--- title: "Install Éclair on Hostinger" description: "Install Éclair on Hostinger: PHP 8.3, SSL and Force HTTPS in hPanel, removing default.php and uploading the files. Prices checked on November 1, 2026." url: "https://eclair.academy/en/hosting/hostinger" lang: "en" author: "Thierry Gustin" published: "2026-11-02" updated: "2026-11-02" --- # Install Éclair on Hostinger > **Key takeaways** — To install Éclair on Hostinger, check that PHP 8.3 is active in PHP Configuration, install the SSL certificate and turn on Force HTTPS, delete the default.php file from public_html, then upload the contents of the eclair folder, hidden files included. Be careful: the PHP version applies to every site on your plan and can't be downgraded. You install Éclair on Hostinger entirely from hPanel, in about twenty minutes. The good news: PHP 8.3 is the default version there, and the outgoing connections Éclair needs are open. Two points need your attention: the `default.php` file to delete, and the PHP version, shared by every site on your plan and impossible to downgrade. > **Before you start** — Time: 20 minutes. Plan: Premium, the entry plan on Hostinger's French page, or a higher plan. Have at hand: your hPanel access, a domain linked to the site and the [eclair-cms-1.8.0.zip](https://github.com/Jacckisback/eclair-cms/raw/main/dist/eclair-cms-1.8.0.zip) archive. The labels quoted come from Hostinger's official help, in English: your hPanel may show them translated. ## The plan and control panel at a glance | Item | At Hostinger | | --- | --- | | Control panel | hPanel, Hostinger's own control panel | | Web server | LiteSpeed; `.htaccess` supported | | PHP version | 8.3 by default for new sites; 8.2 to 8.5 available | | Public folder | `public_html` | | ZIP extraction | Yes, with **Extract** in the **File Manager** | | Outgoing connections | All ports open except 0 and 25; cURL enabled by default | | Price checked on November 1, 2026 | Premium: €2.49 excl. VAT/month over 48 months, i.e. €119.52 excl. VAT paid upfront, then €9.99 excl. VAT/month ([Hostinger pricing](https://www.hostinger.com/fr/hebergement-web), in French) | This rate is a Black Friday promotion, shown in euros and excluding VAT on Hostinger's French page. After the 48 months, the contract renews automatically at €9.99 excl. VAT/month for the same term. Premium includes 3 websites and 20 GB of SSD storage. ## Step 1: choose PHP 8.3 1. In hPanel, open **Websites**, hover over your site and click **Manage site**. 2. In the sidebar, open **PHP Configuration**. 3. If the version shown isn't 8.3, choose **8.3**, then click **Update**. 4. Wait about two minutes: the change isn't instant. > **One version for all your sites** — The PHP version applies to every site on your plan, except those created with Hostinger AI Builder. You can't go back to an older version, except during the same login session. Versions 8.1 and older are no longer offered. ## Step 2: turn on the HTTPS certificate 1. Open **Websites**, then **Dashboard** for your site. 2. Go to **Security**, then **SSL**. 3. Click **Install SSL**. If this button doesn't appear, a certificate is already installed. 4. Wait until its status changes to “Active”, which takes a few minutes. Renewal is automatic. 5. On the same screen, turn on **Force HTTPS**. Éclair also enforces HTTPS on its side: when you run the wizard over `https://`, it ticks **Force HTTPS** in **Settings › Advanced**, and once the site address is verified, every visit is redirected to the official address. Both redirects point the same way. ## Step 3: delete default.php Hostinger puts a `default.php` file in `public_html`. As long as it's there, it can show up instead of Éclair. 1. Open **Websites › Manage site › File Manager**. 2. Go into `public_html`. 3. Right-click `default.php`, then choose **Delete**. ## Step 4: upload Éclair's files The **File Manager** is all you need, with nothing to install: 1. In `public_html`, click **Upload** and upload `eclair-cms-1.8.0.zip`. 2. Select the archive, choose **Extract** and enter `public_html` as the destination folder. 3. Open the resulting `eclair` folder, select all of its contents, `.htaccess` included, and move them to `public_html`. 4. Delete the empty `eclair` folder, the archive and the three `.txt` files that come with it. With FileZilla, your credentials are in **Files › FTP Accounts**: the host is the server's IP address, the port is 21, and the username is unique to each website. The password isn't shown: set one with **Change FTP password**. Turn on **Server › Force showing hidden files**, then upload the contents of the `eclair` folder to `public_html`. SFTP, available on Premium plans and higher, is turned on from the **SSH Access** page. ![Uploading the contents of the eclair folder to public_html on Hostinger hosting](https://eclair.academy/media/2026/11/eclair-academy-upload-en.png) *The contents of the eclair folder go straight into public_html* ## Step 5: run the setup wizard Open `https://your-domain.com`. Éclair's wizard starts and checks the server: PHP 8.3, extensions, write permissions, HTTPS and “Clean URLs (URL rewriting)”, which must show “Active”. Click **Let's go**, then follow the 4 questions described in [Install Éclair step by step](https://eclair.academy/en/paths/beginner/install-eclair), within 2 hours of this first visit. ![Welcome screen of the Éclair setup wizard, with the checks of the Hostinger server](https://eclair.academy/media/2026/11/eclair-academy-install-welcome-en.webp) *First screen: no red item should remain before you click Let's go* ## Step 6: check after installation 1. Open the **Security** page of the admin. “Encrypted connection (HTTPS) enforced” and “Site address verified” must be ticked; otherwise, click **Verify the site address**. 2. In the “Folder protection test”, every file must show **Protected**, with the “URL rewriting on” note. 3. If you turn on the AI assistant, click **Test the connection** in **Settings › AI assistant**. Hostinger documents open outgoing ports: the test should show “Connection successful”. ## Pitfalls specific to Hostinger - **The default.php file**: delete it before running the wizard (step 3). - **A shared PHP version with no way back**: think about your other sites before clicking **Update**. - **Human support in English only**: other languages go through the “Hostinger Agent” AI agent and machine translation. - **A 48-month commitment** for the introductory price, renewed at €9.99 excl. VAT/month. - **Hostinger's CDN** can return a 403 error to legitimate requests: to test, turn it off in **Performance › CDN › Disable**. - **A fixed root folder**: it can't be changed on Web and Cloud plans. A subdomain gets its folder when it's created (**Dashboard › Subdomains**); Hostinger advises keeping the suggested one. - **Weekly backups on Premium** (daily on Unlimited): also download Éclair's backup from the **Security** page. ## Install Éclair on Hostinger: what if something goes wrong? | Problem | Cause | Solution | | --- | --- | --- | | A Hostinger page shows instead of the wizard | `default.php` still there | Delete it in the **File Manager** | | The site answers at the `/eclair/` address | Folder uploaded instead of its contents | Move the contents of `eclair` to `public_html` | | 404 error on every page except the home page | `.htaccess` not uploaded | Upload it again with hidden files shown | | 403 error on a legitimate action | Hostinger's CDN | **Performance › CDN › Disable**, then try again | | No **Install SSL** button | Certificate already installed | Check that its status is “Active” | Éclair's other messages are explained on the [Troubleshooting](https://eclair.academy/en/docs/troubleshooting) page. ## Key points - PHP 8.3 is already the default version: check it, and don't change it without a reason. - Install the SSL certificate, turn on **Force HTTPS**, then delete `default.php`. - Upload the contents of the `eclair` folder to `public_html`, `.htaccess` included. - Look at the renewal price before committing for 48 months. ## Going further - [Prepare your installation](https://eclair.academy/en/paths/beginner/prepare-installation) and [Install Éclair step by step](https://eclair.academy/en/paths/beginner/install-eclair): the complete method. - [Essential settings before launch](https://eclair.academy/en/paths/beginner/essential-settings) and [Turn on the built-in AI assistant](https://eclair.academy/en/paths/ai-mcp/ai-assistant). - [Choosing your web hosting for Éclair](https://eclair.academy/en/hosting) to compare, and the [universal FTP method](https://eclair.academy/en/hosting/cpanel-plesk-directadmin). - Hostinger's official help: [changing the PHP version](https://www.hostinger.com/support/1575755-how-to-change-the-php-version-of-your-hostinger-hosting-plan/), [SSL certificates](https://docs.hostinger.com/websites/ssl) and [open ports](https://www.hostinger.com/support/which-web-standards-and-connectivity-features-are-supported-at-hostinger/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Hostinger offer PHP 8.3? Yes, it's even the default version for new sites. Versions 8.2 to 8.5 are offered in **PHP Configuration**, and Éclair works with each of them. ### Can I install several Éclair sites on the Premium plan? Yes, up to 3 websites, each in its own `public_html` folder. However, they share the same PHP version. ### Which languages does Hostinger's support speak? Human agents answer in English for all of Hostinger's brands. In other languages, French included, you go through the “Hostinger Agent” AI agent and machine translation. ### Does Éclair's AI assistant work at Hostinger? Yes: cURL is enabled and all outgoing ports are open, except 0 and 25. Calls to Claude or ChatGPT go through port 443.