How to install Softaculous on cPanel server

Updated: 2 November 2026 · Applies to: Softaculous for cPanel and WHM (install.sh from files.softaculous.com), cPanel and WHM 124 and later

To install Softaculous on a cPanel server, enable the ionCube loader for cPanel's own PHP in WHM, then log in over SSH as root and download and run the official installer from https://files.softaculous.com/install.sh. When it finishes, Softaculous appears in WHM under Plugins and in every cPanel account under Software.

Before you start

• Root access: you need root SSH access to the server. On shared hosting you cannot install it yourself; ask your host.
• A Softaculous licence: Softaculous is licensed per server. According to cPanel, there is a free plan with a smaller script list, while the paid plans give the full library. When the install finishes, Softaculous opens its licence page in WHM.
• ionCube loader: according to Softaculous, the ionCube loader must be enabled for the backend copy of PHP, the PHP that cPanel uses for its own scripts. On a cPanel server the installer runs with /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/bin/php, so this is the PHP that needs ionCube, not only the PHP your websites use.
• Outgoing firewall: if your firewall limits outgoing connections, allow downloads from *.softaculous.com (Softaculous publishes the list of its mirror addresses on its site).

Step 1: Enable ionCube for cPanel's PHP

1. Log in to WHM as root.
2. Go to Server Configuration and open Tweak Settings.
3. Open the PHP tab.
4. At cPanel PHP loader, tick ioncube. According to cPanel, this setting chooses the loader (ionCube, SourceGuardian or both) through which cPanel and WHM run their internal PHP scripts.
5. Click Save.

To check it from SSH, print the version of cPanel's PHP. With the loader enabled, the output should include a line that mentions the ionCube PHP Loader.

/usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/bin/php -v

This setting is separate from ionCube for your websites. If a website script needs ionCube too, install the ionCube extension for that PHP version in EasyApache 4.

Step 2: Download and run the installer

1. Log in to the server over SSH as root. If your server uses a custom SSH port, see How to Connect to SSH on a Different Port.
2. Download the installer over HTTPS:

   wget -O install.sh https://files.softaculous.com/install.sh

3. Make it executable:

   chmod 755 install.sh

4. Run it:

   ./install.sh

The script detects cPanel by itself (it checks for /usr/local/cpanel/whostmgr) and then completes the installation with cPanel's PHP. It downloads the script packages, so the first install can take a few minutes.

Installer options

According to Softaculous, the installer accepts these options:

• Quick install: finishes the setup first and downloads the script packages in the background.

  ./install.sh --quick

• Without Backuply Server: new installs include Backuply Server by default; leave it out with:

  ./install.sh --no-backuply-server

• Use cPanel's default PHP instead of the third-party PHP copy:

  ./install.sh --nocpphp

• Through a proxy (proxy_auth is optional):

  ./install.sh proxy proxy_ip=YOUR_IP:PORT proxy_auth=USERNAME:PASSWORD

Step 3: Open Softaculous in WHM and cPanel

• WHM: go to Plugins and open Softaculous - Instant Installs. This is where you manage the licence, settings and the list of scripts.
• cPanel: users find Softaculous Apps Installer in the Software section, or by typing Softaculous in the cPanel search box. See How to find Softaculous in cPanel?

Once it is in place, see Installation of WordPress with Fantastico and Softaculous for a first install, and How to synchronize Softaculous with other Auto Installers? if the server had another installer before.

Old method: the WHM addon file

Older guides, including an earlier version of this article, downloaded a file called addon_softaculous.php into /usr/local/cpanel/whostmgr/docroot/cgi and finished the install in WHM. That file is no longer available (its download address now returns 404), and Softaculous documents only the install.sh method. Use the steps above instead.

If the install fails

• ionCube errors: check Step 1 again and run /usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/bin/php -v to confirm the loader is active.
• Downloads time out: your firewall is probably blocking outgoing connections to *.softaculous.com.
• An old HTTP download link: many old guides still use http://files.softaculous.com. Use the https:// address shown above.

On a Ucartz VPS or dedicated server, Free Basic Managed Support covers small tasks like checking that ionCube is enabled. Your Softaculous licence is separate. For a full setup or regular cPanel administration, you can hire an expert or use our cPanel server management service.

Official documentation: cPanel Tweak Settings, PHP, and Softaculous’s guide Installing Softaculous in cPanel.