cPanel is the primary control panel used to manage many hosting accounts. Knowing how to securely access and exit cPanel helps ensure proper account management and reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
Ways to Access cPanel
There are two supported methods for logging in to cPanel. Both provide full access to account features, but one method simplifies authentication.
Accessing cPanel Through the Hosting Panel
Using the hosting panel is the recommended approach because it removes the need to remember separate URLs or credentials.
Before starting, make sure your browser allows pop-ups for the client portal.
[Screenshot placeholder: browser pop-up permission notice]
Steps
- Sign in to the client portal
- Open Products & Services from the sidebar
- Select Hosting & Servers
[Screenshot placeholder: client portal with Hosting & Servers highlighted]
Depending on the service type, continue as follows:
- Shared hosting: Click Login to Control Panel to open cPanel directly
- Reseller hosting: Click Login to Control Panel to open WHM, then select your account and click the cPanel icon
- Managed VPS or Dedicated servers: Click Login to open WHM, then locate your account and access cPanel
In each case, cPanel opens in a new window and authenticates automatically.
Accessing cPanel Directly
You can also log in to cPanel using a direct URL and your account credentials.
Common access URLs include:
https://yourdomain.com:2083https://cpanel.yourdomain.comhttps://yourdomain.com/cpanel
[Screenshot placeholder: cPanel login screen]
Enter the cPanel username and password associated with your hosting account. If credentials are unknown, they can be reset through the client portal.
Direct access is frequently used on cPanel-based hosting environments where domain-level access is already configured.
Signing Out of cPanel
Logging out of cPanel ends the active session and reduces the risk of session misuse.
To sign out:
- Click the user menu in the top-right corner of the cPanel interface
- Select Log Out
[Screenshot placeholder: cPanel user menu with Log Out option]
If you do not log out manually, the session will expire automatically after a period of inactivity. Manual logout is recommended, especially on shared or public systems.
Understanding cPanel and WHM
cPanel is used by website owners to manage hosting resources such as files, email, domains, and databases.
WHM, or WebHost Manager, is a separate interface designed for server administrators and resellers. It allows management of multiple cPanel accounts, server settings, and hosting packages.
Both interfaces are commonly deployed on environments ranging from shared hosting to dedicated server platforms.
Common cPanel Features
Once logged in, cPanel provides access to a wide range of tools, including:
- File Manager for managing website files
- Email tools for creating and maintaining mailboxes
- Domain management options such as redirects and DNS edits
- Database tools like phpMyAdmin
- Statistics and logs for monitoring site activity
- SSH and FTP access for secure file transfers
These tools allow full control of a hosting account without requiring command-line access.