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How do I install a new WordPress website in cPanel?

Open cPanel → WordPress Manager by Softaculous → Install to reach the setup form. Choose the intended domain, HTTPS address and an empty installation location, then enter your site and administrator details. Review Your installation URL before using the final Install button. This creates a new website; use our migration guide to move an existing WordPress site.

Check the installation location first

  • Sign in to your account, find the correct hosting service in Services and choose Log in to cPanel. On a phone, choose cPanel.
  • Open Domains and find the domain you plan to use. Check Document Root and open its folder link in File Manager. In File Manager, open Settings, tick Show Hidden Files (dotfiles) and choose Save, then inspect the intended installation location. Stop if it contains existing files, including .htaccess; ask the maintainer to identify them before proceeding. Do not assume a placeholder means there is no content to preserve.
  • If the domain has not been added to the hosting account, follow our additional-website guide first. Adding a domain and registering ownership of it are separate tasks.
  • Use our SSL-certificate guide to check that the exact address you plan to use has valid HTTPS, including www if you choose it. Do not select HTTP or bypass a certificate warning just to complete the installation.
  • If you are replacing a website deliberately, back it up and agree how to preserve its data before proceeding. Installing a fresh copy does not preserve the existing site's pages, users, orders or settings. Use our migration guide when moving an existing site.

Open the form and choose the address

  • In cPanel, open WordPress Manager by Softaculous. On WordPress Management, choose Install. This first Install action opens the WordPress setup form; it does not submit the installation.
  • Under Software Setup → Choose Installation URL, set Choose Protocol to the HTTPS form of your intended address. Decide whether you want the address with or without www, matching the address and certificate you checked.
  • In Choose Domain, explicitly select the intended domain. The form can start with your main domain, so do not accept the default without checking it.
  • For WordPress at the domain's main address, leave In Directory blank and confirm the domain's document root is the intended empty target. For a separate subfolder, enter only the new folder name and check that its destination is unused. If the folder already contains a website, stop and use the migration guide instead. Do not enter a full website URL or repeat the domain name in this field.
  • Review Your installation URL. It must match the exact domain, www choice and subfolder you intended. Choose the WordPress version using Choose the version you want to install, taking account of compatibility requirements from any theme or plugins you already plan to use. Do not rely on a version number copied from an older guide.

Set up the site and administrator

  • Under Site Settings, enter your Site Name and Site Description. Leave Enable Multisite (WPMU) and Disable WordPress Cron unchanged unless your planned setup specifically needs those options. They are not needed merely to create an ordinary new website.
  • Under Admin Account, choose an Admin Username, a strong, unique Admin Password and an Admin Email you can access. Save the details securely. This is the WordPress administrator account, separate from your cPanel or account sign-in with us.
  • Set Select Language for the website's administration. Review Select Plugins and include only the plugins you intend to use; do not accept extra selections without checking their purpose.
  • Review Advanced Options before submitting, including the backup choices. Do not assume installer backups are enabled. Use our backup guide to plan how to protect the site after installation.
  • Recheck the installation URL, empty target location, administrator email and saved password. Choose the final Install button once. Do not start a second installation while the first is running.

Check the new website

  • Wait for the installation result. Softaculous provides website and administration links after a successful installation. Open them and check that they use the address you chose, then confirm you can sign in to WordPress.
  • Check the public home page over HTTPS and confirm it is the new site you intended. If another site or a parked page appears, follow our wrong-website checks before installing another copy.
  • If an existing-files or database error appears, stop and record it. Do not force an overwrite, delete the target folder or keep choosing Install. A failed attempt can leave files behind, so the destination needs checking before a retry.
  • If you need help, open Support → New Ticket and set Department to Tech/Server. Include the chosen website URL, installation location and exact error. Do not include the administrator password or a screenshot showing generated credentials.