WordPress

How To Install WordPress With Softaculous

WordPress is the world's most popular content management system (CMS) and powers a good portion of the entire Internet. Allanux Web is known for our high-speed, reliable, secure, and scalable WordPress environment so we make the install process very simple. 1) Go to cPanel -> WordPress Manager 2) Click Install install 3) Fill out Software Setup - Choose Version: For new installs, we always recommend the current. At the time of this tutorial it is 5.5 and automatically populates. (Note: Installing older versions of WordPress could pose a security risk, so you should proceed with caution) - Choose Protocol: If AutoSSL has generated your free certificate, you should select https://www. or https:// (Note: As long as you can see an active certificate in cPanel -> SSL/TLS Status, you may ignore that "trusted SSL" notice). - Choose Domain: This is the domain you wish to install WordPress on. Most often, it is the primary domain you signed up with. - In Directory: If you wish to install WordPress on your root domain, meaning when someone goes to yourdomain.com, they see your website, you should leave this field blank. If you wish to install WordPress in a subdirectory (i.e. yourdomain.com/wordpress) you may enter the directory name here (it will create it if it doesn't exist). 4) Fill out Site Settings These settings can easily be changed after you install, so if you're unsure, you may leave these defaults. - Site Name: This is the name of your website. - Site Description: This is displayed below your site name throughout WordPress. - Enable Multisite (WPMU): This allows you to run a single WordPress installation to serve multiple domains so they can share common themes/plugins and you can access from a single wp-admin URL. Since this changes the structure of WordPress, you should only enable this if you specifically know that you wish to use this. 5) Create an Admin Account The WordPress admin interface allows complete control of your website. This is where you'll configure your theme, create pages, write blog posts, and much more. Your admin account allows for full access and total control over your website so you want to use a very strong password as well as a unique username. You should click the key to have the password generate create a random one for you. This is the single most important thing you can do to keep your website secure. 6) Choose Language WordPress ships in many different languages. Choose the one that is applicable to you. 7) Select Plugin(s) - Limit Login Attempts (Loginizer): Once you get WordPress installed, you'll have the ability to add additional plugins, but Loginizer helps keep your admin area safe from brute force login attacks. At NameHero we automatically prevent against this, so there isn't a need to install this. - Classic Editor: In WordPress version 5 they changed the editor used to create pages/write posts to an updated "block" editor. Some user's still prefer the older "classic editor" which you may install using this option. 8) Configure Advanced Options - Database Name: All your WordPress data (your pages/posts/settings) are stored inside a database. This is the internal name for your reference and should only be changed if you know what you're doing. - Table Prefix: This is a random group of letters to secure your database tables. This should only be changed if you specifically know what you're doing. - Disable Update Notifications Emails: If you do not plan on auto updating, you should keep these enabled. Running outdated versions of WordPress poses a big security risk. - Auto Upgrade: Unless you plan on manually logging into your WordPress admin area weekly and completing upgrades, you should enable at least one of these options. Upgrade to Minor versions only will prevent WordPress from doing a "major" upgrade that may break any third-arty themes/plugins until they're ready to update. Upgrade to any latest version available will always keep your WordPress installation updated automatically. - Auto Upgrade WordPress Plugins: In addition to the option above, WordPress plugins are constantly updating to add new features and increase security. It's highly recommended you enable this option unless you plan on logging into your WordPress admin area daily to complete these upgrades. - Auto Upgrade WordPress Themes: This option will keep all your themes updated, which runs every 24 hours. As with the plugins, this greatly enhances the security of your website, and is recommended to enable unless you plan on doing daily. - Backup Location: You can keep this default, NameHero provides 100% free daily and weekly backups of your account safely in an offsite location which doesn't count against your inode (file) usage. Nearly all WordPress websites that are compromised are because failure to run regular updates and/or using strong admin credentials. You have the opportunity here to save yourself the headache of dealing with catastrophic data loss, please make your decisions wisely! 8) Select Theme The default WordPress themes are pretty basic and most user's want to choose a custom theme. We provide these 100% free of charge which you can easily add/install to your website instantly. Feel free to use the search feature to find one that meets your needs. Additionally, you can add these once the installation is completed. 9) Click Install When you're satisfied with all your options, click Install and WordPress will immediately deploy onto your web hosting account. This process takes under a minute, but please don't navigate away/close your browser until it completes. You may also wish to email yourself (or your developer) details of your installation for future reference. 10) Start building your website Once installed, you'll be given your wp-admin URL where you can login and begin configuring/building your website. You should make sure you store your admin credentials in a safe place, preferably a password manager. Common Problems - Your website shows a critical error when you access it after installation: Sometimes this may happen if you don't have the correct mySQL PHP extension enabled. You can easily fix this by going to cPanel -> Select PHP Version and placing a checkmark beside nd_mysqli. - When adding images to your website, the file exceeds max upload limit: You can easily adjust your upload limit inside of cPanel -> Select PHP Version -> Click Options tab -> Increase upload_max_filesize and post_max_size. - After uploading a custom theme, your website loads a blank white page: Some custom themes require a higher memory limit. You can increase this inside of cPanel -> Select PHP Version -> Click Options tab -> Increase memory_limit. - Your website is not displaying a secure lock in your browser window: First verify that AutoSSL has run and you have a valid SSL certificate on file. If you do have a valid SSL cert, go to wp-admin -> Settings -> General and make sure your WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) are using https:// rather than http://. Additionally, you may install the free Really Simple SSL plugin to scan your entire installation for insecure calls. Related Guides - Current install guide - Log in to WordPress

How to Install WordPress via Softaculous in cPanel

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. Need help? Contact our support team. Related Guides - Log in to WordPress - Secure your new site - Set up backups

How to Fix Database Connection Errors in WordPress

This is the most common WordPress error. It means WordPress cannot connect to the MySQL database that stores all your content, settings, and user accounts. The causes range from corrupted databases to incorrect credentials. What This Error Looks Like Your website shows: Error establishing a database connection instead of your normal homepage. The WordPress admin area also shows the same error. Fix 1: Check Your Database Credentials 1. Open cPanel → File Manager. 2. Navigate to your WordPress installation directory (usually public_html). 3. Find and edit the wp-config.php file. 4. Look for these lines: define( 'DB_NAME', 'database_name' ); define( 'DB_USER', 'username' ); define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'password' ); define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' ); 5. Verify these match your actual database details in cPanel → MySQL Databases. 6. If any are incorrect, update them and save the file. Fix 2: Repair the Database 1. Go to cPanel → MySQL Databases. 2. Scroll to Modify Databases. 3. Select your WordPress database from the dropdown. 4. Click Repair Database. 5. Try loading your website again. Fix 3: Check for Corrupt Tables 1. Go to cPanel → phpMyAdmin. 2. Select your WordPress database. 3. Look for tables marked with "in use" or showing errors. 4. Select all tables, and from the dropdown select Repair table. Fix 4: Check if the Database Server Is Down 1. Go to cPanel → MySQL Databases. 2. Check if you can see your databases listed. If the page is blank or shows an error, the database server may be temporarily down. 3. Contact support to check the server status. Fix 5: Check Disk Space 1. Go to cPanel and check the disk usage bar on the right sidebar. 2. If your account is at 100% disk usage, the database cannot write new data. 3. Free up space by deleting unnecessary files, old backups, or large logs. Important Notes - Always back up your database before attempting repairs. Go to cPanel → Backup Wizard → Backup → MySQL Databases. - Never edit wp-config.php without knowing what you are doing — a typo can make things worse. - This error can also be caused by too many connections to the database (traffic spike). This is a server-side issue — contact support. Troubleshooting - Error persists after all fixes: The issue may be server-side. The MySQL service may need to be restarted. Submit a ticket with your cPanel username and domain name. - Website works intermittently: This usually means the database server is overloaded. It resolves on its own during low-traffic periods. If persistent, contact support about database performance. - Error started after a plugin/theme update: A plugin may have corrupted the database. Try renaming the wp-content/plugins folder via File Manager to disable all plugins, then re-enable them one by one. - Error only appears on some pages: The specific table that page uses may be corrupted. Use phpMyAdmin to check for broken tables and repair them. - Cannot access phpMyAdmin either: The MySQL server is likely down. Contact support immediately — this affects all accounts on the server. Need help? Contact our support team. Related Guides - Fix the white screen - Fix 404 errors - Restore from backup

How to Secure Your WordPress Site in cPanel

WordPress is the most popular CMS in the world, which also makes it the most targeted platform for hackers. Securing your WordPress site is essential to protect your data, your visitors, and your reputation. This guide covers the most important security steps. 1. Keep Everything Updated - Update WordPress core to the latest version. - Update all themes and plugins regularly. - Enable auto-updates: go to WordPress Dashboard → Plugins → Enable auto-updates for each plugin. - Remove unused themes and plugins — they are potential attack vectors even when deactivated. 2. Use Strong Passwords and 2FA - Change the default "admin" username to something unique. - Use a strong password (12+ characters, mixed case, numbers, symbols). - Install a Two-Factor Authentication plugin (e.g., Wordfence Login Security or WP 2FA). - Enable 2FA on your cPanel account as well (see our guide: How to Enable 2FA in cPanel). 3. Install a Security Plugin - Wordfence — firewall, malware scanner, and login security. Free version available. - Sucuri Security — malware scanning and security hardening. - Run a full scan after installation to check for existing threats. - Configure the firewall to block common attack patterns. 4. Secure the wp-config.php File - In cPanel → File Manager, find wp-config.php in your public_html folder. - Add these lines above the /* That's all, stop editing! */ line: define( 'DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true ); define( 'WP_DEBUG', false ); - This prevents editing theme and plugin files from the WordPress admin. - Never expose your database password by sharing wp-config.php or taking screenshots that include it. 5. Fix File Permissions - Files should be 644 (readable, not executable). - Directories should be 755. - wp-config.php should be 440 or 600. - You can check and change permissions in cPanel → File Manager (right-click → Change Permissions). - No file should ever be 777 (world-writable). 6. Limit Login Attempts - Install Login LockDown or use Wordfence's built-in brute force protection. - This blocks IP addresses after a set number of failed login attempts. - Default setting: lock out after 5 failed attempts for 30 minutes. 7. Regular Backups - Use UpdraftPlus plugin to schedule automatic backups (to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox). - Or use cPanel's backup tool (see our guide: How to Create a Full Website Backup in cPanel). - Test your backups periodically by restoring to a test environment. Important Notes - Most WordPress hacks happen through outdated plugins — keep everything updated. - Never download "free" premium themes or plugins from untrusted sources — they often contain malware. - Delete the default WordPress "Hello World" post and "Sample Page" — they confirm to hackers that the site is freshly installed and may not be secured yet. - Use SSL/HTTPS for your site. AutoSSL is included with your Allanux Web hosting account. Troubleshooting - Security plugin causing website to slow down: Wordfence's firewall can be resource-intensive. Try switching to "Extended Protection" mode instead of "Enhanced Protection" (which requires more server resources). - Locked out of WordPress admin: The login security plugin may have blocked your IP. Use FTP to rename the plugin folder (e.g., wp-content/plugins/wordfence to wp-content/plugins/wordfence-off) to disable it, then log in. - Malware scan found infected files: Do not delete system files. Use Wordfence's "Repair" option for known WordPress files, or restore from backup. For custom files, review the code and remove the injected malware manually. - Security headers not being applied: Use a plugin like HTTP Headers or add security headers directly in your .htaccess file. Common headers include X-Frame-Options, X-Content-Type-Options, and Strict-Transport-Security. - Want a professional security audit: Contact support — we can perform a server-level security review of your account. Need help? Contact our support team. Related Guides - Keep plugins & themes updated - Back up regularly - Reset the admin password

How to Update WordPress, Plugins and Themes Safely

Keeping your WordPress site, plugins, and themes up to date is essential for security and performance. However, updates can sometimes break your site if not done carefully. This guide explains how to update everything safely using best practices that minimize risk. Before Updating: Create a Backup Always back up your site before performing any updates. 1. In cPanel, go to Files → Backup. 2. Click Download a Full Account Backup to back up your entire hosting account (recommended). 3. Alternatively, download a MySQL database backup from the Download a MySQL Database Backup section. 4. Store the backup file in a safe location on your computer. The Recommended Update Order Follow this order to minimize compatibility issues: 1. Plugins first — Update one plugin at a time, test after each update. 2. Themes second — Update the parent theme first, then child themes. 3. WordPress core last — Update after plugins and themes are compatible. Updating Plugins 1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard (yourdomain.com/wp-admin). 2. Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Look for plugins with an "Update Now" link below their description. 4. Click Update Now on one plugin. 5. Wait for the update to complete, then test your website — visit several pages and check that everything works. 6. Repeat for the next plugin. Or update from the Updates page: 1. Go to Dashboard → Updates. 2. Select individual plugins or use Select All → Update Plugins. 3. For maximum safety, update one at a time rather than all at once. Updating Themes 1. Go to Appearance → Themes. 2. Find themes with an update badge. 3. Click Theme Details → Update Now. 4. After updating, check your website layout and functionality. Updating WordPress Core 1. Go to Dashboard → Updates. 2. If a new WordPress version is available, click Update Now. 3. Wait for the update to finish. Your site will briefly enter maintenance mode. 4. After updating, visit your site and check all functionality. Enabling Automatic Updates You can enable auto-updates for WordPress core, plugins, and themes: - WordPress core: Go to Dashboard → Updates → Enable automatic updates for all new versions. - Plugins: Go to Plugins → Installed Plugins → Click Enable auto-updates next to any plugin. - Themes: Go to Appearance → Themes → Click Theme Details → Enable auto-updates. What to Do If an Update Breaks Your Site 1. Restore from backup: Use the cPanel Backup tool or your backup plugin to restore the previous version. 2. Deactivate plugins: If you suspect a plugin conflict, rename the wp-content/plugins folder via File Manager to disable all plugins, then rename it back and reactivate one by one. 3. Check for compatibility: Visit the plugin or theme page on WordPress.org to check compatibility with your WordPress version. Important Notes - Never update all plugins at once on a production site. Update one by one and test after each. - If your theme uses a child theme, always update the parent theme first. - Plugins that are deactivated but still installed can still be a security risk. Delete unused plugins entirely. - After updates, clear any caching plugins and your browser cache. Troubleshooting Update button is not appearing: - Your WordPress version may be too old to support the current update process. Consider a manual update. - File permissions may prevent WordPress from writing updates. Check that wp-content and its subdirectories have 755 permissions. "Briefly unavailable for scheduled maintenance" message persists: li>Delete the .maintenance file from your WordPress root directory via cPanel File Manager. White screen after update: - Increase PHP memory by adding define('WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M'); to wp-config.php. - Check error logs in cPanel under Metrics → Errors. Related Guides - Fix the scheduled maintenance error - Harden security - Back up first

How to Fix Common WordPress 404 Errors

A 404 error means the requested page could not be found on the server. In WordPress, 404 errors on individual posts and pages are most commonly caused by broken permalinks or a corrupted .htaccess file. This guide covers the most common causes and how to fix them. Method 1: Reset Permalinks (Most Common Fix) This is the simplest and most effective fix for WordPress 404 errors on posts and pages: 1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard (yourdomain.com/wp-admin). 2. Go to Settings → Permalinks. 3. Without changing anything, scroll to the bottom and click Save Changes. 4. Visit your website and test the pages that were returning 404 errors. This regenerates the rewrite rules in the .htaccess file without changing your URL structure. Method 2: Manually Repair the .htaccess File If resetting permalinks does not work, the .htaccess file may be corrupted: 1. Log in to cPanel. 2. Go to Files → File Manager. 3. Navigate to public_html. 4. Find the .htaccess file. If you cannot see it, click Settings (top-right) and enable Show Hidden Files. 5. Right-click .htaccess and select Rename. Rename it to .htaccess-old. 6. Go back to WordPress: Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes. 7. WordPress will create a fresh .htaccess file with the correct rules. The default WordPress .htaccess should contain: # BEGIN WordPress <IfModule mod_rewrite.c> RewriteEngine On RewriteBase / RewriteRule ^index.php$ - [L] RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d RewriteRule . /index.php [L] </IfModule> # END WordPress Method 3: Check Plugin Conflicts Some plugins (especially security, caching, or SEO plugins) can interfere with permalinks: 1. In WordPress, go to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 2. Deactivate all plugins. 3. Check if the 404 errors are resolved. 4. Reactivate plugins one at a time, testing your site after each activation. 5. When the 404 error returns, the last activated plugin is the cause. Contact the plugin developer or find an alternative. Method 4: Clear Your Cache - Clear your browser cache (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R). - If you have a caching plugin (WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed Cache), clear its cache. - If your site uses Cloudflare or a server cache, purge it from your hosting or CDN dashboard. Common Causes of WordPress 404 Errors - Changed permalink structure without saving permalinks. - Plugin conflict after installing or updating a plugin. - Corrupted .htaccess file. - Migrated or restored the site without updating the database. - Deleted posts or pages that are still linked in menus. - Case sensitivity — Linux servers are case-sensitive (e.g., MyPage vs mypage). Important Notes - Your homepage working while other pages return 404 is a strong indicator of a permalink issue. - Always back up your .htaccess file before making changes. - If none of these methods work, the issue may be server-level. Contact your hosting provider. Troubleshooting Permalink reset does not fix the issue: - Check that the .htaccess file is writable (permissions set to 644). - Verify that mod_rewrite is enabled on the server. Contact your hosting provider to confirm. 404 errors on custom post types only: - The plugin that registers the custom post type may need updating. - Go to Settings → Permalinks → Save Changes to flush the rewrite rules. 404 error after migrating to a new server: - Update the site URL and home URL in the wp_options table via phpMyAdmin. - Verify the domain DNS is pointing to the correct server. Related Guides - Fix the white screen - Fix DB connection - Update plugins/themes

How to Fix WordPress Maintenance Mode Stuck

This error message appears when a WordPress update was interrupted before it could complete. WordPress creates a temporary .maintenance file to lock the site during updates. If the update fails, this file is not automatically removed, and your site stays locked in maintenance mode. This guide shows you how to fix it. Quick Fix: Delete the .maintenance File 1. Log in to your cPanel account. 2. Go to Files → File Manager. 3. Navigate to your WordPress root directory (usually public_html). 4. Look for a file named .maintenance. 5. If you do not see it, click Settings (top-right) and enable Show Hidden Files (dotfiles). 6. Right-click .maintenance and select Delete. 7. Reload your website. The error should be resolved. What If the .maintenance File Does Not Exist? If deleting the file does not resolve the issue or the file is not there, try these steps: 1. Check the wp-content/upgrade folder for leftover update files. Delete any files or folders inside it. 2. Check the wp-content/upgrade-core folder if it exists. Delete its contents. 3. Clear your browser cache and reload the site. Re-running the Failed Update After removing the maintenance file, the update that failed may still be available: 1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard. 2. Go to Dashboard → Updates. 3. Retry the update that failed (plugin, theme, or WordPress core). Why Does This Happen? - The browser was closed or navigated away during an update. - The server timed out during the update process (common with large plugins or slow servers). - A PHP memory limit was reached during the update. - Internet connectivity was lost during the update. Preventing the Issue - Do not close your browser while an update is in progress. - Update one item at a time instead of updating everything at once. - Ask your hosting provider to increase the PHP memory limit and max execution time if updates frequently fail. - Use the cPanel Backup tool before performing updates so you can restore if needed. Important Notes - This error is not caused by a hack or security breach — it is simply an interrupted update. - The .maintenance file is a standard WordPress mechanism. It is created and deleted automatically during successful updates. - If this error keeps occurring, your server may have resource limitations. Contact your hosting provider. Troubleshooting Error persists after deleting .maintenance file: - Clear your browser cache and cookies. - Check wp-content/upgrade/ for leftover files. - Check if there is a plugin conflict — deactivate all plugins via File Manager (rename the wp-content/plugins folder). Cannot access WordPress admin to retry the update: - Delete the .maintenance file first, then try accessing wp-admin again. - If wp-admin also shows the maintenance message, the file is still present. Double-check that it was deleted. Related Guides - Finish/redo the update - Fix the white screen - Fix 404s

How to Back Up Your WordPress Site via cPanel

Regular backups are essential for protecting your WordPress site against data loss from hacking, server failures, or accidental changes. cPanel provides built-in tools to create full backups of your website, including files and databases. This guide covers multiple backup methods. Method 1: Full cPanel Backup (Recommended) This creates a complete backup of your entire hosting account, including WordPress files, databases, emails, and settings: 1. Log in to your cPanel account. 2. Go to Files → Backup. 3. Under Full Backup, click Download a Full Account Backup. 4. Select a backup destination (choose Home Directory to store it on the server). 5. Optionally enter an email address to receive a notification when the backup is complete. 6. Click Generate Backup. 7. Once complete, download the backup file from your Home Directory via File Manager or FTP. Method 2: Partial Backup (Files + Database) If you only need to back up your WordPress site (not emails or other accounts): 1. In cPanel, go to Files → Backup. Step A: Back up WordPress files 2. Under Partial Backups → Home Directory, click the directory backup link to download your files (this includes public_html). Step B: Back up the database 3. Under Download a MySQL Database Backup, click the name of your WordPress database. 4. The database backup will be downloaded as a .sql.gz file. Method 3: Backup via phpMyAdmin (Database Only) 1. In cPanel, go to Databases → phpMyAdmin. 2. Select your WordPress database from the left sidebar. 3. Click the Export tab. 4. Select Quick and ensure the format is SQL. 5. Click Go to download the backup file. Method 4: Compress public_html via File Manager For a quick file-only backup: 1. In cPanel, go to Files → File Manager. 2. Navigate to the Home Directory. 3. Select the public_html folder. 4. Click Compress and choose Zip or tar.gz. 5. Download the compressed archive. How Often Should You Back Up? - Before any update (WordPress core, plugins, themes) — always. - Before making design changes or modifying code. - Weekly for active sites with regular content updates. - Monthly at minimum for low-activity sites. Important Notes - Store backup files in a separate location from your server (your computer, external drive, or cloud storage). - Full backups can be large. Ensure you have enough disk space on your computer to download them. - You can also restore backups through the same Backup page in cPanel. - Some hosting providers offer automatic daily backups. Check with your hosting provider. Troubleshooting Backup generation is taking too long: - Large accounts with many files or emails can take significant time. Wait for the process to complete. - You will receive an email notification when the backup is ready. "Backup Wizard" is not available in cPanel: - Your hosting provider may have disabled it. Contact support or use the manual methods (phpMyAdmin + File Manager). Backup file is corrupted or will not restore: - The backup may not have completed fully. Try generating it again. - Check your available disk space before generating a backup. Related Guides - Secure the site - Update safely - Recover from a DB error

How to Reset Your WordPress Admin Password

If you have forgotten your WordPress admin password or cannot log in to your dashboard, you can reset it using several methods. This guide covers the most common approaches, from the simplest (email reset) to advanced methods using cPanel and phpMyAdmin. Method 1: Use the "Lost Your Password?" Link This is the simplest method if you still have access to the email address associated with your WordPress account: 1. Go to your WordPress login page: yourdomain.com/wp-login.php 2. Click "Lost your password?" 3. Enter your WordPress username or the email address associated with the account. 4. Click Get New Password. 5. Check your email inbox for the password reset email. 6. Click the link in the email and set a new password. Method 2: Reset via phpMyAdmin (When Email Does Not Work) If you cannot receive the reset email, you can change the password directly in the database: 1. Log in to cPanel. 2. Go to Databases → phpMyAdmin. 3. Select your WordPress database from the left sidebar. 4. Find the wp_users table and click it. 5. Find your admin username in the list. Click Edit (the pencil icon) next to your username. 6. In the user_pass field, you need to enter a new password in hashed format. 7. To generate a hash, visit https://api.wordpress.org/secret-key/1.1/salt/ or use an online WordPress password hash generator. 8. Paste the hashed password into the user_pass field. 9. Click Go to save the changes. 10. Log in to WordPress with your new password. Method 3: Reset via the Emergency Password Reset Script WordPress includes an emergency script that can reset passwords via FTP or File Manager: 1. Download the Emergency Password Reset Script from the WordPress plugin repository (emergency.php). 2. Upload the emergency.php file to your public_html directory via File Manager. 3. Visit yourdomain.com/emergency.php in your browser. 4. Enter your WordPress admin username and the new password. 5. Click Update Options. 6. Immediately delete the emergency.php file from your server after resetting the password. Important Notes - The password reset email may take a few minutes to arrive. Check your spam folder if you do not see it. - If you do not receive the reset email, your server may not be sending emails correctly. Contact your hosting provider. - When using phpMyAdmin, always use a properly hashed password. WordPress will not accept a plain-text password in the database. - After resetting your password, WordPress will log you out of all other sessions. - For security, use a strong, unique password with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Troubleshooting Password reset email is not arriving: - Check your spam or junk folder. - Verify the email address on your WordPress user profile matches the email address you are checking. - Your hosting provider may have disabled the mail() function. Contact support. phpMyAdmin method does not work (invalid password after change): - Ensure you pasted a valid WordPress password hash, not plain text. - Use the MD5 hash tool in phpMyAdmin to generate a hash, or use the WordPress function wp_hash_password(). Locked out of WordPress entirely: - Contact your hosting provider for assistance. - Use the phpMyAdmin method above to reset the password directly in the database. Related Guides - Log back in - Secure the account - Reinstall if needed

How to Fix WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) via cPanel

The WordPress White Screen of Death (WSOD) means your website shows a completely blank white page with no error message. This usually happens due to a PHP fatal error, a broken plugin, or exhausted memory. This guide walks you through the most common fixes. Fix 1: Enable Debug Mode to See the Error 1. Open cPanel → File Manager. 2. Navigate to public_html and edit the wp-config.php file. 3. Find the line: define( 'WP_DEBUG', false ); 4. Replace it with: define( 'WP_DEBUG', true ); define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true ); define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false ); 5. Save the file and reload your website. 6. If the white screen persists, check the debug log at wp-content/debug.log — this file will contain the actual error message. Fix 2: Disable All Plugins A broken plugin is the most common cause of WSOD: 1. In cPanel → File Manager, navigate to wp-content/plugins/. 2. Rename the plugins folder to plugins-off. 3. Reload your website. If it loads, a plugin was the cause. 4. Rename the folder back to plugins. 5. Inside the plugins folder, rename each plugin folder one at a time (add -off to the name) until you find the one causing the issue. 6. Delete or update the problematic plugin. Fix 3: Switch to a Default Theme 1. Go to cPanel → File Manager → wp-content/themes/. 2. Ensure the default theme folder exists (usually twentytwentyfour or similar). 3. Rename your active theme folder by adding -off to its name. 4. WordPress will automatically fall back to the default theme. 5. If your site loads, the theme was the issue. Update it or contact the theme developer. Fix 4: Increase PHP Memory Limit 1. Edit wp-config.php in File Manager. 2. Add this line above the /* That's all, stop editing! */ line: define( 'WP_MEMORY_LIMIT', '256M' ); 3. Save and reload your site. 4. If this fixes the issue but you have a managed hosting plan, you may need to contact support to permanently increase the PHP memory limit. Fix 5: Replace Core Files 1. Download the latest WordPress zip from wordpress.org. 2. Extract it and upload the wp-admin and wp-includes folders to your server via File Manager or FTP, overwriting the existing folders. 3. This replaces all WordPress core files without affecting your themes, plugins, or uploads. Important Notes - Always back up your site before making changes to core files. - WSOD is almost never a hosting issue — it is almost always a plugin, theme, or code problem. - After fixing WSOD, set WP_DEBUG back to false in wp-config.php to prevent error messages from showing to visitors. - If you recently installed or updated something before WSOD appeared, that is almost certainly the cause. Troubleshooting - WSOD only on specific pages, not the whole site: A plugin or theme function specific to that page is failing. Check the debug log for the error and search for it online with the plugin/theme name. - WSOD appears only in WordPress admin, not the frontend: A plugin that runs only in the admin area is causing the error. Disable plugins as described in Fix 2. - WSOD after a WordPress update: A plugin may not be compatible with the new WordPress version. Disable all plugins and re-enable them one by one. Update each plugin to the latest version before re-enabling. - WSOD and "allowed memory size exhausted" in debug.log: Your PHP memory limit is too low. Increase it as shown in Fix 4, or contact support to raise the server-side limit. - Nothing works and debug.log is empty: The error may be at the server level. Check if your PHP version is compatible with WordPress. Contact support with your cPanel username for a server-side investigation. Need help? Contact our support team.