cPanel Guide: How to Navigate & Use It

Introduction

cPanel is one of the most popular web hosting control panels, offering an intuitive interface for managing your website, email accounts, databases, and more. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, knowing how to navigate and utilize cPanel effectively can greatly improve your web hosting experience. This guide will walk you through the essential sections and features of cPanel to help you get started.

Step 1: Logging into cPanel

To access your cPanel account:

1. Open your web browser and go to one of the following URLs:

   • https://yourdomain.com/cpanel

   • https://yourhost.com/cpanel

   • https://yourdomain.com:2083

2. Enter your cPanel username and password.

3. Click Log In to access the cPanel dashboard.

If you’ve forgotten your login credentials, use the Forgot Password option or contact your hosting provider for assistance.

Step 2: Navigating the cPanel Dashboard

Once logged in, you’ll see the cPanel dashboard, which consists of multiple sections categorized for easy access. Here are the main sections you need to know:

1. Files Section

• File Manager: Allows you to upload, edit, and manage your website files.

• Images: Manage and optimize image files.

• FTP Accounts: Set up and manage FTP users for file transfers.

• Backup: Create and restore backups of your website files and databases.

2. Databases Section

• MySQL Databases: Create and manage MySQL databases.

• phpMyAdmin: Provides a web-based interface to manage database tables, run queries, and export/import data.

• MySQL Database Wizard: Simplifies database creation and user management.

3. Domains Section

• Addon Domains: Allows you to host multiple domains on one hosting account.

• Subdomains: Create subdomains like blog.yourdomain.com.

• Aliases (Parked Domains): Point multiple domain names to the same website.

• Redirects: Redirect one domain to another URL.

4. Email Section

• Email Accounts: Create and manage email addresses.

• Forwarders: Automatically forward emails to another address.

• Autoresponders: Set up automatic email replies.

• Spam Filters: Manage spam protection settings.

5. Metrics Section

• Visitors: See recent traffic statistics for your website.

• Errors: Check error logs for troubleshooting website issues.

• Bandwidth: Monitor your website's data usage.

6. Security Section

• SSL/TLS: Manage SSL certificates to enable HTTPS security.

• IP Blocker: Restrict access from specific IP addresses.

• Leech Protection: Prevent unauthorized access to restricted directories.

7. Software Section

• Softaculous App Installer: Install popular applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.

• PHP Version Selector: Manage and update your PHP version.

• Perl Modules: Install and manage Perl scripts.

8. Advanced Section

• Cron Jobs: Automate scheduled tasks.

• Apache Handlers: Customize how Apache handles file types.

• Error Pages: Customize 404, 500, and other error pages.

Step 3: Managing Files with File Manager

The File Manager is a powerful tool within cPanel that allows you to manage your website files directly from the browser. To use it:

1. Click File Manager under the Files section.

2. Navigate to the public_html folder, which is the root directory of your website.

3. Upload, delete, or edit files as needed.

4. Use the built-in code editor to modify scripts and configuration files.

Step 4: Setting Up Email Accounts

To create an email account:

1. Click Email Accounts under the Email section.

2. Click Create and enter your desired email address and password.

3. Choose the storage limit and click Create.

4. Access your email through Webmail or set up an email client like Outlook or Thunderbird.

Step 5: Installing WordPress Using Softaculous

If you want to install WordPress, follow these steps:

1. Scroll to the Software section and click Softaculous App Installer.

2. Select WordPress and click Install Now.

3. Fill in the necessary details such as site name, admin username, and password.

4. Click Install, and within minutes, WordPress will be set up.

Conclusion

cPanel is a powerful tool that simplifies website and server management. By familiarizing yourself with its sections and features, you can efficiently manage your hosting environment. Whether you need to update files, create databases, set up emails, or install software, cPanel provides an easy-to-use interface for all your web hosting needs. If you run into any issues, consult your hosting provider’s support team for assistance.