Installatron is DirectAdmin's built-in app installer, and it's the fastest way to get WordPress running on a new domain without touching a database manually.
1. Open Installatron
From the main menu, click Extra Features, then Installatron Applications Installer.
2. Find WordPress
Search for WordPress in the app list, or find it under the Blogs category, and click Install this application.
3. Configure the installation
Choose the domain or subdomain where WordPress should live, set your admin username and password, and pick a site title.
4. Choose a starting theme (optional)
Installatron offers a small selection of themes during setup, or you can skip this and install your own theme later from within WordPress.
Key takeaway: Turn on Installatron's automatic backup option during setup — it keeps a rolling backup before every update, which makes recovering from a bad plugin update painless.
5. Keep WordPress updated
Installatron shows available updates for WordPress core, plugins, and themes in one list, so you can update everything from a single screen instead of logging into wp-admin.
6. Set automatic updates
Under the installation's settings in Installatron, choose whether WordPress core, plugins, and themes should update automatically — a good default for sites you don't check daily.
7. Clone or move a site
Installatron includes a Clone option, useful for creating a testing copy before making risky changes, or for moving a site between domains on the same account.
8. Troubleshooting common install errors
A "destination directory not empty" error means leftover files already exist where you're installing — clear that folder first. If the site fails to load after install with a database error, double check the database user's privileges under DirectAdmin's MySQL Management screen.
9. Installatron vs a manual install
A manual install means creating a database by hand, uploading WordPress via FTP, and running the installer script yourself. Installatron automates all of it with sensible defaults, which is why it's the faster route unless you specifically want to learn what's happening under the hood.
10. Moving beyond Installatron
Once your site is live, day-to-day maintenance — plugin updates, content edits, theme changes — happens inside wp-admin rather than back in Installatron. Treat Installatron as the tool for installing, cloning, and full-site backups, and wp-admin as the tool for everything else.
Frequently asked questions
Is Installatron free to use?
Yes, if it's included with your DirectAdmin hosting plan — most DirectAdmin hosts provide it at no extra cost as part of the control panel.
Can I install WordPress on a subdomain with Installatron?
Yes, Installatron lets you pick any domain or subdomain on your account as the install location, exactly as you would for a main domain.
What happens if I close the browser during installation?
Installatron installs run server-side, so a short install almost always finishes even if the browser tab closes. It's still worth checking the site loads correctly afterward rather than assuming it completed.