What Is cPanel? A Tour of the Hosting Control Panel

cPanel is a web-based control panel that lets you manage a hosting account without using the command line. From one dashboard you can upload website files, add domains, create email accounts, set up databases, install SSL certificates, take backups and see how much of your plan's resources you are using.

It is one of the most widely used hosting control panels, especially on shared and reseller hosting. Its server-side companion, WHM (WebHost Manager), is what hosting providers and resellers use to create and manage cPanel accounts. This tour explains what you will find in cPanel and what each part is for.

How to open cPanel

You can usually reach cPanel in one of these ways:

• from your hosting provider's client area, which often has a one-click login link;
• at https://yourdomain.com:2083 (the secure cPanel port);
• at https://yourdomain.com/cpanel, which redirects to the login page on most servers.

Step-by-step instructions and fixes for common login problems are in how to log in to cPanel.

The dashboard at a glance

The home screen groups tools into sections. The exact list depends on what your host enables, and the right-hand sidebar shows account information such as your domain, disk usage and limits.

The sections you will use most are described below.

Files

• File Manager works like a file explorer in the browser. Your website lives in public_html for the main domain. Use it to upload, edit, extract and set permissions. See how to upload website files.
• FTP Accounts creates logins for FTP clients such as FileZilla.
• Disk Usage shows which folders take the most space.
• Backup / Backup Wizard creates and downloads backups of your home directory, databases and email settings. See how to back up your website in cPanel.

Databases

• MySQL Databases and MySQL Database Wizard create databases and users and grant privileges. See how to create a MySQL database in cPanel.
• phpMyAdmin lets you browse, import and export database tables.
• Remote MySQL allows connections from outside the server, if permitted. See connect to MySQL remotely.

Domains

• Domains adds addon domains, subdomains and aliases, and sets their document roots.
• Redirects creates simple URL redirects.
• Zone Editor edits DNS records when the domain uses the server's nameservers. See how to edit DNS records in cPanel Zone Editor.

Email

• Email Accounts creates mailboxes on your domain. See how to create a business email account.
• Forwarders and Autoresponders handle redirects and automatic replies.
• Email Deliverability checks SPF, DKIM and related DNS records.
• Webmail opens a browser-based mail client.

Security

• SSL/TLS Status shows certificates; on many servers AutoSSL issues and renews free certificates automatically. See how to install a free SSL certificate in cPanel.
• SSH Access manages SSH keys, if shell access is enabled.
• IP Blocker and Hotlink Protection offer basic controls.
• Two-Factor Authentication protects your cPanel login.

Software

• MultiPHP Manager, or Select PHP Version on CloudLinux servers, sets the PHP version for each domain. See how to change the PHP version in cPanel.
• App installers such as Softaculous or WordPress Toolkit, where the host provides one, install applications like WordPress in a few clicks.
• Cron Jobs schedules commands to run automatically.

Metrics

• Resource Usage (on CloudLinux servers) shows CPU, memory, entry processes and I/O against your limits. This is the first place to look when a site slows down. See hosting resource limits explained.
• Visitors, Errors, Bandwidth and Awstats show traffic and error logs.

Everyday tasks and where to find them

I want to...	Go to
Upload or edit website files	Files → File Manager
Add a second website to the account	Domains → Domains → Create a New Domain
Create a mailbox	Email → Email Accounts
Fix email going to spam	Email → Email Deliverability
Create a database for WordPress	Databases → MySQL Database Wizard
Install WordPress	Software → your host's app installer (if provided)
Get HTTPS working	Security → SSL/TLS Status
Change the PHP version	Software → MultiPHP Manager or Select PHP Version
See why the site is slow	Metrics → Resource Usage (CloudLinux servers)
Read error messages	Metrics → Errors
Download a backup	Files → Backup
Schedule a task	Advanced → Cron Jobs
Point a subdomain somewhere	Domains → Zone Editor

Use the search box at the top of the cPanel home page to jump to any tool by name.

Good habits in cPanel

• Enable two-factor authentication for your cPanel login.
• Create separate FTP and email accounts for other people, instead of sharing the main login.
• Check Resource Usage and Disk Usage occasionally, not only when something breaks.
• Download a backup before large changes.
• Keep the contact email in cPanel's preferences current, so warnings reach you.

cPanel vs other control panels

cPanel is common on shared and reseller hosting. On a VPS you might choose cPanel, an alternative such as Plesk, or no panel at all. The trade-offs are covered in cPanel vs Plesk vs no control panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cPanel the same as WHM?

No. cPanel manages one hosting account. WHM manages the server and the cPanel accounts on it, and is used by providers and resellers.

Can I break my website from cPanel?

Yes, if you delete files or databases, change DNS records or switch PHP versions without testing. Take a backup before making large changes.

Why are some tools missing from my cPanel?

Hosting providers choose which features each plan includes, so menus differ between hosts and plans.

Where to go next

If you are new to hosting, our guide to what is web hosting gives the bigger picture. To compare plans that include a control panel, see the ServerNeed shared hosting plans.

Sources

• cPanel documentation
• cPanel: The cPanel interface