WordPress on shared hosting

WordPress is the most used CMS on shared hosting. HolyCloud provides a cPanel or DirectAdmin panel with one-click installer (Softaculous, Installatron, or equivalent). This guide covers installation, configuration, and basic security.

Prerequisites

• Active web hosting offer (not a VPS)
• Domain or subdomain pointing to hosting (correct A record)
• Panel access from the HolyCloud client area
• PHP 8.1+ recommended (check in Select PHP Version)

Step 1: prepare the domain

1. Client area → Web hosting → Access panel.
2. Domains:

- Primary domain or Addon Domain / subdomain for the WordPress site.

- Typical document root: public_html or public_html/blog.

Wait for DNS propagation if the domain was just added.

Step 2: one-click installation (Softaculous)

1. Softaculous Apps Installer or WordPress Manager section.
2. Click Install on WordPress.
3. Fill in:

- Choose Domain: your domain

- In Directory: leave empty for root, or blog for /blog

- Site Name, Admin Username (avoid admin)

- Admin Password: strong password

- Admin Email: valid address

1. Advanced Options: limit revisions, disable unused default themes/plugins if offered.
2. Install — note admin URL: https://votredomaine.fr/wp-admin/

Step 3: force HTTPS

1. SSL/TLS Status → run AutoSSL for the domain.
2. Domains → enable Force HTTPS Redirect.

See Enable SSL on web hosting for details.

Step 4: essential WordPress settings

In Settings → General:

• WordPress Address (URL): https://votredomaine.fr (consistent trailing slash)
• Time zone: Paris

Settings → Permalinks: Post name structure (requires writable .htaccess — default on shared hosting).

Step 5: PHP version and extensions

cPanel → Select PHP Version or MultiPHP INI Editor:

• PHP 8.2 or 8.3 if compatible with your extensions
• Extensions: curl, intl, mbstring, xml, zip, gd or imagick, mysqli or mysqlnd

Save then test the site.

Basic security (shared hosting)

• Change table prefix during install if Softaculous offers it (wp_ → wp7x_).
• Install a light security plugin or limit login attempts via the panel (cPHulk on server if visible).
• Update core, themes, and plugins weekly.
• Backups: Softaculous backup or JetBackup / panel backup tool (see cPanel backup doc).

wp-config.php — disable file editor in admin (add manually via File Manager if needed):

define('DISALLOW_FILE_EDIT', true);

Performance on shared hosting

• Cache plugin (object/page cache compatible with shared hosting).
• Optimize images before upload.
• Avoid heavy « page builder » plugins on small plans.

Troubleshooting

| Symptom | Action |

|----------|--------|

| Error establishing database connection | Check DB credentials in wp-config.php; recreate MySQL user in panel |

| 500 Internal Server Error | PHP version; corrupt .htaccess — rename temporarily |

| Redirect loop | Inconsistent http/https URLs; disable one HTTPS redirect |

| Cannot install plugin | Disk quota; wp-content permissions |

Permalink repair: Settings → Permalinks → Save without changing.

Migration from another host

1. Full backup (files + database) from old host.
2. phpMyAdmin: import database on HolyCloud shared hosting.
3. File Manager: upload public_html (or use FTP).
4. Replace URLs with Better Search Replace or WP-CLI if available.

Need help?

Open a ticket with domain, error URL, and PHP version shown in the panel.