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How to install WHMCS on cPanel

This guide will show you how to install WHMCS onto the VoltHosting cPanel website hosting service. You will need a WHMCS license, and cPanel website hosting before proceeding, so please purchase one from us beforehand.


Looking for a WHMCS license? Take a look at our official WHMCS licenses which we sell for cheaper than if bought directly from WHMCS!


Follow the steps below to install WHMCS onto your cPanel service.


There are two ways you can install WHMCS on cPanel. You can install it manually (recommended for customisability) or you can use our software installer.



Installing WHMCS manually


  1. Purchase a WHMCS license from VoltHosting, and have the key to hand.

  1. Head to the VoltHosting client area, and download the latest version of WHMCS .


ke sure to select the latest version of WHMCS


  1. Install the required PHP modules and use the correct PHP version in line with the WHMCS system requirements .


  1. Head over to cPanel , and then under Software, select Select PHP Version .
If you don't know how to login, take a look at our logging into cPanel guide .

  1. Then under Extensions make sure your version of PHP is the latest version listed on the official WHMCS system requirements . Then, enable ioncube_loader .


  1. Once PHP is setup correctly, you need to create the WHMCS database.
  2. Head over to cPanel, then under Databases select Database Wizard .

enter in the database name. For example, whmcs, and then click Next .

r database name is INCLUDING the prefix of your account username, in the examples case this is volthosting but this will be different for you.


  1. Now, the user needs to be created. Enter in the systems username and create a password, then click Next .

example we used the username whmcs .


Your database username is INCLUDING the prefix of your account username, in the examples case this is volthosting but this will be different for you.


  1. Now you need to assign the database permissions to the user. WHMCS needs the permissions below:




ALTER

DROP

LOCK TABLES

CREATE

INDEX

SELECT

DELETE

INSERT

UPDATE

For daily operations, you can restrict WHMCS’s database by removing the ALTER, CREATE, DROP, and INDEX privileges. WHMCS only requires these privileges for installations, updates, and activating or deactivating modules.


  1. Click Make Changes and then Next Step .


  1. Now, upload your WHMCS files to the server.
  2. Go to cPanel, then under Files, select File Manager .
  3. Navigate to the directory that you want WHMCS installed to. In most cases, you will want this on the root of your domain, which will likely be the public_html directory.
  4. Now, click Upload and select the downloaded .zip file which contains the WHMCS files.
  5. When the upload finishes, click Go Back and you'll see the new .zip in the directory.
  6. Right click on the .zip and click extract and select the wanted destination, then click Extract files .


  1. Now, you can finish the WHMCS installation using your browser.

Head over to the installation script at the following address:

https://www.example.com/whmcs/install/install.php

Please replace example.com with your domain used on cPanel


  1. Follow the instructions on screen. You will need to accept the EULA, enter your WHMCS license, and create a admin account.


  1. Once you have finished the installation process in the browser, you will see a Installation Completion page appear. You now need to delete the WHMCS installation folder.

Using the same steps as before, head to the directory you installed WHMCS in, and find a folder called install, then right click on the folder, and click delete.


  1. Finally, you need to check the file folders and permissions.

Check to ensure that you are using the correct permissions for WHMCS’s configuration file ( configuration.php ) and the attachments, downloads, and templates_c directories. WHMCS will not function correctly if they do not use the correct permissions.


WHMCS requires the following file and folder permissions for most installations:


  • /configuration.php — CHMOD 400 (Readable)
  • /attachments — CHMOD 777 (Writable)
  • /downloads — CHMOD 777 (Writable)
  • /templates_c — CHMOD 777 (Writable)


You may need to adjust these permissions to suit your environment. For example, if you use suPHP or suEXEC, you may need to restrict directory access further. DSO requires 644 permissions.


Limit access to only the account that owns the web server process. Make sure that no other system or user accounts can read your configuration file or modify any WHMCS-related files.


  1. You're done! WHMCS is now installed.


After you complete installation, we recommend that you configure WHMCS in the following order:


  1. Perform our recommended additional steps to enhance your installation’s security .
  2. Configure your installation’s general settings .
  3. Set up your payment gateways .
  4. Set up your products to sell .
  5. Configure your domain pricing .
  6. Set up your support ticket departments .
  7. Set up email piping or email importing to manage email replies to support tickets.
  8. Create and configure the WHMCS cron job and its automated task settings .
  9. Place some test orders on your website.



Installing WHMCS using our software installer


  1. Purchase a WHMCS license from VoltHosting, and have the key to hand.


  1. Install the required PHP modules and use the correct PHP version in line with the WHMCS system requirements .
  2. Head over to cPanel , and then under Software, select Select PHP Version.


If you don't know how to login, take a look at our logging into cPanel guide.



  1. Then under Extensions make sure your version of PHP is the latest version listed on the official WHMCS system requirements . Then, enable ioncube_loader.

  1. Now you can utilse the software installer. On cPanel, head to Software, and then App Installer

  1. Locate WHMCS on the page, and click Install .

  1. On this page, fill out all the information on the page.

You should fill out:

  • The domain
  • The installation directory
  • Select HTTPS
  • Set the admin login details
  • Select the latest version of WHMCS
  • Put in the company name
  • Enter in the license key


THIS IS NOT AN EXAUSTIVE LIST, PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK THE PAGE TO ENSURE ALL THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT!



  1. Once you ARE SURE that all information is correct. Click Quick Install .


  1. Wait for the installation to finish, and then you're done! WHMCS is now installed.


Updated on: 26/05/2025

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