The first time you log in to cPanel, the wall of icons can feel overwhelming. But cPanel is well organised once you know how it’s grouped. Here’s a tour of the sections you’ll actually use, so you can find your way around with confidence.
Logging in
You reach cPanel at yourdomain.com/cpanel or through the link in your welcome email, using the username and password we sent you. Once in, everything is grouped into labelled sections down the page.
Files
This is where your website’s actual files live. File Manager lets you browse, upload and edit files without an FTP client. Backup and Backup Wizard handle downloading and restoring copies of your site. You’ll also find FTP Accounts and Disk Usage here.
Databases
Web applications like WordPress store their content in databases. MySQL Databases creates and manages them, and phpMyAdmin lets you look inside and edit the data directly. You’ll come here when installing apps or troubleshooting database issues.
Everything mail-related: Email Accounts to create mailboxes, Forwarders to route mail, Autoresponders for automatic replies, Email Deliverability for SPF/DKIM, and Spam Filters. If it’s about email, it’s in this section.
Domains
Manage all your web addresses here. Domains (or Addon Domains) hosts extra websites on one account, Subdomains creates addresses like shop.yourdomain.com, Aliases points extra domains at your site, and Zone Editor manages DNS records.
Metrics
See how your site is doing. Visitors and AWStats show traffic, Errors reveals recent problems, and Bandwidth tracks data usage. When something goes wrong, the Errors log here is often your first clue.
Security
SSL/TLS Status manages your HTTPS certificates, IP Blocker bans troublesome addresses, Directory Privacy password-protects folders, and Hotlink Protection stops other sites stealing your images.
Software
Softaculous installs WordPress and other apps in one click, and MultiPHP Manager and MultiPHP INI Editor control your PHP version and settings.
Where to start
For most people, the first tasks are creating an email account, installing WordPress via Softaculous, and confirming SSL is active. Everything else you can explore as the need arises. Bookmark the sections you use most, and cPanel quickly stops feeling intimidating.
Stuck finding a particular tool? The search box at the top of cPanel jumps straight to any feature by name — and our support team is always happy to point you in the right direction.
