Install WordPress manually in cPanel

Most MdmHost customers install WordPress with Softaculous in one click, but a manual install gives you full control over the database name, the table prefix and the folder layout. It is also the best way to understand what an installer does for you, which helps later when something breaks.

Before you start

• A cPanel hosting account with your domain pointed at it (the domain's A record or nameservers point to MdmHost).
• The latest WordPress ZIP from wordpress.org saved on your computer.
• A free SSL certificate issued by AutoSSL, so you can install on https:// from the start.

Upload the WordPress files

1. Log in to the MdmHost dashboard, open Services and click Login to cPanel.
2. Go to cPanel → Files → File Manager and open public_html (or the document root of an addon domain).
3. Click Upload, select wordpress-x.y.z.zip and wait until the bar turns green.
4. Back in File Manager, right-click the ZIP and choose Extract. This creates a wordpress folder.
5. Open the wordpress folder, click Select All, then Move and change the path to /public_html/. Delete the empty folder and the ZIP afterwards.

Create the database and user

1. Open cPanel → Databases → Manage My Databases (called MySQL Databases on older themes).
2. Under Create New Database enter a name such as wp. cPanel adds your account prefix, giving e.g. user_wp.
3. Under Add New User create a user and use the password generator for a strong password. Copy it somewhere safe.
4. Under Add User To Database pick the user and database, click Add, tick ALL PRIVILEGES and save.

Run the WordPress installer

1. Visit https://yourdomain.com. WordPress starts its setup wizard and asks for your language.
2. Enter the database name, username and password exactly as cPanel shows them, including the prefix. Leave Database Host as localhost.
3. Change the Table Prefix from wp_ to something short and unique such as mdm7_.
4. Click Run the installation, then set the site title, an admin username (never admin), a strong password and your email address.

If the wizard cannot write wp-config.php it shows the file's contents instead. Create wp-config.php in File Manager, paste the text, save and continue.

What to check afterwards

• Settings → General: both addresses start with https://.
• Settings → Permalinks: choose Post name and save so cPanel's .htaccess rules are written.
• Install the LiteSpeed Cache plugin, because MdmHost servers run LiteSpeed.
• Confirm daily JetBackup backups cover the new database under cPanel → JetBackup.

Troubleshooting

• Error establishing a database connection: the database name or user is missing the cPanel prefix, or the user was never added to the database.
• Directory listing or 403: the files are still inside public_html/wordpress; move them up one level.
• Installer loops back to the language screen: clear your browser cache and make sure no old wp-config.php is present.

Next steps

• Harden your new WordPress site
• Understand wp-config.php settings
• Make WordPress fast on MdmHost
• Set up AutoSSL in cPanel