Getting Started with Your New Hosting Account Print

Welcome to Your New Hosting Account

Congratulations on your new web hosting account with Webfort! This guide will walk you through the essential first steps to get your website up and running.

Step 1: Log Into cPanel

Your cPanel login details were sent to you via email when your account was activated. You can access cPanel by:

• Visiting yourdomain.com/cpanel in your web browser
• Or using the direct server URL provided in your welcome email
• You can also log into cPanel from your Webfort client area by going to Services > My Services, clicking on your hosting package, then clicking Log in to cPanel

Step 2: Point Your Domain

If your domain isn't already pointing to our servers, you'll need to update your nameservers to:

• ns1.webfort.co.uk
• ns2.webfort.co.uk

You can do this through your domain registrar's control panel. Changes can take up to 24-48 hours to propagate worldwide.

Step 3: Set Up Email Accounts

To create professional email addresses using your domain name:

1. Log into cPanel
2. Go to Email > Email Accounts
3. Click Create
4. Enter your desired email address and set a strong password

See our detailed guide: How to Create Email Accounts in cPanel

Step 4: Upload Your Website Files

You can upload your website files using:

• File Manager in cPanel (browser-based, no software needed)
• FTP using a client like FileZilla (better for large uploads)

Your website files should be uploaded to the public_html folder.

Step 5: Install SSL Certificate

All Webfort hosting accounts include free SSL certificates via Let's Encrypt. To activate:

1. Log into cPanel
2. Go to Security > SSL/TLS Status
3. Click Run AutoSSL

This encrypts your website traffic and shows the padlock icon in browsers.

Step 6: Set Up Backups

While Webfort maintains server-level backups, we strongly recommend creating your own regular backups:

1. Log into cPanel
2. Go to Files > Backup Wizard
3. Select Full Backup to download a complete copy of your account

Need Help?

If you need any assistance getting started, our support team is here to help. You can open a support ticket from your client area at any time.