WordPress Resource Master List

WordPress is one of the most widely used platforms for building websites. This master list walks through the basic WordPress workflows on Exact Hosting — installing, importing, updating, accessing admin, resetting passwords, and creating a staging environment.

About WordPress on Exact Hosting

Exact Hosting WordPress Hosting uses the Softaculous installer in cPanel to provision and manage WordPress installations. From the Softaculous WordPress panel, you can install or import a site, run updates, launch the admin area, reset passwords, and create staging sites.

Before you begin

• An active Exact Hosting WordPress Hosting service with cPanel access. The Softaculous WordPress workflows in this article are not available on Managed WordPress plans.
• WordPress admin credentials. Some workflows (password reset from the admin area, theme switching) require administrator access.

Step 1: Open cPanel and Softaculous WordPress

1. Log in to the Exact Hosting client area.
2. Select Services.
3. Click Active next to your hosting service.
4. Click Login to cPanel.
5. Click the WordPress icon under Scripts.

Installing WordPress

1. From the Softaculous WordPress page, click Install now for a quick install.
2. Select the domain to install WordPress on and click Quick install.
3. When installation completes, click the Admin icon to open the WordPress admin area.

Importing an existing WordPress site

If you already have WordPress installation files in your public_html directory, you can import them into Softaculous.

1. From the Softaculous WordPress page, click Import.
2. Confirm the correct domain is selected and click Import.
3. When the import completes, click the Admin icon to open the WordPress admin area.

Updating the WordPress version

1. From the Softaculous WordPress page, locate your installation in the Current Installations list.
2. Click the upgrade icon to install the latest WordPress version.

Accessing the WordPress admin area

Exact Hosting recommends using the Softaculous auto-login feature instead of yourdomain.com/wp-admin for better security.

1. From the Softaculous WordPress page, locate your installation.
2. Click the Admin icon to open the WordPress admin area without entering a password.

Resetting your WordPress admin password

WordPress offers several ways to reset an admin password. For step-by-step instructions on each method (admin area, email recovery, Softaculous, phpMyAdmin), see Resetting your WordPress admin password.

Creating a staging environment in Softaculous

WordPress staging clones your live site so you can test changes safely.

1. From the Softaculous WordPress page, click the Staging icon for your installation.
2. Select the domain and directory where the staging site will live.
3. Click Create staging.
4. When the staging site is created, click Return to overview.

Accessing your staging WordPress admin

1. From the Softaculous WordPress page, locate your staging installation in the overview.
2. Click the Admin icon to enter the staging WordPress admin.

Publishing your staging site

1. From the Softaculous WordPress page, locate the staging installation.
2. Click the Push to Live icon.
3. Click Push to live to confirm.
4. When the push completes, click Return to overview.

Next steps

• Back up WordPress manually. See WordPress manual backup (Softaculous).
• Update plugins. See Updating WordPress plugins.
• Update themes. See Updating WordPress themes.
• Find more help on WordPress.org. Visit WordPress support.

Questions? Contact Exact Hosting Support.