How to Host a Website with cPanel (Step-by-Step Guide)

Introduction

Many traditional web hosts (Bluehost, SiteGround, HostGator, etc.) use cPanel to manage websites. cPanel is a control panel that allows you to upload files, create databases, manage domains, and secure your website.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to host a website using cPanel step by step.

Why Use cPanel?

• Widely supported by shared hosting providers
• Simple file manager and FTP access
• Supports PHP, MySQL, and static websites
• Easy SSL setup

Step 1: Log in to cPanel

Your host will give you a link like:

https://yourdomain.com/cpanel

Enter your username and password from your hosting provider.

Step 2: Upload Your Website Files

1. In cPanel, go to File Manager.
2. Open the public_html folder.
3. Upload your files (index.html, CSS, JS).

Alternatively, you can use FTP:

• Connect using FileZilla with your FTP username, password, and host.
• Upload everything into public_html.

Step 3: Connect Your Domain

• Go to Domains → Addon Domains (if hosting multiple sites).
• Point your domain’s DNS to your hosting provider’s nameservers.
• Wait for propagation (usually a few hours).

Step 4: Enable SSL

1. In cPanel, go to SSL/TLS → Let’s Encrypt SSL.
2. Select your domain and issue a free SSL certificate.
3. Your site is now secure.

Troubleshooting

• Site not showing? Make sure files are in public_html.
• SSL not working? Force HTTPS in .htaccess.
• Error 500? Check your .htaccess or PHP version.

Conclusion

cPanel hosting is a reliable and widely available option. It’s ideal for beginners who want an easy interface to manage files, domains, and databases.

Next, we’ll explore a more advanced option: Docker deployment.