Install Joomla with Softaculous on cPanel hosting

Joomla is a flexible open-source CMS, popular for community sites, multilingual sites and portals with structured content. Softaculous installs it in about a minute, including the database and configuration. This guide covers the install options and the first things to set up afterwards.

Before you start

• The domain or subdomain is added in cPanel and has a valid SSL certificate.
• Choose a supported PHP version for the domain in MultiPHP Manager; current Joomla releases need PHP 8.1 or newer.
• Make sure the target folder is empty.

Install Joomla

1. Open cPanel → Software → Softaculous Apps Installer.
2. Search for Joomla (category Portals/CMS) and click Install, then choose Custom Install.
3. Choose Installation URL: protocol https://, your domain, and leave In Directory empty to install at the domain root.
4. Site Settings: site name and description.
5. Admin Account: a unique username (not admin), a strong password, the admin real name and email.
6. Advanced Options: keep the random database name and table prefix; set Auto Upgrade to minor versions and enable automated backups. See auto-upgrades.
7. Optionally tick Install sample data to explore Joomla with demo content (skip it for a real site).
8. Click Install. Softaculous shows the site URL and the administrator URL, https://example.com/administrator/.

First steps in the administrator

1. Log in at /administrator (or use the admin icon in Softaculous All Installations).
2. System → Global Configuration → Site: set the site name, default editor and metadata description.
3. Global Configuration → Site → SEO Settings: turn on Search Engine Friendly URLs and Use URL Rewriting. For rewriting to work, rename htaccess.txt to .htaccess in the Joomla folder using File Manager.
4. Global Configuration → Server: set Force HTTPS to Entire Site, and configure Mail to use SMTP with a mailbox on your domain (host = server hostname, port 465, SSL).
5. System → Install → Extensions: add extensions from the Joomla Extensions Directory as needed; keep the number small.

Backups and updates

• MdmHost backs up your account daily with JetBackup. Add a Softaculous backup before every major update: Softaculous backups.
• Joomla shows available updates on the administrator dashboard; update extensions too.
• Test major version upgrades (for example 4 to 5) on a staging copy first.

Troubleshooting

• 404 on all pages except home: URL rewriting is on but .htaccess is missing; rename htaccess.txt.
• Installer warns about PHP settings: adjust them in Select PHP Version.
• Locked out of the administrator: reset the password via the user row in phpMyAdmin, or ask support.

Next steps

• Install other apps
• Custom error pages