How to Install & Manage Applications in Softaculous

ByIqra Akram

Softaculous is an auto-installer for applications, which can be accessed through cPanel, and makes the whole process of website creation and management much easier. It is a quick and effective way of installing a website with just a series of clicks, without having to manually upload files and set up a database.

In addition to installation, Softaculous has all the tools needed to manage updates, backups, security, and cloning of applications. This ensures that websites remain stable, secure, and easy to manage. All applications are managed from a single location, making site administration more organized and easier to manage.

Accessing Softaculous in cPanel

To start using the Softaculous installer, you must access it from your cPanel account. To open the Softaculous dashboard, follow the steps given below:

  1. Log into your cPanel account.
  2. Go down to the Software section.
  3. Click on Softaculous Apps Installer.
  4. The Softaculous control panel will be opened, displaying:
    • Application categories on the left side.
    • Showing featured and prominent applications within the main panel.
  5. One can use the search bar to easily locate a desired application.
  6. Click an application to see the details, demos, and installations.

Installing an application through Softaculous

Installing applications is also quite easy, with clear options for configuration and installation:

  1. Select the application from the category list or enter a search for the application.
  2. Click on Install Now.
  3. Start with the Software Setup section to specify where and how the installation of the application will occur.
    • Choose a protocol for your website:
      • http:// – Standard connection without SSL. Do not use for security purposes.
      • http://www. – Standard URL with the www. suffix.
      • https:// – Safe connection using SSL encryption. Should be used by all sites.
      • https://www. – Secure connection via SSL and inclusion of www in the URL.
    • Pick the domain or subdomain from the drop-down menu, where you would like to install this application.
    • Simply leave the directory blank to install within the root directory or enter the sub-directory to install the contents in the subfolder, for example yourdomain.com/name.
    • Pick the application version that you would like to install. The latest version is always the best, but older versions may also be picked if required.
  4. Enter the website details:
    • Include the name of the website (which can be changed later).
    • Add a brief description to encompass the identity of the website.
  5. Configuring the admin account:
    • Define a safe admin login name.
    • Set a strong password for security reasons, or click on the key icon to auto generate a strong password.
    • Input a valid email to enable notifications and password reset functionality.
    • Configure Advanced Options (Optional)
      • Click on the plus icon (+) to open the Advanced Options section.
      • Database Name: You can change the database name if you’d like, but a database name will be generated by default by Softaculous.
      • Table Prefix: Prefix will be automatically generated. Only change this prefix whenever you need to customize the tables for this install.
      • Disable Update Notification Emails: Select this option to stop emails from being sent to you every time an update is available for the installation.
      • Auto Upgrade: Select how the application is to be upgraded:
        • Do Not Auto Upgrade: No auto update; rather, you’ll perform an update yourself.
        • Upgrade to any latest version available: Softaculous will automatically update the application to the latest version, including major and minor releases.
        • Backup Location: Select locations for backup storage (Default or local).
        • Automated Backups: Choose whether to make backups automatically:
          • Don’t Backup: No automatic backups will be created.
          • Once a Month: There would be an automatic backup done every month.
        • Backup Rotation: The latest backup is automatically maintained by Softaculous, so your site will have a current copy. The old backups will be overwritten by newer backups.
  6. Input your email address in the Email installation details box in order to get admin details and installation confirmation.
  7. Click the Install button and wait for the installation to finish.
  8. After the installation process is completed, you are able to visit your website using the URL provided.

Installed Applications Management

With Softaculous, you can access all the applications that you have installed from a centralized interface. This will allow you to use the application, create a backup, use the staging application, edit the settings, or delete the application.

  1. Go to your cPanel dashboard.
  2. Scroll down to the Software section and click on Softaculous App Installer.
  3. To see a list of installed applications, click on Installations.
  4. You are able to do the following from the list:
    • Login to Admin Panel
    • Staging
    • Backup
    • Edit Settings
    • Clone
    • Remove/Delete

Login to Admin Panel

  • Click Admin icon next to your application.
  • You will immediately be logged into the admin panel without needing to input your credentials.
  • From here, you can control website content and other settings.

Staging

Staging makes it possible for you to make a copy of the live site where you can test designs before applying them to the live site.

  • Click the Staging icon alongside the application.
  • Specify the protocol needed at the staging environment (http://, http://www., https://, or https://www.).
  • Choose a domain or subdirectory where your staging site will be created.
  • The database name shall be automatically generated. You may modify it if necessary.
  • Click the Create Staging button.
    Softaculous will replicate your live site to your staging site so you can test changes without damaging your live site.

Backup

Making backups means your website and database will be secure if a problem arises.

  • Click on the Backup icon next to the application.
  • Select backup options:
    • Backup Location: Choose the storage location (Default or Local).
    • Backup Directory: This option will create a backup of the whole website folder when checked.
    • Backup Database: This option, if checked, will ensure the database used by the application is backed up.
    • Backup Note: You can optionally provide a description of the backup.
  • Click on Backup Installation to create the backup.
  • The system will create the backup, which can be restored whenever required.
  • In order to view a backup, click on Softaculous on the sidebar and select Backups. Here, you can control all of your saved backups.

Clone

This helps you to create a copy of the website at a completely different location for testing and/or staging.

  • Click on the Clone icon alongside the application.
  • Select the protocol of the cloned website (http://, http://www., https://, https://www.).
  • Choose the domain or subdirectory where the clone will be created.
  • The name of the database is generated automatically. However, this name can be customized whenever necessary.
  • Click Clone Installation. It will copy your website and its database to the desired location.

Edit Settings

This option is used to update key information of the application installation.

  • Click the Edit Settings icon next to the application.
  • Now make the necessary changes in the installation settings.
  • Save changes to apply them immediately to your application.

Remove/Delete

Uninstall or remove applications you do not need anymore.

  • Click the Delete icon alongside the application.
  • Choose the options you want:
    • Remove Directory: Remove the files for the website.
    • Remove Database: Removes the application database.
    • Remove Database User: This removes the database user for this application.
  • Click Remove Installation and proceed with its deletion.
  • The components you chose will be permanently deleted, which will reduce the space used on your web-hosting account.

Updating Applications Safely

Up-to-date applications are important in terms of security, performance, and new feature advancements. It is important to keep your applications updated, and doing so is made easier by Softaculous.

  • Navigate to your Softaculous home page by clicking on Softaculous in the left menu.
  • Click on Outdated Installations in order to see a list of all applications where updates are available.
  • Look for the application that needs updating and click the Update icon alongside.
  • Before updating:
    • Backup your application and database to avoid data loss.
    • In the backup options, select:
      1. Full Backup: Create a complete backup of your website and database easily.
      2. Advanced Options: Customize your backup:
        • Backup Directory: Select this option to Back Up Website Files.
        • Backup Database: Select this option if you want to back up the application database.
  • Click on the Upgrade icon to apply the updated version. Softaculous will automatically upgrade the required files and database.

Tip: During the installation process, make sure you enable Auto Upgrade in the Advanced Options section of the installer if you want Softaculous to automatically apply any future updates, even minor version updates.

Softaculous is a highly useful and time-saving tool for the installation and management of web applications. By following the procedure written in this guide, you can install, back up, test, clone, update, and uninstall applications easily. Using Softaculous effectively will ensure your sites are secure, updated, and functioning properly, giving you more time to grow your online business.

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