Introduction:

Setting up a WordPress-powered website is a common practice, and cPanel serves as a reliable hosting control panel for this purpose. While Softaculous is a popular tool used to install WordPress on cPanel, there may be situations where a manual installation is preferred. This article will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to install WordPress on cPanel without relying on Softaculous. By following these instructions, you’ll gain a better understanding of the installation process and have more control over your WordPress setup.

Step 1: Download the Latest WordPress Package To start, visit the official WordPress website at wordpress.org and download the most recent version of the WordPress software in the .zip file format. Once the download is complete, extract the contents of the file to a folder on your computer.

Step 2: Create a MySQL Database Before proceeding with the WordPress installation, it’s necessary to create a MySQL database to store your website’s data. In your cPanel dashboard, locate the “Databases” section and click on “MySQL Databases.” Create a new database by specifying a name and clicking the “Create Database” button. Remember to note down the database name, username, and password as they will be required in the following steps.

Step 3: Upload WordPress Files to cPanel To upload the extracted WordPress files to your cPanel account, utilize an FTP client such as FileZilla. Connect to your cPanel account using the provided FTP credentials. Once connected, navigate to the “public_html” directory, which is the root folder for your website. Proceed to upload all the files and folders from the extracted WordPress folder to the “public_html” directory.

Step 4: Configure the wp-config.php File After uploading the files, locate the file named “wp-config-sample.php” within the “public_html” directory. Rename this file to “wp-config.php.” Open the “wp-config.php” file in a text editor and find the following lines:

define('DB_NAME', 'database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'database_username');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'database_password');

Replace 'database_name', 'database_username', and 'database_password' with the database details, you created in Step 2. Save the changes and close the file.

Step 5: Run the WordPress Installation Now it’s time to execute the WordPress installation script. Open a web browser and enter your domain name (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com) in the address bar. This will bring up the WordPress installation page. Choose your preferred language and click on the “Continue” button.

On the next page, provide the required site information, such as the site title, username, password, and email address. Ensure that you select a strong password for security purposes. Once you’ve filled in the necessary details, click on the “Install WordPress” button.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed WordPress on cPanel without using Softaculous. You can now log in to your WordPress dashboard using the credentials you provided during the installation. From here, you can customize your website’s appearance, install themes and plugins, and start creating engaging content.

Conclusion:

While Softaculous offers convenience and simplicity in installing WordPress on cPanel, having the knowledge to perform a manual installation can be advantageous. By following the step-by-step instructions outlined in this guide, you can confidently install WordPress on cPanel without relying on third-party tools like Softaculous. This hands-on approach not only provides you with greater control over the installation process but also deepens your understanding of how WordPress functions.