WordPress powers over 40% of all websites on the internet, making it the world's most popular content management system. At SakuraHost, we make WordPress installation effortless through Softaculous, an auto-installer that handles all the technical setup for you. This guide walks you through every step of installing WordPress on your SakuraHost hosting account.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
- An active hosting account with SakuraHost. If you don't have one yet, visit our hosting plans page to get started.
- A registered domain name pointed to SakuraHost nameservers
- Access to your cPanel dashboard at billing.sakurahost.co.tz
Step-by-Step Installation
Navigate to billing.sakurahost.co.tz and log in to your client area. From your active hosting service, click Log in to cPanel. Alternatively, you can access cPanel directly via yourdomain.co.tz:2083.
In cPanel, scroll down to the Software section and click on Softaculous Apps Installer. You'll see a library of over 400 applications. WordPress is featured prominently on the main page. Click the WordPress icon or use the search bar to find it.
Click the blue Install button on the WordPress overview page. You'll be presented with the installation configuration form.
Fill in the following fields:
- Choose Protocol: Select
https://if you have an SSL certificate (SakuraHost provides free Let's Encrypt SSL). - Choose Domain: Select the domain where you want WordPress installed.
- In Directory: Leave this blank to install on the root domain (e.g.,
yourdomain.co.tz). Enter a folder name likeblogif you want it atyourdomain.co.tz/blog.
- Site Name: Enter your website title (you can change this later).
- Site Description: Add a tagline for your site.
- Enable Multisite: Leave unchecked unless you need a network of sites.
- Admin Username: Choose a unique username. Avoid
adminfor security reasons. - Admin Password: Use a strong password with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.
- Admin Email: Enter your active email address for important notifications.
Select your preferred language. Softaculous may offer optional plugins like Limit Login Attempts or Classic Editor. These are helpful but can be added later from the WordPress dashboard.
Expand the Advanced Options section to customize:
- Database Name: Auto-generated, but you can customize it.
- Table Prefix: Change from the default
wp_to something unique likesk_for added security. - Auto Upgrade: Enable to keep WordPress updated automatically.
- Backup Location: Set to your preferred backup storage.
Review your settings and click the Install button. Softaculous will create the database, copy files, and configure WordPress. This typically takes 30-60 seconds.
After Installation
Once complete, you'll receive two URLs:
- Site URL:
https://yourdomain.co.tz— your live website - Admin URL:
https://yourdomain.co.tz/wp-admin— your dashboard
Recommended First Steps
- Install an SSL Certificate: Go to cPanel > SSL/TLS Status and ensure your domain has a valid certificate. SakuraHost includes free AutoSSL.
- Set Permalinks: Navigate to Settings > Permalinks and choose Post name for SEO-friendly URLs.
- Install a Security Plugin: We recommend Wordfence or Sucuri Security.
- Choose a Theme: Browse Appearance > Themes for free options or install a premium theme.
- Configure Caching: Install LiteSpeed Cache for optimal performance on SakuraHost servers.
Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues
- 500 Internal Server Error: Check your
.htaccessfile and PHP version. SakuraHost supports PHP 7.4 through 8.3. - Database Connection Error: Verify the database credentials in
wp-config.php. Softaculous handles this automatically, but manual edits can introduce typos. - SSL Mixed Content: After enabling SSL, use the Really Simple SSL plugin to fix mixed content warnings.
For more detailed WordPress documentation, visit the official WordPress Developer Resources.