How to Install OpenCart and Launch an Online Store

OpenCart is a lightweight, free and open-source shopping cart. It's simple to run and fast on modest hardware. OpenPanel installs it in one click.

Requirements

OpenPanel Enterprise - the OpenCart module must be enabled for your hosting plan.
A domain pointed to the server.
A PHP version supported by your OpenCart release (PHP 8.0+ for OpenCart 4.x).

Install OpenCart

Add the domain in OpenPanel → Domains (Add a new domain).
Go to OpenPanel → Websites → Install App and click Install OpenCart.
Choose the domain, OpenCart version (Latest), and the admin username, password and email.
Start the installation.

Install OpenCart form with the site details, domain and location, and admin credentials

OpenPanel downloads the official release, creates a MySQL/MariaDB database, prepares config.php and admin/config.php, runs OpenCart's CLI installer, and deletes the install/ folder afterwards.

The store opens at https://example.com, the admin at https://example.com/admin/. You can also use Login as Admin on the store's manage page in OpenPanel → Websites → Sites.

Recommended Settings

Use HTTPS everywhere

SSL is issued automatically. Make sure HTTP_SERVER and HTTPS_SERVER in config.php and admin/config.php start with https://.

SEO-friendly URLs

In the admin, go to System → Settings → Edit store → Server and enable Use SEO URLs.

On Apache and OpenLiteSpeed, rename .htaccess.txt to .htaccess in the store folder.
On Nginx and OpenResty, add OpenCart's rewrite rules in Domains → Edit VHosts File (Enterprise, see Edit VHosts).

Move the storage folder (OpenCart 4)

After the first login, OpenCart suggests moving system/storage/ outside the web root. Follow the dashboard notice - it moves the folder for you and updates the config.

Email

In System → Settings → Mail, choose SMTP and enter your mailbox details so order emails are delivered - see Why do my emails go to spam?.

Managing the Store

The manage page shows versions, files and database details, and has:

Login as Admin - one-time login link, valid for 10 minutes.
Cache - the same as Refresh cache in the admin; use it after installing extensions.
Logs - system/storage/logs/error.log.
Remove - uninstalls the store and its database.

Use the account-level Backups before updating OpenCart or installing extensions.

More: OpenCart in OpenPanel.