If you have ever signed up for web hosting and been handed a login link ending in /cpanel, you have used cPanel. It is the industry-standard hosting control panel used by millions of websites globally — and every hosting plan at Australian Hosting Solutions comes with it included.

This guide explains what cPanel is, what each section does, and how to use it to manage your website, email, and databases in Australia.

What Is cPanel and What Does It Do?

cPanel (Control Panel) is a Linux-based web hosting control panel that provides a graphical interface for managing your hosting account. Instead of using SSH commands or editing server configuration files manually, cPanel gives you a visual dashboard with clearly labelled tools for every hosting task.

You access it by visiting yourdomain.com.au/cpanel and logging in with your hosting credentials. Once inside, you see a series of sections — Files, Databases, Email, Domains, Security, and more.

What Are the Main Sections of cPanel and What Does Each One Do?

Files

File Manager, FTP Accounts, Disk Usage, Backups. This is where you upload, edit, and manage your website files directly in the browser without needing an FTP client.

Databases

MySQL Databases, phpMyAdmin, Database Wizard. Create and manage the databases that power WordPress and other CMS platforms. phpMyAdmin lets you view and edit database tables directly.

Email

Email Accounts, Forwarders, Spam Filters, Autoresponders. Create business email addresses at your domain, set up forwarding rules, and manage spam filtering.

Domains

Addon Domains, Subdomains, Redirects, Zone Editor. Add multiple websites to your hosting account, create subdomains, and manage DNS records.

Security

SSL/TLS, IP Blocker, Hotlink Protection, Two-Factor Authentication. Install SSL certificates, block suspicious IPs, and secure your login.

Software

Softaculous Apps Installer, PHP Version Selector. Install WordPress and 400+ other applications in under two minutes. Change your PHP version without touching server configuration files.

How Do You Install WordPress Using cPanel?

  1. Log in to cPanel at yourdomain.com.au/cpanel
  2. Scroll to the Software section and click Softaculous Apps Installer
  3. Click WordPress and then Install Now
  4. Choose your domain, set an admin username and password, and click Install
  5. WordPress is live on your domain within 60–90 seconds

How Do You Create a Business Email Address in cPanel?

  1. In cPanel, go to Email Accounts under the Email section
  2. Click Create and enter your desired email address (e.g. [email protected])
  3. Set a strong password and choose your mailbox storage quota
  4. Click Create Account — the address is live immediately
  5. Access webmail at yourdomain.com.au/webmail or configure Outlook or Apple Mail using your IMAP settings

How Do You Create a Database in cPanel for WordPress?

  1. In cPanel, go to MySQL Databases
  2. Enter a database name and click Create Database
  3. Scroll down to MySQL Users, create a new user with a strong password
  4. Scroll to Add User to Database, select both the user and database, click Add, and grant All Privileges
  5. Use these database credentials in your WordPress wp-config.php file

How Do You Back Up Your Website Using cPanel?

  1. In cPanel, go to Backup Wizard under the Files section
  2. Click Back Up and choose Full Backup for a complete archive
  3. Select the backup destination (Home Directory is the default) and enter an email for notification
  4. Click Generate Backup — once complete, download the archive to your local computer

All Australian Hosting Solutions hosting plans include automated server-side backups — but we still recommend downloading a local copy before any major changes.

Need help with cPanel?

We walk you through it live on the phone.

Australian Hosting Solutions. 22 hours a day. A real person answers.

(02) 9199 8787

Frequently Asked Questions About cPanel

Is cPanel included with all Australian Hosting Solutions plans?

Yes. Every hosting plan at Australian Hosting Solutions includes cPanel at no extra charge. You get access to File Manager, Softaculous, phpMyAdmin, Email Accounts, and all other cPanel tools from day one.

How do I access cPanel for my hosting account?

Visit yourdomain.com.au/cpanel and log in with the username and password provided in your hosting welcome email. You can also access it directly via the IP address provided in that email.

Can I host multiple websites in one cPanel account?

Yes. Use the Addon Domains feature in cPanel to add additional websites to your hosting account. Each addon domain has its own directory in File Manager and its own database allocation.

What should I do if I am locked out of cPanel?

Call (02) 9199 8787 and our team will restore your cPanel access immediately — password reset, IP unblock, or two-factor authentication bypass — live on the phone.

What is the difference between cPanel and Plesk?

cPanel is Linux-only and the most widely used hosting control panel in Australia. Plesk supports both Linux and Windows servers. For most Australian small businesses running WordPress or PHP-based websites, cPanel is the better choice due to wider support and tool availability.