2 Simple Methods to install WordPress in cPanel (2025 Guide)

WordPress currently powers over 40% of all websites on the internet and for good reason. Its flexibility, ease of use, and extensive customization options make it an ideal platform for everything from personal blogs to dynamic business websites.

If your web hosting provider offers cPanel, you are in a great position. cPanel simplifies website management, and installing WordPress through it is both quick and efficient. Whether you are a beginner building your first website or a developer managing multiple projects, using cPanel to install WordPress ensures a smooth and streamlined setup process.

One of the first steps in launching a WordPress website is the installation process. Thankfully, if your hosting provider uses cPanel, you’re already equipped with one of the easiest and most powerful tools to get started.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through two simple methods to install WordPress in cPanel in 2025:

• A fast, beginner-friendly one-click installation using Softaculous.
• A more advanced Manual Installation that offers greater control.

Whether you are a beginner just starting out or someone setting up multiple websites, this 2025 guide will help you get your WordPress site up and running in just a few minutes.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a free, open-source content management system (CMS) that allows anyone to create and manage websites without needing to know how to code.WordPress is written in the PHP programming language and paired with a MySQL or MariaDB database.

It powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, from personal blogs and small business sites to eCommerce stores and news portals.

Why WordPress Is So Popular

• Free to use
• Beginner-friendly
• Highly customizable with thousands of free themes and plugins
• SEO-friendly
• Supports blogs, portfolios, stores, business sites, and more

What is cPanel?

cPanel is a web-based control panel that helps you manage your website and hosting account easily without needing any technical skills or coding knowledge.

In layman’s terms, cPanel is like the control panel of your website. Think of it as the dashboard or remote control for managing everything related to your web hosting.Just like you use the control panel on your phone or TV to change settings, cPanel lets you easily manage your website without needing to be a tech expert.

What Can You Do with cPanel?

• Upload or manage website files
• Create and manage email accounts
• Create databases (needed for WordPress)
• Install WordPress easily (often using a tool called Softaculous)
• Back up your website
• Add SSL certificates (for HTTPS security)

Why Use cPanel to Install WordPress?

Installing WordPress through cPanel is one of the fastest, easiest, and most beginner-friendly ways to launch your website especially if you are not a developer.

1. One-Click Installation

Most cPanel dashboards include Softaculous App Installer or a similar tool.You can install WordPress in just a few clicks no coding, no uploads, no confusion.

2. Saves Time

• Manual installation involves downloading WordPress, uploading it via FTP, creating a database, and editing config files.
• With cPanel, the entire process is automated and takes less than 5 minutes.

3. Begineer-Friendly Interface

• cPanel uses visual icons and forms instead of technical commands.
• Ideal for users with no technical background.

4. Secure Setup Options

You can easily enable auto-updates, set strong admin credentials, and install SSL for a secure site during installation .

5. Everything in one place

From the same cPanel, you can manage files, email, domains, backups, and your WordPress site — no need to jump between tools.

Prerequisites Before Installing WordPress in cPanel

Before you install WordPress in cPanel, make sure you have the following things ready:

1. A Domain Name

• This is your website’s address (like yourwebsite.com)
• You can register it through a domain registrar or get one via your hosting provider.

2. A Web Hosting Account with cPanel

• You need a hosting provider that offers cPanel access (e.g., Hostinger, Namecheap, Bluehost).
• Make sure your hosting account is active and connected to your domain.

3. cPanel Login Details

• These are provided by your hosting company via email after you purchase a hosting plan.
• You’ll need these to access the cPanel dashboard.

4. Softaculous or WordPress Installer (Optional but Helpful)

• Most cPanel dashboards come with Softaculous Apps Installer, which allows 1-click WordPress installation.
• If it is not available, you will need to install WordPress manually.

5. SSL Certificate (Optional but Recommended)

• SSL secures your site (shows HTTPS instead of HTTP).
• Many hosts offer free SSL certificates via Let’s Encrypt in the cPanel.

Method 1: Install WordPress Using Softaculous in cPanel

If you are new to WordPress, the Softaculous App Installer is the easiest way to install it as it require no coding . You just need a few clicks and you are ready to build your website.

Step 1: Log in to your cPanel account.

Open your browser and go yourdomain.com/cpanel the username and password provided by your hosting provider to access your cPanel dashboard.

Step 2: Find the Softaculous Apps Installer

In your cPanel dashboard, scroll down to the “Software” section and click on “Softaculous Apps Installer.”

You will see a list of popular CMS platforms ,click on the WordPress icon to begin the installation process.

Step 3: Click “Install Now”

After clicking the “Install” button, you will be asked to complete the Software Setup form:

• Choose your domain where you want to install WordPress.( In my case I have installed WordPress in Subdomain name test.shivsingh.com.np)
• If you have an SSL certificate, select https:// as the protocol.
• To install WordPress directly on your main domain (e.g., yourdomain.com), leave the “Directory” field blank.
• Select the latest version of WordPress available for installation.

Step 4: Configure Site and Admin Settings

• Site Settings : In the Site Settings section, enter your desired Site Name and Site Description. These can be anything you like, and you can always update them later from your WordPress dashboard.
• Admin Account: Next, in the Admin Account section, set up your Admin Username, Password, and Email Address.To enhance security, consider using the built-in password generator for a strong and secure password.

Step 5: Select a Theme (Optional)

In the Advanced Options section, you’ll see fields for the Database Name and Table Prefix.
You can leave these as the default values unless you prefer to customize them for better organization or added security.

Step 6: Click “Install”

Wait for the process to complete (usually under a minute) .Here you can see WordPress has been installed succsessfully.Once done, you will see links to your WordPress Admin Dashboard (e.g., yourdomain.com/wp-admin)

Method 2: Manual WordPress Installation via cPanel

Manual installation gives you more control and is a great learning experience. Follow these steps carefully to set up WordPress manually using cPanel.

Step 1: Download WordPress from the Official Website

• Go to the official site: wordpress.org
• Click on the “Download WordPress” button to get the latest .zip file
• Save the file to your computer.

Step 2: Log in to Your cPanel Account

• Visit yourdomain.com/cpanel
• Enter your username and password (provided by your hosting provider)

Step 3: Open the File Manager in cPanel

• In your cPanel dashboard, go to “File Manager”

• Navigate to the “public_html” folder (this is your main website directory)
• Click on “Upload” and select the WordPress .zip file you downloaded earlier

• Once uploaded, right-click and extract the ZIP file

Optional: Move all files from the extracted WordPress folder directly into public_html if you want to install WordPress on your main domain.

Now, the WordPress files are uploaded successfully in cPanel. The next step is to configure the database. For that, follow these steps.

Step 4: Create a MySQL Database and User

• Go back to your cPanel dashboard and search Databases
• Click on Manage My Database.

Follow these steps:

Create a Database – Enter you Database name (e.g. I have used Test)

Create a Database User – Set a username and password . I have used user1 as a username and use password generator.

Once the Database and Database User are created, you need to assign the User to the Database.

Assign All Privileges – Check “All Privileges” to give full access.

Save your Database Name, Username, and Password as you will need them in the next step.

To verify,  that your Database is created go back and scroll down to view current databases. There should be a database and a privileged user assigned to the database.

Step 5: Configure wp-config.php (Optional but Recommended)

• In File Manager, find wp-config-sample.php in your WordPress files
• Right-click → Rename it to wp-config.php
• Edit the file and enter the database details:

After adding Datbase Details.

Step 6: Run the WordPress Installation Script

Now in your browser, go to: yourdomain.com or yourdomain.com/foldername (if installed in a subfolder) and search the WordPress Installation Wizard will appear.

Fill in the following:

• Site Title: you need to use according to your website. ( e.g I have used Travelling Website)
• Admin Username & Password
• Admin Email
• Search Engine Visibility (you can uncheck this during development)
• Click Install WordPress

Finally the wordpress has been installed as you can see below .

Step 7: Log In and Start Building!

Once installation is complete, go to:yourdomain.com/wp-admin.Log in using your admin username and password — and you’re in! You can now install a theme, plugins, and start customizing your site.

Softaculous vs Manual Installation: Which One Should You Choose?

If you not sure which method is right for you? Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you decide:

Feature	Softaculous Installation	Manual Installation
Ease of Use	Very beginner-friendly	Requires basic technical skills
Control	Limited customization	Full control over every step
Setup Time	2–5 minutes (quick setup)	10–15 minutes (more steps)
Flexibility	Less flexible	More flexible (custom setup)
Error Handling	Automatically handles errors	You troubleshoot manually
Database Setup	Automatic	Manual creation required
Recommended For	Beginners, hobby bloggers	Developers, tech-savvy users

Post-Installation Checklist: What to Do After Installing WordPress

Once WordPress is installed via cPanel, your website is live — but it is just the beginning. Here’s a simple checklist to help you set up your site properly and securely:

1. Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard

• Go to yourdomain.com/wp-admin
• Use the admin username and password you created during installation

2. Set Up SEO-Friendly Permalinks

• Go to Settings → Permalinks
• Choose “Post name” for clean, SEO-optimized URLs
  (e.g., yourdomain.com/sample-post instead of yourdomain.com/?p=123)
• Click Save Changes

3. Install a WordPress Theme

• Go to Appearance → Themes → Add New
• You can browse free themes or upload a premium one.

4. Install Essential Plugins

• Go to Plugins → Add New
• Recommended plugins for a fresh site.

5. Delete Default Content

• Delete the default “Hello World!” post, sample page, and comment
• Go to Posts, Pages, and Comments and clean them up for a fresh start

Must-Have WordPress Themes & Plugins for Beginners

If you have just installed WordPress and are wondering where to begin, don’t worry. One of the best parts of WordPress is its flexibility. With the right theme and a few essential plugins, you can turn a basic site into a fast, functional, and professional-looking website.

Here’s a quick overview of both — with links to detailed guides if you want to go deeper:

Best Beginner-Friendly WordPress Themes (Free & SEO-Friendly)

Your WordPress theme defines the look and feel of your site. Whether you are a blogger, business owner, or freelancer, choosing a lightweight and SEO-optimized theme is essential for performance and ranking.

Here are a few beginner favorites:

• Astra – Lightweight, customizable, and perfect for any niche.
• Neve – Fast-loading and works great with page builders.
• Kadence – Known for performance and beautiful design templates.
• GeneratePress – Highly optimized and minimalistic.
• Blocksy – Built for the modern WordPress block editor.

Want to explore more SEO-friendly themes for bloggers?
Read this guide: 10 Best SEO-Friendly WordPress Themes for Bloggers in 2025

Essential Free Plugins for Every New WordPress Site

Plugins add functionality to your WordPress site — from SEO and security to backups and forms. Here are some must-haves to get started:

• Rank Math – A beginner-friendly SEO plugin to help you rank.
• WPForms Lite – Create contact forms with a drag-and-drop builder.
• UpdraftPlus – Backup your website with one click.
• Wordfence Security – Protect your site from malware and hackers.
• LiteSpeed Cache – Speed up your site with caching and optimization.

Want a full list of essential plugins with use-cases and install guides?
Check out: 10 Free Plugins for Every New WordPress Website

FAQS

Conclusion

Installing WordPress via cPanel is simple and beginner-friendly, especially when you use tools like Softaculous for one-click setup. Whether you choose the quick method or go for manual installation, both approaches will help you launch a fully functional website in minutes.

At ikreatethemes, we are passionate about helping beginners build beautiful WordPress sites with ease. Once you’ve installed WordPress, the next step is choosing the right theme — and that’s where we come in. Explore our collection of SEO-friendly, fast, and customizable WordPress themes designed to make your website stand out in 2025.