cPanel guides: Hosting management and WHM administration

Choose the task you want to complete in cPanel. From signing in and uploading files to creating databases and taking backups, these guides follow the steps shown in the interface. If you manage your own VPS/VDS, use the separate WHM path below.

Make sure you are in the right panel

Where you are	What it manages	Start here
DCHost customer portal	Services, invoices, support and hosting access	Open your hosting service and enter cPanel
cPanel	The hosting account's websites, files, mailboxes and databases	Basic control-panel tasks
WordPress administration	Pages, posts, themes and plugins	WordPress installation and administrator login
WHM	Hosting accounts and shared server settings for authorized administrators	Install cPanel and WHM on a VPS

The customer portal, cPanel, WordPress and WHM are separate sign-ins. A hosting user does not need to install WHM or work as root.

cPanelFind the right section in cPanel Tools

After a customer login, tools are grouped by purpose. Match the labels on the screen to the explanations below.

cPanel · Actual customer account

01A closer look

Step 1: Recognize the Tools screen

1. 1Recognize the Tools screen

   Email, Files and Databases group the different management tasks.

   What you should see: Find the section that matches the task you need.

2. 2Use File Manager for website files

   File Manager in the Files section opens the hosting account’s files and folders.

   What you should see: Reach the tool for working with website files.

3. 3Use Backup Wizard for backups

   Backup Wizard walks through the supported backup and restore options. You cannot restore a full account backup yourself from this tool.

   What you should see: Identify the route for file and database backups.

4. 4Separate the database tools

   Manage My Databases manages databases and database-user permissions. phpMyAdmin is for tables and import/export operations.

   What you should see: Separate database and permission management from data operations.

Captured after saving the optional analytics preference and closing the separate survey with its native close control. Available tools can vary by hosting account.

If you are using hosting for the first time

1. Open your hosting service and cPanel access. Select the service for the correct domain.
2. For a ready-made application, follow WordPress installation. For your own files, use the cPanel file-upload and backup guide.
3. If the application needs a database, complete the database, user and permission steps.
4. Check DNS and HTTPS access at your own website address.
5. Create an email account, then complete a backup and restore check.

Find a guide for your task

Your task	What the guide covers
How do I log in to cPanel?	Customer-portal access and the separate hosting login
Where do I upload website files or extract a ZIP?	File Manager, uploads and backups
How do I create a MySQL database and user?	Database Wizard, permissions and phpMyAdmin
How do I add a cron job?	Scheduled tasks and checking that they run
How do I install WordPress?	From the installation tool to the website and administrator login
How do I set up business email?	Mailboxes, quotas and forwarding; phone or email-client setup
Why is email not arriving?	SPF, DKIM and DMARC; client and delivery checks
How do I fix an SSL error?	Certificate, domain, DNS and HTTPS checks
My website returns 403 Forbidden. Why is access denied?	403 errors: document root, directory index, permissions and access rules
My WordPress homepage works but internal pages return 404	WordPress 404 errors: content URLs, permalinks and .htaccess checks
WordPress reports a database connection error	wp-config.php credentials, database users and privilege checks
WordPress shows a critical error or white screen, or wp-admin does not open	Recovery mode, error logs and disabling a failing plugin
My website returns 500 Internal Server Error. Where should I start?	500 errors: logs, .htaccess and PHP checks
My cPanel website is slow; where are the PHP settings?	PHP, PHP-FPM and OPcache performance checks
How do I improve account security?	cPanel and WHM security settings; customer-portal security
How do I upgrade my hosting plan?	DCHost service package changes and final checks

If you are moving an existing website

Start with the preparation in the WordPress migration guide. Back up files and the database, open a separate copy on the new hosting, and test logins and write operations. Plan the DNS change after verifying the new server.

Having a backup file does not prove the website can be restored from it. A restore test is a separate part of migration and a regular backup plan.

If you manage WHM on your own VPS/VDS

WHM manages packages, hosting accounts and shared server components. Distinguish a single customer's cPanel setting from a setting that affects every customer on the server.

1. Complete cPanel installation, licensing and the first customer login.
2. Configure hosting packages, feature lists, accounts and disk quotas.
3. Review cPanel and WHM security settings.
4. Verify PHP versions, extensions, PHP-FPM and OPcache using actual application results.
5. Establish a server backup plan and restore checks; monitor CPU, RAM and disk use.

WHMFind the created account in List Accounts

The actual account list shows one hosting account, the example package and the final saved 5120 MB disk quota.

WHM · Actual demo account

01A closer look

Step 1: Read the list and record count

1. 1Read the list and record count

   Open WHM → Account Information → List Accounts and find the new account.

   What you should see: The example shows Showing all 1 records.

2. 2Match the account and package

   Compare Domain, Username and Package with the account you created on your own screen.

   What you should see: The account and package match; there is no need to recreate it.

3. 3Compare the quota with the package

   The Quota column shows 5120 MB, the 5 GB disk limit saved for this example. Compare your own account’s value with its package.

   What you should see: The quota column shows the final configured limit; the package name is not the only check.

4. 4Verify cPanel access separately

   The cPanel icon in Quick Links opens the account; also check normal username/password login in the next step.

   What you should see: The account list and a customer login are separate checks.

Private account details are masked; other column values are unchanged. This screen does not prove website, DNS or email delivery operation.

If a tool is missing

Available tools depend on the hosting package, feature list, installed software and license. A missing cPanel menu does not mean that you should use root. First check that you selected the correct service and signed in as the intended user.

In a support request, include the task, time, displayed error and a screenshot with private details hidden. Do not put passwords, one-time login links or database credentials in a public image.

Frequently asked questions

Are cPanel and WordPress the same thing?

No. cPanel manages the hosting account and infrastructure tools; WordPress manages website content, themes and plugins. Installing WordPress through cPanel does not merge the two sign-ins.

Should I follow the WHM guides if I only use hosting?

Use the cPanel guides for everyday website tasks. The WHM path is for users who manage their own server or have an authorized reseller account.

Can I restore a full account backup myself in cPanel?

Partial restores, such as files or a database, differ from restoring an entire account. Backup Wizard does not automatically restore a full account; that needs WHM or the service provider. Identify the backup type and recovery path first.