Softaculous, the app installer on Domain India's DirectAdmin hosting, installs WordPress in a few minutes. It creates the database, writes wp-config.php and sets up your admin login for you. This guide covers the install, the checks to make first, and the settings that matter on our DirectAdmin server.
Point your domain at your hosting, open DirectAdmin with the DirectAdmin button in the client area, then open Softaculous and choose WordPress › Install. Pick your domain and https://, leave the directory empty for the main site, set a unique admin username and a strong password, and click Install. Afterwards, delete any leftover index.html, add a caching plugin such as WP Super Cache, and send site email with PHP mail(), not an SMTP plugin.
1. Before you start
Three things need to be in place first, or the install either fails or finishes on a site nobody can reach.
- An active DirectAdmin hosting account. Sign in to the client area and open My Hosting. The DirectAdmin button on your domain's row appears while the account is Active.
- Your domain pointing at the hosting. Use your hosting nameservers, or an A record for the domain and
wwwpointing at the server IP shown on the service's Manage › Access tab. See how to change your nameservers. - Free SSL issued. WordPress should run on
https://from day one. On DirectAdmin you request the free Let's Encrypt certificate once from the domain's SSL page, after DNS points at us. See enabling Let's Encrypt in DirectAdmin.
If public_html already holds a website, take a copy of its files and export its database first. A new install in the same folder can overwrite files such as index.php and .htaccess.
2. Open DirectAdmin and Softaculous
- Open DirectAdmin.In the client area, go to My Hosting and click DirectAdmin on your domain's row. It opens the panel in a new tab, already signed in. You can also sign in at
https://yourdomain.com:2222with your DirectAdmin username and password. - Find Softaculous.It is installed on our DirectAdmin server. If you don't see it on the panel's home screen, type "Softaculous" into the search box at the top of DirectAdmin.
- Choose WordPress.It is usually the first app listed, or search for it by name. Click Install.
Lost the DirectAdmin password? Reset it from the Access tab; see how to reset your DirectAdmin password. Other login routes are in logging in to DirectAdmin from the client area.
3. Fill in the install form
| Field | What to enter | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Choose Protocol | https:// (with or without www) | Use https:// once the free certificate is issued |
| Choose Domain | The domain you want WordPress on | Each domain in your account appears in the list |
| In Directory | Leave empty for the main site | Enter a folder name such as blog only for a sub-folder install |
| Site Name and Description | Your business name and a short line | You can change both later in WordPress |
| Admin Username | Anything except admin or your domain name | Common usernames are the first ones attackers try |
| Admin Password | A long, unique password | Keep it in a password manager |
| Admin Email | An address you check | Password resets and security notices go here |
| Language | Your site language | English and many Indian languages are available |
Advanced Options lets you change the database name and table prefix, and set automatic updates and Softaculous backups. The defaults are fine for most sites. Leave automatic updates for minor versions switched on.
Click Install. Softaculous downloads WordPress, creates a database and database user with your account prefix (for example username_wp123), and shows a success screen with your site address and admin address.
4. Log in and check the site
- Your site:
https://yourdomain.com - Your dashboard:
https://yourdomain.com/wp-admin
Our DirectAdmin server serves index.html before index.php. If your domain still shows a placeholder page after the install, open the File Manager, go to domains/yourdomain.com/public_html and delete or rename the leftover index.html.
If the site loads over http:// but not https://, the certificate hasn't been issued yet. DirectAdmin issues it automatically once the domain points to the server: check Account Manager › SSL/TLS Certificates to see whether it has been issued, then set both addresses under Settings › General in WordPress to https://.
5. First settings after install
- Permalinks. Go to Settings › Permalinks and choose Post name. Rewrite rules in
.htaccesswork on our DirectAdmin server. - Caching. Our shared hosting runs the Apache web server, so install a page-cache plugin such as WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache. LiteSpeed Cache needs a LiteSpeed server and does nothing here.
- Security. Keep WordPress, themes and plugins updated, remove anything you don't use, and consider a security plugin such as Wordfence or Solid Security. On the server side, Imunify360 and ModSecurity already filter attacks.
- Theme and pages. Choose one well-maintained theme and build your pages.
- Tidy up. Delete the sample post, sample page and any themes you are not using.
For a full walkthrough of WordPress itself, read Mastering WordPress: a step-by-step guide.
6. Server settings that affect WordPress
These values were measured on our DirectAdmin server in September 2026.
| Setting | On our DirectAdmin server | What it means for WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| PHP versions | Up to PHP 8.3, chosen per domain | Choose a version WordPress supports; see changing the PHP version in DirectAdmin |
| Upload limit | 64 MB per upload | Larger themes, plugins or media must go up by FTP or File Manager |
max_execution_time | 30 seconds by default | Long imports can time out; split them into smaller batches |
| Cron jobs | Every 4 minutes at the most | Jobs set to run every 1, 2 or 3 minutes run every 4 minutes |
| Outgoing mail | 1,000 messages per day per account | Fine for contact forms; use a bulk-mail service for newsletters |
php_value and php_flag lines in .htaccess cause a 500 error, because PHP does not run as an Apache module. Change PHP settings in the panel instead.
7. Sending email from WordPress
Contact forms and password resets need WordPress to send mail. On our DirectAdmin server, outgoing SMTP connections from scripts are blocked, including to localhost, so SMTP plugins such as WP Mail SMTP fail. Leave WordPress on its default PHP mail() transport. Create a real mailbox such as [email protected] in DirectAdmin and use it as the "from" address, so replies and bounces have somewhere to go.
If mail from the site doesn't arrive, check the SPF and DKIM records for your domain; DKIM on DirectAdmin uses the selector x, and most domains already have a key.
8. Backups and updates
Our DirectAdmin server takes weekly JetBackup backups of your account (Sunday, 5 copies kept), which you can download or restore from JetBackup in the panel. See backup and restore with JetBackup. Before a major update, also take your own copy: Softaculous can back up an installation, or download the files and export the database from phpMyAdmin.
9. Where Domain India fits
DirectAdmin hosting from Domain India includes Softaculous, free Let's Encrypt SSL, weekly JetBackup backups, and Imunify360 security. Plans start at ₹100 a month for DA Starter (1 website), ₹150 for DA Growth (5 websites) and ₹300 for DA Business (25 websites), Domain India list prices on 19 September 2026, excluding 18% GST. See DirectAdmin hosting. New shared hosting purchases have a full refund within 30 days.
How do I install WordPress on DirectAdmin?
Open DirectAdmin from the client area, open Softaculous, choose WordPress and click Install. Pick your domain and https://, leave the directory empty for the main site, set an admin username, password and email, and click Install.
Is Softaculous available on Domain India DirectAdmin hosting?
Yes. Softaculous is installed on the Domain India DirectAdmin server. If you can't see it on the panel's home screen, type Softaculous into the search box at the top of DirectAdmin.
Why does my domain still show a default page after installing WordPress?
The DirectAdmin server serves index.html before index.php. Delete or rename the leftover index.html in domains/yourdomain.com/public_html and reload the site.
Which caching plugin should I use on DirectAdmin hosting?
Domain India shared hosting runs the Apache web server, so use a page-cache plugin such as WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache. LiteSpeed Cache needs a LiteSpeed server and does nothing on Apache.
Why does my WordPress SMTP plugin fail on DirectAdmin?
Outgoing SMTP connections from scripts are blocked on the Domain India DirectAdmin server. Leave WordPress on its default PHP mail() transport, with a real mailbox on your domain as the from address.
What is the upload limit for WordPress on DirectAdmin hosting?
64 MB per upload through WordPress. Upload larger files by FTP or with the DirectAdmin File Manager.
Does Domain India back up my WordPress site?
DirectAdmin hosting has weekly JetBackup backups, taken on Sunday with 5 copies kept, which you can download or restore from the panel. Take your own copy before major updates as well.
Ready to build your site? Open My Hosting to launch DirectAdmin, compare plans on DirectAdmin hosting, or open a ticket if the installer gives an error.
Tell us your domain and what the installer showed, and we will check it with you. Support is on 24/7 live chat, and tickets get a first response within 15 minutes.
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