Getting Started with cPanel

cPanel is the control panel for managing your Ultra Web Hosting account. From here you manage files, email accounts, databases, domains, SSL certificates, backups, and more. This guide covers how to access cPanel, navigate the interface, and find the tools you'll use most often. If you're new to hosting, start here.

01. How to Access cPanel

Via Your Client Area (Recommended)

The easiest way. Log into my.ultrawebhosting.com with your billing account credentials. Click on your hosting service, then click the "Log in to cPanel" button. This logs you in automatically without needing your cPanel password.

Via Direct URL

Go to https://yourserver.ultrawebhosting.com:2083 and log in with your cPanel username and password. Your server hostname is listed in your client area under your service details.

Can't Access cPanel?

• IP blocked - if you see a connection timeout, your IP may be blocked by the firewall (too many failed login attempts). Visit my.ultrawebhosting.com to unblock yourself
• Port 2083 blocked - some corporate and hotel networks block port 2083. Try from a different network or use the client area login (which goes through port 443)
• Certificate warning - if using yourdomain.com:2083 and you see a certificate warning, use the server hostname instead. It always has a matching certificate

02. The cPanel Dashboard

After logging in, you'll see the cPanel dashboard organized into sections. The search bar at the top is the fastest way to find any tool - just start typing (e.g., "email" or "backup"). The right sidebar shows your account summary: disk usage, bandwidth, addon domains, and email account count.

The main sections you'll use most often:

• Files - File Manager, FTP Accounts, Disk Usage, Backups
• Email - Email Accounts, Forwarders, Spam Filters, Email Routing
• Databases - MySQL Databases, phpMyAdmin, Remote MySQL
• Domains - Addon Domains, Subdomains, Redirects, Zone Editor
• Software - Softaculous (app installer), Select PHP Version, MultiPHP Manager
• Security - SSL/TLS, IP Blocker, Directory Privacy
• Metrics - Resource Usage, Errors, Raw Access logs

03. Files and File Manager

File Manager is a web-based file browser for your hosting account. It lets you upload, download, edit, rename, and delete files without needing an FTP client.

Key Directories

• public_html - your main website files go here. This is the web-accessible root
• public_html/subdomain - subdomain files go in folders inside public_html
• logs - access and error logs for your domains
• mail - email storage (don't modify directly)

Backups

The Backup tool (also in the Files section) lets you download full or partial backups of your account. We recommend taking a backup before making any major changes. See our Backup Guide for full details.

04. Email Management

The Email section is where you create and manage email accounts for your domain.

Email Accounts

Create new addresses, change passwords, adjust quotas, and access Webmail (Roundcube) from here. Each email account can have its own storage quota up to your plan's total disk allocation.

Other Email Tools

• Forwarders - automatically forward copies of incoming mail to another address
• Spam Filters - configure SpamAssassin sensitivity and whitelists
• Email Routing - controls whether the server handles email locally or routes to an external provider like Google Workspace
• Email Deliverability - shows your SPF, DKIM, and DMARC status with one-click repair. See our Email Authentication Guide

For setting up email on your devices, see our guides for iPhone/iPad, Android, and Outlook.

05. Databases

Most CMS platforms (WordPress, Joomla, etc.) use a MySQL/MariaDB database to store content. The Databases section in cPanel lets you create and manage databases.

MySQL Databases

Create databases, create database users, and assign users to databases with specific privileges. Every CMS installation needs at least one database and one user. cPanel prefixes database and user names with your account username (e.g., youraccount_dbname).

phpMyAdmin

A web-based database manager for browsing tables, running SQL queries, importing/exporting data, and optimizing tables. Useful for troubleshooting and manual database edits.

For more on database management, see our MySQL User Guide and our port reference.

06. Domains and Subdomains

• Domains (Addon Domains) - host additional websites on the same hosting account. Each addon domain gets its own folder in public_html
• Subdomains - create addresses like blog.yourdomain.com that point to specific directories
• Redirects - set up URL redirects (301 or 302) without editing .htaccess manually. See our 302 Redirect Guide
• Zone Editor - manage DNS records (A, CNAME, MX, TXT) for your domains. Used for email authentication, domain verification, and custom DNS configurations

07. Software and PHP

• Softaculous Apps Installer - one-click installation of WordPress, Joomla, and 400+ other applications. Also handles updates, backups, and staging. See our WordPress Install Guide
• Select PHP Version - change your PHP version and enable/disable PHP extensions. See our PHP Version Guide
• MultiPHP Manager - set PHP versions per-domain (if available)
• Cron Jobs - schedule scripts to run automatically at set intervals. See our Cron Job Guide

08. Security and SSL

• SSL/TLS - manage SSL certificates. AutoSSL (Let's Encrypt) automatically issues and renews free SSL certificates for all your domains
• SSL/TLS Status - shows which domains have valid certificates and lets you run AutoSSL manually
• IP Blocker - block specific IP addresses from accessing your site
• Directory Privacy - password-protect specific directories (useful for staging or admin areas)

For fixing HTTPS issues after enabling SSL, see our Mixed Content Fix Guide.

09. Metrics and Logs

• Resource Usage - CloudLinux resource consumption graphs (CPU, memory, Entry Processes). Check this if your site is slow or showing 508/503 errors
• Errors - the most recent 300 error log entries. Your first stop when troubleshooting any 500 error
• Raw Access - download full access logs showing every request to your site. Useful for identifying bots, troubleshooting redirects, or analyzing traffic
• Bandwidth - shows your monthly bandwidth usage

Quick Recap: cPanel Essentials

The 5 most important things to know in cPanel:

1. Access via client area - log into my.ultrawebhosting.com > your service > "Log in to cPanel"
2. Use the search bar - fastest way to find any cPanel tool
3. Files go in public_html - that's your website root
4. Email Accounts - create, manage, and access Webmail here
5. Backups - take one before making any major changes

Last updated March 2026 · Browse all Hosting Control Panel articles