How to install any app with Softaculous in cPanel

Open cPanel, select Softaculous Apps Installer, pick your app, click Install, complete the form, then click Install. Enable a backup in Advanced Options during install so you can roll back fast if needed.

Before you start

• Add the target domain or subdomain in cPanel first so it appears in Softaculous’ Choose Domain list. Use cPanel’s Domains interface (Create a New Domain).
• Only select https:// in Protocol if an SSL certificate is already working on that domain. Otherwise use http://.
• Install into an empty folder. If files are present, decide now if you will remove them first or use Softaculous’ Overwrite Files option.

Step 1: Open Softaculous in cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel at https://yourdomain:2083.
2. Find and click Softaculous Apps Installer (often under Software, or search “softaculous”). This opens the Softaculous enduser panel.

Step 2: Choose the app and set where it installs

1. Find your app by browsing or searching, then click it and click Install.
2. Set Protocol. Pick https:// only if SSL already works on this domain. Otherwise pick http:// to avoid browser errors.
3. Choose Domain. Pick the correct domain, addon domain or subdomain from the list.
4. In Directory. Leave this blank to install at the domain root (example.com). Enter a folder name to install at a subpath (example.com/folder). Leaving a default like “wp” or “joomla” here creates that subpath.
5. Database Name. Accept the default or change it. In cPanel this often includes a cPanel-username prefix (username_dbname). Server settings can change this behaviour, so do not rely on a prefix always being present.

Addon domain or subdomain missing

If your addon domain or subdomain is not listed, add it in cPanel first under Domains, Create a New Domain. Then return to Softaculous and try again.

Step 3: Enter admin details, backups and updates

1. Fill in the app’s admin username, password and email. Choose the language if offered.
2. Open Advanced Options. Set Automated Backups with a frequency and rotation you are comfortable with. Rotation deletes the oldest backup when the limit is reached. Frequent backups with high rotation use more disk space.
3. Decide on Auto Upgrade. Enabling it lets Softaculous update the app via cron when new versions appear. This can break sites that use incompatible themes or extensions. For production, consider disabling Auto Upgrade or plan to test updates on a staging copy first.

Step 4: Install and verify

1. Click Install. If the target folder contains files, Softaculous may warn “Installation cannot proceed because the following files already exist”. Remove those files first or tick Overwrite Files to continue. Do not overwrite a live site you need to keep.
2. When complete, Softaculous shows links to your site and the app’s admin page. Open both to confirm the install worked. You can have Softaculous email you the installation details. Avoid enabling any option that emails passwords in plain text.

If it does not work

• Installed in the wrong place: If you see the app at example.com/folder but you wanted example.com, reinstall and leave In Directory blank. Use the backup you enabled during install to roll back if needed. If you are unsure how to tidy the first attempt without losing data, open a support ticket.
• Existing files error: When Softaculous reports existing files, either clear the target folder first or tick Overwrite Files to proceed. Only use Overwrite Files if you are certain you do not need what is there, as it replaces existing files.
• HTTPS errors: If you chose https:// without a working certificate, browsers will warn. Install with http:// or add a working SSL first, then adjust the app’s URLs as needed to use https. Picking the wrong protocol can also cause mixed content warnings.

What next

For a fuller walkthrough of install location choices, backups, auto upgrades and staging, start with our guides. If you hit anything unusual or need us to check your account, open a support ticket and we will take a look.