Category: Hosting, cPanel & Site Administration
Audience: Clients of Thomas McKee Website Design & SEO Solutions who want to understand how to navigate their hosting dashboard and perform safe, routine tasks.
Goal: Explain how to log in, use essential cPanel tools, and manage basic functions confidently without risking your website’s performance or security.
Your cPanel (Control Panel) is the central command center for your website hosting.
It allows you to manage files, create email accounts, monitor performance, handle backups, and more — all from a single interface.
At Thomas McKee Website Design & SEO Solutions, we provide managed hosting that’s optimized, secured, and simplified, but we also give our clients access to cPanel for transparency and control.
This guide walks you through your cPanel dashboard step-by-step, explaining what each key feature does and how to use it safely.
cPanel is a web-based control panel that lets you manage every part of your hosting account through a user-friendly interface.
It’s divided into functional sections such as:
Files (managing website files and backups)
Databases (controlling WordPress data)
Domains (managing domains and redirects)
Email (creating and managing mailboxes)
Metrics (monitoring traffic and resources)
Security (SSL, firewall, and access controls)
Think of it as your hosting “dashboard” — where you can see what’s happening behind the scenes.
Option 1 – Direct URL:
Enter your username and password.
Click Log In.
Option 2 – Through Client Portal:
Log into your hosting account portal.
Click your hosting service.
Select Access cPanel — no additional login needed.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) via Security → Two-Factor Authentication.
Use strong passwords — at least 12 characters with mixed symbols.
Log out after each session, especially on shared computers.
The cPanel home screen is organized into modules.
Here’s a breakdown of what each section controls:
| Section | Purpose | Common Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Files | Manage website files, backups, and FTP | Upload files, check disk space |
| Databases | Manage WordPress and other databases | View, repair, or back up databases |
| Domains | Configure domains, subdomains, redirects | Create subdomains, set redirects |
| Manage professional email accounts | Create, forward, or access webmail | |
| Metrics | Monitor bandwidth and traffic | View visitor logs and usage |
| Security | Protect your site | Manage SSL, block IPs, enable ModSecurity |
| Software | PHP versions, app installers | Select PHP version, use Installatron |
| Advanced | Technical tools | Cron jobs, error logs, terminal access |
You can also use the Search Bar at the top to quickly find any tool.
Go to Files → File Manager.
You’ll see folders like:
/public_html/ → your website’s main files
/mail/ → email files
/etc/ → configuration files
Upload a File: Click Upload → choose a file → confirm path.
Download a File: Right-click → Download.
Edit a File: Right-click → Edit → confirm encoding.
Compress or Extract: Right-click → Compress / Extract.
✅ Edit only content files (e.g., robots.txt, .htaccess) after confirming with us.
❌ Never delete system files.
❌ Avoid renaming WordPress core folders.
Your hosting account includes JetBackup, which stores daily snapshots of your website.
Go to JetBackup → Full Account Backups.
Click Restore to revert to a previous version (files, databases, or emails).
You can also download backups for off-site storage.
Go to Files → Backup Wizard.
Click Backup → Full or Partial Backup.
Choose destination (Home Directory, FTP, or download).
Tip: Always back up before installing plugins, editing code, or updating WordPress.
Go to Email → Email Accounts.
Click Create.
Choose a strong password and storage limit.
Click Create.
Click Check Email beside the account name.
Choose Roundcube (recommended).
You can also go directly to:
https://yourdomain.com/webmail.
Forwarders: Redirect incoming mail to another address.
Autoresponders: Send automatic replies.
Spam Filters: Adjust aggressiveness under Spam Filters.
Databases store your site’s dynamic content — pages, posts, settings, and user data.
MySQL® Databases: Create or manage databases.
phpMyAdmin: View, search, or export data (advanced users only).
Go to Databases → MySQL Databases.
Enter a database name.
Create a user and password.
Assign the user to the database with All Privileges.
If your site is WordPress, this is already configured — no need to create new databases unless instructed.
Shows CPU, memory, and entry process data.
Go to Metrics → Resource Usage.
Click Details to see recent history.
Awstats: Summarizes traffic sources.
Bandwidth: Tracks how much data your visitors use.
Errors: Lists recent site errors (useful for troubleshooting).
If you need in-depth analytics, connect Google Analytics or Site Kit.
Go to Security → SSL/TLS Status.
Look for green padlocks = valid certificates.
Certificates auto-renew; contact us if not.
Used to manage DNS records like A, CNAME, and MX.
⚠️ Make DNS edits only if you understand their purpose — incorrect changes can break email or your website.
Go to Domains → Redirects to forward pages or entire domains to new URLs.
Go to Software → MultiPHP Manager.
Select your domain.
Choose the PHP version (usually 8.1 or 8.2).
Click Apply.
You can also tweak specific PHP settings under MultiPHP INI Editor, but we recommend contacting us before modifying memory limits or execution times.
Cron jobs schedule automated tasks (like backups or report generation).
To set one up:
Go to Advanced → Cron Jobs.
Set timing and command (usually provided by a plugin or developer).
Save.
Incorrect entries can cause CPU spikes, so contact support for safe configuration.
| Tool | Function | Use With Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal | Direct command-line access | Yes |
| Track DNS | Diagnose domain issues | No risk |
| Error Logs | View recent PHP or 404 errors | Safe to view |
| ModSecurity | Toggle web application firewall | Leave enabled |
| LiteSpeed Web Cache Manager | Purge or reset cache | Contact support before major changes |
These tools are powerful — most clients won’t need to use them directly.
✅ Do
Use 2FA for secure login.
Keep passwords private.
Check disk usage monthly.
Backup before making changes.
Contact us before editing critical files or settings.
❌ Don’t
Delete anything in /public_html without guidance.
Modify DNS or MX records unless instructed.
Create multiple WordPress installs in the same directory.
Disable security tools like ModSecurity.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Login not working | Wrong password or caps lock | Reset via portal |
| “Disk quota exceeded” | Storage full | Delete old backups/emails |
| SSL warning | Expired or mixed content | Contact support |
| Emails not sending | DNS or quota issue | Verify MX records |
| Site slow | Cache issue or plugin overload | Clear cache / contact support |
Q: Can I change my cPanel password?
Yes — go to Preferences → Password & Security.
Q: How often are backups performed?
Daily, with a 14-day retention.
Q: Is my website secure if I don’t log in often?
Yes, we maintain server-level security. Still, change your password twice a year.
Q: Can I manage WordPress from cPanel?
Yes — through Installatron Applications Installer or Softaculous.
Q: What happens if I delete a key file accidentally?
Contact us immediately — we can restore it from backup within minutes.
Contact Thomas McKee Website Design & SEO Solutions for:
Any server errors or login problems.
DNS, MX, or email configuration requests.
PHP version or memory adjustments.
SSL renewals or security alerts.
Unexplained downtime or missing data.
We’ll handle it quickly and keep your account stable.
✅ Know your cPanel login and URL
✅ Enable 2FA for added security
✅ Familiarize yourself with File Manager, Email, and JetBackup
✅ Backup before major updates
✅ Contact support for advanced settings or issues
Your cPanel gives you direct control over essential parts of your hosting environment.
When used properly, it’s a simple, safe, and powerful way to manage your website’s foundation.
At Thomas McKee Website Design & SEO Solutions, we’ve structured every hosting plan for performance, security, and ease of use — so you can handle everyday tasks confidently, while we handle everything else behind the scenes.