cPanel guide
cPanel Guide for Beginners: The Essentials
In short
cPanel looks busy, but you only need about six of its tools day to day: email accounts, File Manager, databases, domains, SSL and backups. Here's what each one does.
cPanel is the control panel most web hosts use to manage your hosting account. You'll never open most of its icons. These are the ones you will.
Email accounts
Under Email Accounts you create mailboxes ([email protected]), set passwords and storage, and access webmail. Set up forwarders to send mail from one address to another, and autoresponders for out-of-office replies.
File Manager and FTP
File Manager lets you upload, edit and organise your website files in the browser: your site lives in public_html. For bulk transfers, create an FTP account and use a client like FileZilla.
Databases
Dynamic sites (like WordPress) store content in a MySQL database. Use MySQL Databases to create one and a user, and phpMyAdmin to view or back it up. Most one-click installers handle this for you.
Domains and subdomains
Add extra domains (Addon Domains), point others at your site (Aliases), or create sections like shop.yourdomain.co.uk with Subdomains.
SSL and security
SSL/TLS Status installs and renews free certificates so your site loads over HTTPS. Check IP Blocker and Leech Protection if you need to lock things down.
Backups and one-click installs
Use Backup to download a full copy of your account, and Softaculous (or WordPress Toolkit) to install WordPress and other apps in a couple of clicks.
UK cPanel hosting
LiteSpeed servers with one-click WordPress, free SSL and daily JetBackup backups, from £2.50 a month.
See hosting plansQuestions
Is cPanel hard to use?
No. Once you know the six tools above (email, files, databases, domains, SSL and backups), the rest can wait.
Where do I upload my website?
Into the public_html folder via File Manager or FTP.
Does Gander Web hosting include cPanel?
Yes. Every web hosting plan includes cPanel with one-click WordPress and free SSL.