How to Install WordPress or Other Applications Using Softaculous

Overview

Have Freedom Hosting provides Softaculous App Installer through cPanel, allowing you to quickly install WordPress and many other popular web applications without manually uploading files or creating databases.

Softaculous can automatically handle much of the installation process, making it an easy way to get a new website up and running.

Some of the applications available through Softaculous may include:

• WordPress

• Joomla

• Drupal

• PrestaShop

• OpenCart

• Nextcloud

• MediaWiki

• phpBB

• And many other applications

The applications available to you may vary depending on your hosting plan and the software currently supported by Softaculous.

Before You Begin

Before installing an application, make sure you have:

• An active Have Freedom Hosting account.

• A domain or subdomain where you want to install the application.

• Access to your cPanel account.

• Enough available hosting storage and resources for the application.

If you are installing WordPress on your primary domain, make sure the domain is already pointed to your Have Freedom Hosting account.

Installing WordPress

WordPress is one of the most common applications installed through Softaculous.

1. Log in to cPanel

Log in to your Have Freedom Hosting cPanel account.

2. Open Softaculous

Find the Software section in cPanel.

Select:

Softaculous App Installer

Depending on the version of cPanel and Softaculous being used, the icon or wording may look slightly different.

3. Select WordPress

From the Softaculous dashboard:

1. Locate WordPress.

2. Select it.

3. Click Install.

Softaculous will display the WordPress installation options.

Configure the Installation

You will be asked to provide several pieces of information about your new WordPress installation.

Choose the protocol

Select the protocol your website will use.

For most websites, this should be:

https://

If both www and non-www versions are available, choose the version you intend to use for your website.

Important: Your domain must have a working SSL certificate before your website can properly use HTTPS.

Choose the domain

Select the domain where you want WordPress installed.

For example:

example.com

If you want WordPress installed on a subdomain, select the appropriate subdomain instead.

Choose the directory

The In Directory field determines where WordPress will be installed.

If you want WordPress to be your main website, leave this field blank.

For example:

Correct for your main website:

https://example.com/

Creates a subdirectory installation:

https://example.com/wordpress/

Unless you specifically want WordPress installed in a subdirectory, leave the field empty.

Configure Your WordPress Site

Softaculous will ask for some basic information about your new website.

Site Name

Enter the name of your website.

For example:

My Example Website

Site Description

Enter a short description of your website.

For example:

A website about my business and services.

You can change this information later from within WordPress.

Enable Multisite

WordPress Multisite allows a single WordPress installation to host multiple WordPress websites.

For most websites, leave this disabled.

Only enable Multisite if you specifically need it.

Create Your WordPress Administrator Account

This section is particularly important.

Softaculous will ask you to create the first WordPress administrator account.

Administrator Username

Choose a unique username.

Avoid using:

admin

Using a unique username is a simple security improvement and makes automated attacks against your administrator account more difficult.

Administrator Password

Create a strong, unique password.

We recommend using a password containing a combination of:

• Uppercase letters

• Lowercase letters

• Numbers

• Special characters

Do not reuse a password from another account.

Administrator Email

Enter an email address that you regularly monitor.

WordPress may use this address for:

• Password recovery

• Website notifications

• Administrative alerts

• Updates

• Other important messages

Make sure you can access this mailbox.

Select Your WordPress Version

Softaculous will normally default to a current supported version of WordPress.

Whenever possible, install the latest stable version offered by Softaculous.

Keeping WordPress updated is an important part of maintaining your website's security.

Select a Theme

Softaculous may offer the option to select a WordPress theme during installation.

You can:

• Select a theme now.

• Skip this step and select a theme later from WordPress.

If you are unsure which theme you want to use, it is perfectly fine to skip this step.

Complete the Installation

Review the settings you entered.

Once everything looks correct:

1. Click Install.

2. Wait for Softaculous to complete the installation.

3. Do not close the browser while the installation is in progress.

When the installation finishes, Softaculous will provide links to your new website and WordPress administration area.

Your WordPress administration area will normally be available at:

https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin/

Installing Other Applications

Softaculous can install much more than WordPress.

To install another application:

1. Log in to cPanel.

2. Open Softaculous App Installer.

3. Browse or search for the application you want.

4. Select the application.

5. Click Install.

6. Select the domain or subdomain where it should be installed.

7. Configure the application-specific settings.

8. Create an administrator account if required.

9. Review the installation settings.

10. Click Install.

The exact installation options vary depending on the application.

Always review the application's requirements before installing it.

Installing an Application on a Subdomain

You can install applications on a subdomain instead of your primary domain.

For example:

shop.example.com

or:

blog.example.com

First, create the subdomain in cPanel.

Then select that subdomain as the installation location when configuring the application in Softaculous.

This can be useful for keeping different applications separated from your primary website.

Installing an Application in a Directory

You can also install an application inside a directory.

For example:

example.com/blog

To do this, enter the directory name in Softaculous's In Directory field.

Be careful when doing this.

If you intend for the application to be your primary website, leaving the directory field blank is normally the correct choice.

Common Installation Mistakes

Installing WordPress in the Wrong Directory

One of the most common mistakes is accidentally entering wordpress into the In Directory field.

This results in your website being installed at:

example.com/wordpress

instead of:

example.com

If you want WordPress to be your main website, leave In Directory blank.

Installing Multiple Applications in the Same Location

Do not install multiple applications into the same directory.

For example, you should not install WordPress and another application into:

public_html/

at the same time.

Doing so can cause files to overwrite one another and may break one or both applications.

Using an Insecure Administrator Username

Avoid simple usernames such as:

admin

administrator

or your domain name.

Use a unique administrator username instead.

Using an Old Application Version

If Softaculous offers multiple versions, install a current supported version whenever possible.

Running outdated software can expose your website to known security vulnerabilities.

Forgetting About SSL

Whenever possible, use HTTPS for your website.

If your domain does not have a working SSL certificate, resolve that issue before configuring your application to use HTTPS.

After Installation

Installing an application is only the beginning of maintaining your website.

After installation, we recommend:

• Log in and verify that everything works.

• Change or customize the default settings.

• Install only the plugins, extensions, or modules you actually need.

• Keep the application updated.

• Keep themes and plugins updated.

• Use strong administrator passwords.

• Remove software you are no longer using.

• Maintain current backups of important website data.

For WordPress specifically, avoid installing large numbers of unnecessary plugins. Every additional plugin can introduce additional maintenance, resource usage, or security considerations.

Troubleshooting

The installation fails

If Softaculous reports an installation error:

1. Review the error message.

2. Make sure the selected domain is active.

3. Make sure the installation directory is correct.

4. Verify that you have sufficient available hosting resources.

5. Make sure another application is not already installed in the same location.

6. Try the installation again.

If the installation continues to fail, contact Have Freedom Hosting Support and provide the complete error message.

My website shows a blank page

A blank page after installation can have several causes.

Common causes include:

• PHP compatibility issues.

• A broken plugin or extension.

• Incorrect application configuration.

• File permission problems.

• Insufficient hosting resources.

• An incomplete installation.

If the application was just installed, verify that the Softaculous installation completed successfully.

I installed the application, but my domain still shows my old website

Your domain may still be displaying existing files or content.

Check the installation location and make sure the application was installed in the directory you intended.

For a primary domain, the website files will generally be located within:

public_html

If you installed the application into a subdirectory, you will need to access the corresponding URL.

I accidentally installed the application in the wrong location

Do not immediately perform another installation on top of the existing one.

First determine:

• Where the application was installed.

• Whether any existing website files were overwritten.

• Whether a database was created.

• Whether you need to preserve any of the installed data.

If you are unsure what to do next, contact Have Freedom Hosting Support before deleting or modifying the installation.

Need Help?

If you need assistance installing an application through Softaculous, Have Freedom Hosting Support can help you determine whether the issue is related to your hosting account, the application installation, or the application itself.

When contacting support, include:

• The domain you are installing the application on.

• The application you are trying to install.

• The installation location.

• The error message, if one is displayed.

• Any relevant screenshots.

Never send your cPanel, email, or application passwords in a support ticket.