Softaculous installs WordPress for you in a few minutes, including the database and the admin account.

Before you start

• Point your domain to PaduHost if you haven't already. You can install WordPress first, but you'll only see the site once the domain points to us. See Pointing your domain to PaduHost.
• Check your website folder. If you're installing on your main domain, move or delete anything in public_html you don't need, including the placeholder index.html.

Installing WordPress

1. Log in to DirectAdmin.
2. Go to Extra Features and click Softaculous Apps Installer.
3. Find WordPress and click Install.
4. Under Software Setup:
   • Choose protocol: choose https://.
   • Choose domain: choose the domain for your website.
   • In directory: leave this blank to install on your main domain. Softaculous often fills in wp, so delete it unless you want your site at yourdomain.com/wp.
5. Under Site Settings, enter your site name and description. You can change both later.
6. Under Admin Account, set up your WordPress login:
   • Choose a username other than admin, which is the first one attackers try.
   • Use a strong password and save it in a password manager.
   • Enter an email address you check. WordPress sends password resets and important notices there.
7. Choose your language.
8. Under Select Plugins, tick any plugins you want. Those marked Pro, such as Pagelayer, SiteSEO and Loginizer, are installed in their Pro version at no extra cost. Leave SpeedyCache unticked if you will use LiteSpeed Cache, as two caching plugins conflict.
9. Under Advanced Options, we recommend:
   • Auto upgrade: minor versions only, so security fixes are applied automatically.
   • Auto upgrade WordPress plugins and themes: tick these if you don't plan to update them yourself regularly.
   • Automated backups: choose a schedule if you'd like Softaculous to back up your site. Backups use your account's disk space.
10. Click Install.

The installation takes a minute or two. When it's done, log in at yourdomain.com/wp-admin.

If Softaculous says files already exist in the folder, only choose to overwrite them if you're sure you don't need them.

Next steps

• Turn on caching: Speeding up WordPress with LiteSpeed Cache
• Check your SSL certificate: Free SSL certificates (Let's Encrypt)
• Keep things up to date: Keeping WordPress, themes and plugins up to date

We'll do our best to help troubleshoot WordPress, plugins, themes and other third-party software, but for in-depth help, please contact the software's developer or its official support forum.