Getting Started with cPanel: A Beginner's Guide

Owned by John Kardosh
Last updated: Sept 17, 2024 by Tom Garbelotti
3 min read

Understanding the cPanel Dashboard

Think of your cPanel dashboard like a keyboard. Some keys are used frequently, while others may be unfamiliar at first. You can use multiple functions simultaneously to achieve a specific result. Each section has a header with a title and icons underneath, making it easy to quickly sort necessary features.

Files Section

The Files section is where you'll find all your website's files and folders, as well as various other tools for interacting with these files and folders.

 

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File Manager

Among other things, the File Manager tool can be used to:

  • Upload new files using

  • Download existing files:

  • Create new folders or files:

  • Delete unwanted files or folders:

  • The public_html directory is a special folder in the File Manager that serves as the root directory for your website. It's where your main page source code file (such as index.html) should be located, making it accessible to visitors when they visit your site.

    • For example, if you're using a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress, your CMS will likely store its files and folders within the public_html directory. This allows WordPress to serve its pages and content directly from this directory, making it easily accessible to your website's visitors.

Backup Section

The Backup section allows you to create and manage backups of your website's data. This is crucial for ensuring your site remains safe in case something goes wrong. You can download a full backup or partial backups of your site, or restore your site from an existing backup:

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