/hc/help/en/articles/how-to-login-to-wordpress-from-cpanel-with-softaculous)
- [Secure your new site](/hc/help/en/articles/how-to-secure-your-wordpress-site-in-cpanel)
- [Set up backups](/hc/help/en/articles/how-to-back-up-your-wordpress-site-via-cpanel)