How to Install Drupal using cPanel

Hosting Expert

Updated on June 7, 2022 2:35 PM

What is Drupal

Want to build a website but do not understand code? Then Drupal is the thing for you. Drupal allows you to create any site of your wish without even understanding code.

Sounds useful to you? Just follow the following instructions to install Drupal. After installing Drupal, you can make your site run in a few seconds.

Getting Started

Step 1

You are going to need FTP program ( e.g., FileZilla ) or cPanel’s File Manager, depending on the services provided by your web hosting provider, to access the root folder of your site.

Step 2

Next, you will have to log on to the Drupal website and then download the core file from there. If you scroll down a bit, you will find a stable version of the file. The latest version is always the safest and the most stable version. You will be redirected to another page where you will have to click on the option that reads Download ZIP.

Step 3

You can either use the file manager in cPanel or the FTP program to upload the downloaded ZIP file. This file need to be uploaded to the public_html directory of your web host. We are preferring the file manager in cPanel for this tutorial.

Step 4

Next, you will have to extract this uploaded file. This can be done by right-clicking on the file and then clicking on the Extract button in Windows and typing Command + click for Mac. Then you will have to specify the location where the ZIP file needs to be extracted to. For the sake of this tutorial, we are using the subdomain ‘drupaldemo’ which has been located in my /public_html.

Next, click on the button that reads Extract File(s).

In case this method doesn’t appeal to you, we have go one more method. This time we will have to use the FTP program. In this method, after downloading the ZIP file, extract it on your computer and you can upload all these file using the FTP program.

Step 5

By this time you will be able to see a new folder. This folder would have the name ‘drupal ‘followed by its serial number ( for example: “drupal8.5.3” ). Click on this folder and then click on the Select All option in order to select all the files and folders present there.

Step 6

Doing this will make a pop-up window appear. This window reads “Move” at the top. You will have to enter a location in this window. All the selected files will move to the provided location. For the sake of this tutorial, I am going to put the domain’s directory in the path field.

Creating a new database

An installed database is mandatory to install Drupal. So let’s create a new database.

Under the Database section in cPanel, you will find the MySQL Database icon. Now you will have to create a new user and password and then create a new database.

Installing Drupal

You will be ready to start the installation process for Drupal only after the database is complete.

Step 1

Open a web browser a then visit the URL which leads you to all your Drupal files.

Step 2

You may get a message that reads ‘Your PHP installation is old’. In case you get this message, go to the PHP selector and update PHP in your cPanel.

First of all, you will be asked to choose a language. Once you have chosen a language click on the Save and Continue button just below it.

After clicking on the Save and continue button, you will be taken to the next step you need to select between two installation options namely, Standard and Minimal. You should go for the Standard installation option in case you are new to Drupal.

In the next step, you will be presented with a review of the requirements that are necessary for Drupal to run the website. The new update will also be shown here and you will also be shown additional software if any needs to be downloaded.

Now you will be taken to the Database configuration step where you need to set up that database that you just created.

The installation process, for Drupal, starts as soon as you click on the button that reads ‘Save and continue’.

Further, the last step is Configure site. In this step, you will have to configure your website. You will have to provide some information including the admin login information which will further help us for the continuous operation of your website by Drupal.