> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.stablepoint.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Manually installing software

If an application isn't available in [Softaculous](/web-hosting/software-guides/using-the-softacoulous-autoinstaller), you can install it manually. The process is broadly the same for most PHP applications.

## Step 1: Upload the files

1. Download the application's release package (usually a .zip) from the official website.
2. In cPanel, open **File Manager** and navigate to where the app should live:
   * Domain root: public\_html
   * Subfolder: public\_html/appname
3. Upload the zip file and use **Extract** to unpack it.
4. If the archive extracted into its own folder (e.g. appname-1.2.3/), move the contents up so the application's index file sits in the intended directory.

Alternatively, upload via [FTP](/web-hosting/files-and-access/using-ftp) or use wget/unzip over [SSH](/web-hosting/files-and-access/secure-shell-ssh-overview) for large packages.

## Step 2: Create a database

Most applications need a MySQL database:

1. In cPanel, open **MySQL Databases**.
2. Create a new database.
3. Create a new database user with a strong password.
4. Add the user to the database with **All Privileges**.
5. Note down the full database name, username, and password (they include your cPanel prefix, e.g. cpuser\_appdb).

## Step 3: Run the installer

1. Visit the application's URL in your browser (e.g. [https://yourdomain.com/appname](https://yourdomain.com/appname)).
2. Most applications launch a web installer that asks for:
   * Database host: **localhost**
   * Database name, username, and password from Step 2
   * Site name and admin account details
3. Follow the installer to completion.

## Step 4: Post-installation checks

* Delete or rename the installer directory if the application instructs you to.
* Verify file permissions: directories 755, files 644.
* Confirm the correct [PHP version](/web-hosting/software-guides/how-to-change-your-php-version-in-cpanel) for the application's requirements.
* Set up any cron jobs the application needs (see [Cron Jobs](/web-hosting/performance/cron-jobs)).

If you hit any problems during a manual installation, our support team is happy to help.