Install WordPress with Softaculous #
With Softaculous Can you install WordPress at CURIAWEB directly via cPanel? You don't need to manually download WordPress, create a database by hand, or transfer files to the server via FTP. Softaculous handles the basic technical installation automatically and sets up WordPress on your domain in just a few steps.
For most CURIAWEB customers, this is the easiest and fastest way to get a new WordPress website. During the installation, you can determine, among other things, your desired domain, the installation location, the language, and your WordPress administrator credentials. Afterwards, you can log in directly to the WordPress admin area and start building your website.
Info This guide is suitable for a new WordPress installation. If there is already a website on the desired domain, you should definitely check whether existing files or databases are still needed before installation.
What is Softaculous? #
Softaculous is a so-called auto installer for web applications. It is available in your CURIAWEB hosting via cPanel available and automates the installation of various applications. One of the most important of these is WordPress.
During a manual WordPress installation, you would, among other things, have to download the WordPress files and transfer them to your web space, create a MySQL or MariaDB database, and connect WordPress to this database. Softaculous handles these steps largely automatically.
However, that doesn't mean you should simply ignore all the settings during installation. You should carefully check the domain selection, the installation directory, and the administrator credentials in particular.
Prerequisites for WordPress installation #
Before you install WordPress, you need an active CURIAWEB hosting package and a domain or subdomain on which WordPress is to be set up.
The domain should already be assigned to your hosting. For example, if you meinefirma.ch you want to use, this domain must point to the corresponding hosting or be set up there.
Furthermore, you should briefly consider before installation:
- Under which domain should the website be accessible?
- Should WordPress be installed directly on the domain or in a subdirectory?
- What should the website be called?
- Which email address should be used for the WordPress administrator account?
- What username would you like to use for the administrator?
You can change most of this information later. However, choosing the correct domain and installation directory will save you from unnecessary rework.
Open Softaculous in cPanel #
In the first step, you need to open cPanel. If you are using your hosting with CURIAWEB, you can access cPanel directly via your CURIAWEB customer center.
- Log in to CURIAWEB Customer Center a.
- Open Services > My Services.
- Choose your desired hosting package.
- Click on cPanel Login.
- Search in cPanel for Softaculous Apps Installer.
- Open Softaculous.
You will then reach the Softaculous interface. There you will normally already find WordPress among the popular applications. Alternatively, you can use the search function to search for WordPress search.
Tip: You don't necessarily have to remember a separate cPanel login for this route. Via Single Sign-On in the CURIAWEB customer center, you can open cPanel directly from your hosting product.
Select WordPress in Softaculous #
Click in Softaculous on WordPress. This will take you to the Softaculous WordPress overview.
There you will find information on how to use it and the option to create a new WordPress installation. Click on Install or rather Install Now, depending on the language of your Softaculous interface.
Softaculous will then display the installation form. Here you define where and with what basic settings WordPress should be installed.
Select the installation URL correctly #
One of the most important areas is the selection of Installation URL. Here you decide under which address your WordPress website will be accessible later.
Depending on the Softaculous version or configuration, the protocol, domain, and installation directory are displayed for this.
Use HTTPS #
If an SSL certificate is already set up for your domain, you should install WordPress via HTTPS install. Your website will then be accessible, for example, at the following address:
or:
At CURIAWEB Hosting, SSL encryption is generally available for domains. Today, a new production website should no longer be intentionally set up via unencrypted HTTP.
Choosing the right domain #
In the field for the domain, you select the domain or subdomain where WordPress is to be installed.
If you manage multiple domains in your hosting, you should look particularly closely here. An installation on the wrong domain causes unnecessary work and, in the worst case, can affect an existing website.
Important: The „In Directory“ field“ #
The field „In directory“ is among the most common causes of misdirected WordPress installations.
Would you like to install WordPress directly under your domain, for example:
then you leave the field blank „In directory“ completely empty.
Do you wear there for example WP one, Softaculous installs WordPress instead at:
Warning: If your new WordPress website should be accessible directly via your main domain, delete any suggested entry like WP from the „In directory“ field. The field must be empty.
A subdirectory is not fundamentally wrong. For example, it makes sense if you deliberately have a separate installation under /blog/, /test/ or want to create in another directory. For a normal corporate website on the main domain, however, this is usually not desired.
Set website name and description #
In the next section, you can define basic information for your new website. Depending on the version, Softaculous refers to these as, for example, Site Name and Site Description.
For example, the website name could be:
Muster AG
As a description, you could use, for example:
Your specialist company for building services in Chur
These details are not final. You can change them at any time later in the WordPress dashboard under Settings > General change.
Nevertheless, it is worth using meaningful information during the installation and not just leaving standard texts like „My Blog“ or similar placeholders as they are.
Set up WordPress administrator #
Now you set the login credentials for the first WordPress administrator account. This account has full permissions within your WordPress website.
You will need:
- an administrator username,
- a strong password and
- a valid administrator email address.
Do not use an easily guessable username #
Avoid using unnecessarily obvious administrator usernames if possible. A custom username makes more sense than generic designations.
Even more important, however, is a strong and unique password. The password should be used exclusively for this WordPress installation.
Use a strong password #
Among other things, a WordPress administrator account can install plugins, modify themes, manage users, and edit content. Accordingly, unauthorized access would be critical.
Therefore, use a long, random password and ideally store it in a password manager.
Warning: Never use the same password for your WordPress administrator account as for your CURIAWEB customer center, cPanel, or your email account. Different systems should always have different passwords.
The correct administrator email address #
The administrator email address is used by WordPress for important system notifications. This can include notices about updates, security events, or administrative procedures, for example.
Therefore, use an email address that you have permanent access to.
Select language for WordPress #
Softaculous allows you to select the WordPress language during installation.
For a German-language website, you choose accordingly German. WordPress will then install the user interface in German.
The language can be changed later under Settings > General changed again. Depending on the configuration, individual WordPress users can also use their own language for their administration interface.
Plugins and themes during installation #
Depending on the configuration, Softaculous can install additional plugins or a theme during the WordPress installation itself. In addition, preconfigured plugin and theme sets can be made available.
However, you do not have to randomly install additional plugins. Every plugin extends WordPress with additional functions, but also brings additional code and maintenance effort with it.
Therefore, generally install only plugins whose function you actually need.
Tip: A lean WordPress installation is usually the better starting point. You can always add plugins later specifically via Plugins > Add Plugin install.
Configure automatic WordPress updates #
Softaculous offers settings for automatic WordPress updates. Depending on the configuration, you can determine whether only minor or security-related updates or also major WordPress versions should be installed automatically.
Updates are important for the security of a WordPress website. This applies not only to WordPress itself, but also to installed plugins and themes.
For productive websites, you should still combine automatic updates with a working backup strategy. In rare cases, an update can lead to compatibility issues between WordPress, plugins, or themes.
CURIAWEB creates server-side backups of your hosting. Regardless of this, it is advisable to ensure that a current restore point exists before making major changes to an important website.
Start WordPress installation #
Before starting the installation, check the most important details again:
- Is the correct domain selected?
- Is HTTPS selected?
- Is the „Directory“ field empty if WordPress is to be installed directly on the domain?
- Is the correct language set?
- Did you choose a secure administrator username?
- Is the administrator password strong and unique?
- Is the administrator email address correct?
If everything is correct, click on Install.
Softaculous will now automatically create the required files and database structures and set up WordPress. This process usually only takes a short time.
Do not unnecessarily close the browser window during the installation and wait until Softaculous confirms the successful installation.
WordPress has been successfully installed #
After completion of the installation, Softaculous displays the address of your new website and the link to the WordPress administration area.
For example, if your domain meinefirma.ch is, you can reach your new website at https://meinefirma.ch/.
You usually open the WordPress admin area at https://meinefirma.ch/wp-admin/.
Alternatively, you can use Softaculous or the WordPress Manager to log directly into the WordPress administration.
What should you do right after installation? #
A successful WordPress installation is only the technical foundation of your website. Before you begin with the actual building, you should check a few basic settings.
The most important initial steps include:
- Check website title and description,
- Set permalink structure,
- Remove unnecessary standard content,
- select a suitable WordPress theme,
- only install plugins that are actually needed,
- Keep WordPress, plugins, and themes up to date,
- Check HTTPS and the correct website address,
- Check backup and security features.
Especially the Permalinks Settings you should determine before publishing a lot of content. The permalink structure determines how the URLs of your pages and posts are structured.
What is the Softaculous WordPress Manager? #
After the installation, Softaculous does not simply disappear from the process. Via the WordPress Manager Can you centrally manage existing WordPress installations.
Depending on the available configuration, you can there, for example:
- log in directly to WordPress,
- Update WordPress,
- Manage plugins,
- Manage themes,
- Change administrator passwords,
- Create and restore backups,
- Clone installations,
- Create staging installations.
This not only makes Softaculous an installer, but also a useful management tool for existing WordPress websites.
Common mistakes during WordPress installation #
The installation via Softaculous is straightforward. Nevertheless, some errors keep occurring with new WordPress websites.
WordPress was installed under /wp/ #
If your website suddenly under meinefirma.ch/wp/ instead of directly under meinefirma.ch is reachable, was probably during the installation WP entered in the „In directory“ field.
If you have just installed WordPress and haven't created any content yet, a clean reinstall is often easier than a subsequent migration.
The wrong domain was selected #
If there are multiple domains in the hosting, the wrong domain may be selected by mistake. Therefore, check the complete installation URL before clicking „Install“.
The website is not accessible via HTTPS #
First, check if the SSL certificate for the domain is active. With a new or recently redirected domain, it can also take some time for DNS changes to take effect globally and for the certificate to be correctly provisioned.
The domain does not point to CURIAWEB hosting yet #
WordPress can technically be installed on the hosting even though the domain is still pointing to another server. In this case, you will still reach the previous website via the domain or receive an error message.
In this case, check the DNS configuration or the nameservers of your domain.
The WordPress login is not working #
First, check that you are using the correct administrator username and password. Pay particular attention to old passwords saved in the browser.
If you have forgotten your administrator password, it can be reset via WordPress itself or through your hosting management tools.
Install Softaculous or WordPress manually? #
For most new websites, we recommend installation via Softaculous. The result is a standard WordPress installation, while the auto-installer handles the repetitive technical setup steps for you.
A manual installation can be useful if you consciously need complete control over files, database, and configuration, or if you want to set up a special technical environment.
However, for beginners and most standard WordPress projects, Softaculous offers the significantly more convenient path.
WordPress is installed – what's next? #
After installation, you can begin the actual setup of your website. WordPress initially provides the content management system. The appearance is mainly determined by your theme, while plugins provide additional functions.
If you are not yet familiar with WordPress, you shouldn't immediately install dozens of plugins or change all the settings. Proceed in a structured manner: first get to know the WordPress admin area, configure the basic settings, and then decide which features your website actually needs.
In our WordPress Knowledge Base, we explain the next steps to you one by one. Among other things, these include the general WordPress settings, Permalinks, Themes, Plugins, Pages and Posts as well as the most important basics for safety and maintenance.
Summary #
With Softaculous, you can install WordPress at CURIAWEB directly via cPanel without manually uploading files or setting up a database yourself. To do this, open your hosting in the CURIAWEB customer center, switch via cPanel Login into the hosting management and start the Softaculous Apps Installer.
During the installation, pay special attention to the correct domain, HTTPS, and the field „In directory“. If WordPress should be accessible directly under your main domain, this field must remain empty. Additionally, use an individual administrator login with a strong, unique password and a permanently reachable email address.
After installation, you can usually access the WordPress admin area via your-domain.ch/wp-admin/. From there, you can configure your website, choose a theme, install plugins, and start creating your content.
