Installing Applications with Softaculous (One-Click Installer)

Softaculous is a one-click application installer built into cPanel. It lets you install popular software — like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, online stores, and forums — without manually uploading files or creating databases. This article shows you how to find Softaculous and install your first application.

What Softaculous does for you

Normally, installing web software means downloading it, uploading the files to your server, creating a database, and editing configuration files. Softaculous does all of that for you in a few clicks. It also keeps a list of what you have installed so you can manage updates and backups from one place.

Your Exact Hosting plan includes access to Softaculous with a large library of applications. [SME CONFIRM: the advertised "100+ one-click apps" number and that Softaculous (rather than another installer) is the tool exposed in cPanel.]

If you specifically want WordPress, you can also follow the dedicated WordPress installation article [LINK NEEDED] — the steps below work for WordPress and every other application in the library.

Before you begin

• A domain pointed to your hosting account. Your application installs onto a domain or subdomain. See Pointing Your Domain to Your Exact Hosting Account.
• cPanel access. You install applications from inside cPanel.
• A decision about where to install. You can install on your main domain, a subdomain, or in a folder (for example, yourdomain.com/blog).

Step 1: Open Softaculous in cPanel

1. Sign in to cPanel.
2. Scroll to the Softaculous Apps Installer section. [SME CONFIRM: exact section name in the current cPanel theme.]
3. Either select a featured application directly, or open the full installer to browse the library.

Step 2: Choose your application

1. Browse or search for the application you want (for example, WordPress).
2. Select the application to open its overview page.
3. Select Install Now to start.

Step 3: Configure the installation

Softaculous shows a form with the settings for your new install. The most important fields are described below.

Tip: Leave the In Directory field empty if you want the application to be the main thing visitors see at your domain. Anything you type there becomes part of the address.

Warning: Installing an application into a directory that already contains a website can overwrite existing files. Install into an empty location, or back up first.

Step 4: Complete the install

1. Review your settings.
2. Select Install.
3. Wait for the progress bar to finish — this usually takes under a minute.

When it completes, Softaculous shows you two links: your site's address and its administration (login) URL. Save the admin URL and your credentials.

Managing what you've installed

Return to Softaculous at any time to:

• See all your installed applications in one list.
• Create backups before making changes.
• Remove an installation you no longer need.

Note: Keep your applications and their plugins or themes updated. Outdated software is the most common way websites get compromised. See Hardening Your WordPress Site and My Website Was Hacked: Cleanup & Recovery.

Next steps

• Secure your site. Confirm your free SSL is active — see Your Free SSL Certificate (AutoSSL).
• Install on more sites. Add another domain to your plan with Managing Addon Domains.
• Set up a database manually. If you install software outside Softaculous, see Creating and Managing MySQL Databases.

Questions? Contact Exact Hosting Support.