Introduction
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to install Drupal on Hostinger using the latest hPanel interface, based on my own hands-on testing.
Drupal is a powerful content management system (CMS), but if you’re new to it, the installation process can seem more complex than WordPress or Joomla. That’s why I wanted to test how simple the process really is on Hostinger. For this tutorial, I installed Drupal from scratch on a live Hostinger account and documented the full workflow step by step.
The installation in this guide was done on the subdomain drupal.foenix.techfin2k.com, so the screenshots reflect the actual process I followed inside Hostinger rather than a generic demo. By the end of this tutorial, you should have a working Drupal site and access to the Drupal admin area.
What You’ll Learn
By following this tutorial, you’ll learn how to:
- Create a new website in Hostinger using the Custom PHP/HTML Website option.
- Choose a domain or subdomain for your Drupal installation.
- Connect your domain if additional DNS verification is required.
- Install Drupal using Hostinger’s Auto Installer.
- Configure the Drupal administrator account and installation settings.
- Verify the installation and access the Drupal administration dashboard.
Step 1: Create a Website in Hostinger
To install Drupal on Hostinger, the first step is to create a new website inside your hosting account. This gives you the website dashboard where you’ll later open Hostinger’s Auto Installer and install Drupal.
Log in to your Hostinger account and open hPanel. From the left-hand menu, click Websites, then click + Add Website.
Hostinger will show several setup options here. Since Drupal is not installed through the dedicated WordPress setup, choose Custom PHP/HTML Website.
This creates the website first, and once it’s ready, you can continue to the dashboard and use Hostinger’s Auto Installer to install Drupal.
If you’re exploring Hostinger beyond just Drupal installation, I’d also recommend checking my detailed Hostinger Features Explained guide, where I cover backups, staging, security tools, email, and other features I tested in hPanel.
Step 2: Choose the Domain or Subdomain for Drupal
After choosing the custom website option, Hostinger will ask which domain or subdomain you want to use for the new website.
Enter the domain or subdomain where you want Drupal to be installed. In my case, I used the subdomain drupal.foenix.techfin2k.com.
Once you enter it, select it from the suggestions and click Next.
During my installation, Hostinger displayed a notice saying the domain was registered with another provider and would need to be verified before it could be connected to the website. This happened because my DNS is managed through Cloudflare rather than directly inside Hostinger.
If your domain and DNS are already managed by Hostinger, you may not see this notice at all, and the setup may continue without this extra step.
Step 3: Connect the Domain if Hostinger Asks for It
After clicking Next, Hostinger begins creating the website. If your domain is already fully connected to Hostinger, you may move ahead without any extra work.
In my case, because the domain uses external DNS through Cloudflare, Hostinger opened the Point your domain to Hostinger screen.
Hostinger offers two connection methods here:
- Nameservers
- DNS Records
I chose DNS Records because my DNS is managed outside Hostinger. Since the required DNS records were already configured on my side, I clicked I’ve Updated DNS Records, and Hostinger verified the connection.
Once the domain connection is confirmed, click Close to open the website dashboard and continue with the Drupal installation.
If your domain’s DNS is managed through Cloudflare, you may also find my step-by-step guide on connecting Cloudflare with Hostinger helpful before continuing with the installation.
Step 4: Open Hostinger’s Auto Installer
Now that the website has been created, open its dashboard in Hostinger. From the left-hand menu, go to Website → Auto Installer.
The Auto Installer lets you install popular web applications without manually uploading files or creating databases. It supports Drupal, Joomla, WordPress, OpenCart, phpBB, and many other applications.
From the application list, search for Drupal, select it, and click Select to continue with the installation.
Step 5: Configure the Drupal Installation
After selecting Drupal, Hostinger opens the Drupal installation wizard.
The first screen asks you to enter the basic information for your new Drupal website and create the administrator account you’ll use to manage the site after installation.
Fill in the following details:
- Website Title – Enter the name of your Drupal website.
- Administrator Email – Enter the email address for the administrator account.
- Administrator Username – Choose the username you’ll use to log in to Drupal.
- Administrator Password – Create a strong password for the administrator account.
After entering these details, click Next to continue.
Review the Installation Settings
The next screen displays the installation settings before Drupal is installed.
During my testing, Hostinger automatically selected the latest recommended Drupal version and displayed the compatible PHP version for the installation. You can also choose the installation language and configure how future application updates should be handled.
For my installation, I left the recommended settings unchanged, selected Update only to minor version, and clicked Install.
Hostinger then completed the installation automatically and prepared the Drupal website for use.
Step 6: Verify the Drupal Installation and Log In
Once Hostinger completes the installation, open your domain or subdomain in the browser.
Next, sign in using the administrator username and password you created during the installation. If you’re prompted to log in, you can access the Drupal login page by visiting:
https://yourdomain.com/user/loginDuring my testing, I logged in successfully and accessed the Drupal administration area. The Content page opened correctly, and the administration toolbar displayed options such as Content, Structure, Appearance, Extend, Configuration, People, Reports, and Help.
Successfully accessing the Drupal administration area confirms that Drupal has been installed correctly and is ready for use.
From here, you can begin creating content, installing modules, customizing themes, managing users, and configuring your Drupal website.
Final Thoughts
Installing Drupal on Hostinger was a smooth experience during my testing. The Hostinger Auto Installer handled the installation process automatically, so I didn’t need to manually upload Drupal files or create a MySQL database.
The only additional step I encountered was verifying my subdomain because my DNS is managed through Cloudflare. If your domain and DNS are already managed by Hostinger, your installation process may be even quicker.
After the installation completed, I logged in to the Drupal administration area successfully and was able to start managing the website immediately.
If you’re planning to explore more features available in hPanel, you can also read my Hostinger Features Explained guide, where I cover backups, website migration, security tools, email, performance features, and more.
If you’re interested in trying another CMS, you can also follow my step-by-step guide on installing Joomla on Hostinger.
Get Started with Hostinger
If you’re planning to build a Drupal website, Hostinger’s Auto Installer makes the installation process quick and beginner-friendly.
If you don’t already have a Hostinger hosting plan, you can use my affiliate link below. It helps support TechFin2K at no additional cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I install Drupal on Hostinger without uploading files manually?
Yes. Hostinger’s Auto Installer installs Drupal automatically, including the required files and database configuration. You don’t need to upload Drupal manually using FTP.
Can I install Drupal on a subdomain instead of a primary domain?
Yes. In this tutorial, I installed Drupal on drupal.foenix.techfin2k.com, but you can also install it on your main domain or any subdomain connected to your Hostinger hosting account.
Why did Hostinger ask me to verify my domain before installation?
If your domain’s DNS is managed by another provider, such as Cloudflare, Hostinger may ask you to verify the domain before completing the website setup. If your DNS is already managed inside Hostinger, this step is usually skipped.
How do I log in to the Drupal administrator area?
After the installation is complete, log in using the administrator username and password you created during setup. The Drupal login page is typically available at:
https://yourdomain.com/user/loginHow do I fix “The website encountered an unexpected error” in Drupal?
This error is usually related to the Drupal application rather than the installation itself. First, verify that you can still access the Drupal administrator area. Then check your PHP version, review the Hostinger error logs, and clear the Drupal cache if necessary. If the problem persists, temporarily enable Drupal error reporting to identify the underlying issue.
