How do I install WordPress?

Install WordPress in cPanel using Softaculous: log in to cPanel from your Hostworld Client Area, open Softaculous, select WordPress, click Install, complete the form, and leave “In Directory” blank to install at the domain root.

Before you start

• Check your account meets WordPress's minimum requirements: PHP 8.3 or newer, and MariaDB 10.11 or newer or MySQL 8.0 or newer. If you are not sure what your hosting package is running, open a support ticket and we will confirm it before you install.
• Decide where the site will live. cPanel's guidance is one WordPress install per document root. Put additional installs in a subdirectory or use a different addon domain or subdomain.
• If you want HTTPS, have the SSL certificate active first. Select https:// during install. Switching from http:// afterwards can cause redirect loops if done incorrectly.
• If you will reuse an existing database, prepare a unique table prefix to avoid collisions with any existing WordPress tables.

Step 1: Log in to cPanel from your Hostworld Client Area

This uses Single Sign-On so you do not need to re-enter credentials.

1. Go to portal.hostworld.uk and sign in.
2. Navigate: Services, then My Services. Click your hosting service.
3. Use the Quick Shortcuts to log in to cPanel.

If you see “Action Failed Unable to auto-login.”, please open a support ticket so we can check the service linkage.

Step 2: Install WordPress in Softaculous

1. In cPanel, open Softaculous Apps Installer, then select WordPress.
2. Click Install. Complete the form:
   • Choose Protocol and Domain. Pick https:// if your SSL is active.
   • In Directory: leave this blank to install at the domain root. Set a folder name to install under a subdirectory, for example “blog”.
   • Set Admin Username and Password. Do not use “admin”. Set a long password that you do not use on any other account, and store it in a password manager rather than reusing an existing one.
   • If you are reusing a database, set a unique Table Prefix so it does not clash.
3. Click Install. On completion, use the links on the success screen to open your site and the WordPress admin area.

If Softaculous reports “files already exist”, the target folder contains files such as index.php. Either remove the files first, or tick Overwrite files to proceed. Only overwrite if you intend to replace what is there.

Step 3: Secure and tune with Softaculous WordPress Manager

After install, open WordPress Manager in Softaculous for quick hardening and settings:

• Security measures include changing an “admin” login to a random username, setting file permissions (for example files 0644 and directories 0755) and tightening wp-config.php.
• Toggle auto-updates for WordPress core, plugins and themes.
• Control Search Engine Visibility for staging or development installs, and toggle wp-cron or debug mode if needed.

WordPress generally recommends directories 755 or 750, files 644 or 640, and tightening wp-config.php to 440 or 400. Never use 777.

Step 4: Undo the install if you put it in the wrong place

If you installed into the wrong location, use Softaculous to remove the installation you created, then repeat Step 2 and leave “In Directory” blank to install at the domain root. Review the removal prompts carefully so you do not delete the wrong site. If you are unsure, open a support ticket before removing anything.

If it does not work

• Cannot log in to cPanel from the Client Area: If you see “Action Failed Unable to auto-login.” in WHMCS SSO, this is usually a permissions or ownership edge case. Open a support ticket and we will check and fix the service linkage.
• Softaculous says “files already exist”: You are targeting a folder that already contains files. Point the install at an empty location, remove the files first, or tick Overwrite files if you intend to replace the current site. Overwriting the wrong folder will take a live site offline.
• Installed at example.com/wp instead of example.com: You left “In Directory” set. Undo the install in Step 4, then reinstall with “In Directory” blank. Moving a WordPress install after the fact can break URLs and media if done incorrectly.

What next

For a fuller walkthrough that covers staging and push-to-live, alternative routes and cautions, see our guides. If you want us to check anything, please open a support ticket.