Welcome to Namecheap Shared Hosting!
This guide will walk you through the steps to get your website and email up and running.
Once your hosting account is activated, you'll receive a welcome email with the subject Your Hosting Account Details for yourdomain.tld. Keep this email handy, as you'll use information from it throughout this guide.
Follow the steps below:
Examples used in this guide:
To make a website and email work with Shared Hosting, the domain must first be connected to the hosting account.
If the domain name was purchased together with the hosting plan during checkout, it is usually connected automatically, and you can proceed to the next step.
If the domain was purchased separately or is currently using different DNS settings, it needs to be connected manually. There are two ways to do this: change the nameservers or update the DNS records.
For most customers, this is the simplest option because it automatically configures both your website and email services. The exact steps depend on where your domain is registered, choose the appropriate option below.
NOTE: Changing nameservers replaces your current DNS configuration. If your domain already uses another website, email service, or custom DNS records, consider 'Update DNS records instead' to avoid replacing your existing settings.
Sign in to your Namecheap account;
Go to Domain List, click Manage next to your domain, and open the Nameservers section;
Select Namecheap Web Hosting DNS from the drop-down.
For illustrated instructions, see How to connect a domain to a server or hosting.
If your domain is registered with another provider, you will need to update its nameservers on the registrar's side to the following ones:
dns1.namecheaphosting.com
dns2.namecheaphosting.com
If your domain is registered with GoDaddy, see our guide on changing nameservers with GoDaddy. Otherwise, refer to your registrar's documentation or contact their support team for instructions.
NOTE: Nameserver changes may take up to 24-48 hours to propagate worldwide. During this period, your website or email may work from some locations but not others.
In some situations, changing nameservers may not be the best option. For example:
To point your domain to a Shared Hosting account while keeping your current nameservers, you'll need to create an A record for your domain:
| Type | Host | Value |
|---|---|---|
| A | @ | 11.11.11.11 |
The @ symbol represents your root domain (yourdomain.tld). Some DNS providers may require you to enter your full domain name instead.
If you'd also like www.yourdomain.tld to work, create an additional record:
| Type | Host | Value |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME | www | yourdomain.tld |
Unlike changing nameservers, this method does not automatically configure email services. If you'd also like to use email on your Shared Hosting account while keeping remote nameservers, you'll need to configure additional email records:
MX records that route email to your hosting account;
SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records used for email authentication.
For detailed instructions, see How to set up Namecheap cPanel Email without using your hosting nameservers.
NOTE: DNS record changes often take effect within 30-60 minutes, but in some cases, propagation may take longer. During this period, your website or email may not work consistently from all locations.
Your domain should now be connected to hosting. The next steps take place in cPanel, the control panel included with your Shared Hosting plan.
There are several ways to access cPanel. You can log in directly from your Namecheap account or use the credentials provided in the Your Hosting Account Details for yourdomain.tld welcome email.
For most customers, the easiest option is to use the cPanel shortcut in a Namecheap account >> Hosting List >> Go to cPanel.
For other login methods and illustrated instructions, see Where can I log in to my cPanel hosting account?
cPanel is where you'll manage almost everything related to your hosting account, including your website, email accounts, files, databases, DNS records, and SSL certificates.
Note: Throughout this guide, navigation paths are written as Section >> Tool, where the first item indicates the cPanel section and the second indicates the tool located within it.
To make these tools easier to find, cPanel organizes them into sections. Here are some that will come in handy:
| Section | Tools |
|---|---|
| Exclusive for Namecheap Customers | Namecheap SSL, Softaculous Apps Installer, AutoBackup (on Stellar Plus/Business), and other Namecheap tools |
| Files | File Manager, FTP Accounts, Backup, and other file tools |
| Databases | phpMyAdmin, phpPgAdmin (on Stellar Business), and other database tools |
| Email Accounts, Forwarders, Spam Filters, and other email tools | |
| Domains | Domains, Sitejet Builder, Zone Editor, and other domain tools |
| Security | SSL/TLS Certificates, Two-Factor Authentication, ModSecurity, ImunifyAV/Imunify360, and other security tools |
| Software | PHP tools, Node.js, Python, Ruby, and related tools |
| Advanced | Cron Jobs, Terminal, Track DNS, and other advanced tools |
Don't worry about learning every section right away, most new users only need a few tools to get started:
| Task | Path to the tool |
|---|---|
| Install WordPress and other applications | Exclusive for Namecheap Customers >> Softaculous Apps Installer |
| Create a website with Sitejet | Domains >> Sitejet Builder |
| Upload and manage website files | Files >> File Manager |
| Create email accounts | Email >> Email Accounts |
| Manage DNS records | Domains >> Zone Editor |
| Install and manage SSL certificates automatically | Exclusive for Namecheap Customers >> Namecheap SSL |
| Install SSL certificates manually | Security >> SSL/TLS Certificates |
| Create and download backups of your data | Files >> Backup |
| Restore automatic backups (on Stellar Plus/Business) | Exclusive for Namecheap Customers >> AutoBackup |
| Scan for malware | Security >> ImunifyAV/Imunify360 |
Learn more: cPanel control panel overview.
By now, you should have connected your domain to hosting and signed in to cPanel. The next steps depend on whether you're creating a new website or moving an existing one. Choose the option below that best matches your needs.
If you're starting from scratch, the most popular options are to install a content management system (CMS), such as WordPress, or use a website builder.
WordPress is a flexible website platform that supports blogs, business websites, portfolios, and online stores through hundreds of themes and plugins. It includes the Extendify AI assistance on our Shared Hosting plans.
To install WordPress, go to Exclusive for Namecheap Customers >> Softaculous Apps Installer >> WordPress >> Install.
For illustrated installation instructions, see How to install WordPress using Softaculous .
Sitejet Builder is a beginner-friendly website builder integrated directly into cPanel. It lets you create a website using AI tools, customizable templates, and a drag-and-drop editor without requiring coding knowledge.
To get started, go to Domains >> Sitejet Builder >> Try Sitejet AI.
To learn more about Sitejet's features and setup process, see What is Sitejet Builder and how to use it?
If you already have a website, there are several ways to bring it to your Shared Hosting account which you can check belw.
You can migrate your website manually by transferring its files and, if applicable, its database.
Upload your website files or backup archive using one of the following options:
For detailed upload instructions, see How do I upload my site?
If your website uses a database or requires additional configuration after the files are uploaded, complete the following steps:
1. Extract the uploaded archive
If you uploaded your website as a backup archive, extract its contents before proceeding with additional configuration steps.
2. Set up and import your database
If your website uses a database, create a database and import its backup.
For information about databases and imports, see How to create and maintain databases in cPanel and How to import and export a database via phpMyAdmin .
3. Update your website configuration
Some database-driven applications also require updating their configuration files with the new database name, username, and password after migration. Refer to your application's documentation for instructions.
If your website uses WordPress, you can choose from several migration methods designed specifically for the CMS: How to move a WordPress site to Shared Hosting .
If your website is currently hosted with another provider and you'd like assistance moving it to Namecheap, our migration team may be able to help.
Learn more: Migrate to Namecheap Hosting .
An SSL certificate enables HTTPS, which encrypts the information exchanged between your website and its visitors and helps establish trust in your website.
Your Shared Hosting plan automatically includes a free PositiveSSL certificate for the first year. The certificate is usually issued and installed within 30-60 minutes after your hosting account is activated and the domain is pointed to the service.
You can monitor its status in cPanel >> Exclusive for Namecheap Customers >> Namecheap SSL.
You can verify that an SSL certificate is installed by opening your website in a browser and checking that the address begins with https:// and displays a padlock icon.
If you'd like to perform an additional check, you can also use our online SSL checker: https://decoder.link/.
Now that your website is up and running, you can create professional email addresses that use your domain name, such as info@yourdomain.tld or support@yourdomain.tld.
Using domain-based email addresses helps build trust with your visitors and integrates naturally with contact forms and other website features.
To create an email account, follow this path: cPanel >> Email >> Email Accounts >> Create.
For illustrated instructions, see How to create an email account in cPanel.
You can access your mailbox in several ways:
For additional access methods and illustrated instructions, see How to access cPanel Webmail.
You can use your mailbox directly in webmail or connect it to an email application on your computer or mobile device, such as Outlook or Apple Mail.
See General configuration for mail clients and mobile devices and cPanel Email: Client Setup.
If your website includes a contact form or other email-related features, you can configure it to send messages using your domain email address.
Well done! At this point, you should have completed the basic setup of your website and email.
The steps below help you protect the part of security that is in your hands: your accounts, passwords, and website content. Following them lowers the risk of your account being compromised.
1. Use strong, unique passwords for your Namecheap account, cPanel account, email accounts, and other website-related services.
| Action | Path in cPanel |
|---|---|
| Change cPanel password | Preferences >> Password & Security |
| Change cPanel email account password | Email >> Email Accounts >> Manage >> Security >> Password |
2. Enable two-factor authentication where available.
| Action | Path in cPanel |
|---|---|
| Enable 2FA in cPanel | Security >> Two-Factor Authentication |
| Enable 2FA in cPanel Webmail | Email >> Email Accounts >> Check Email >> Edit Your Settings >> Two-Factor Authentication |
3. Scan your account for malware from time to time. The malware scanner can be found in Security >> ImunifyAV/Imunify360.
4. Maintain regular backups of your website and data.
| Availability | Path in cPanel |
|---|---|
| All Shared Hosting plans | Files >> Backup |
| Stellar Plus/Business | Exclusive for Namecheap Customers >> AutoBackup |
| Sites installed via Softaculous | Softaculous Apps Installer >> All Installations >> Backup |
5. Keep your CMS applications, plugins, themes, and scripts up to date.
Learn more:
Namecheap account security: How do I prevent my account from being hacked?
Hosting account security: How to prevent your hosting account from being hacked
WordPress website security: How to improve WordPress website security
Shared Hosting plans are usually activated automatically within a few minutes after the order is placed. In rare cases, our Billing team may need to review the order manually. If this happens, activation may take up to 30 minutes.
First, check your Spam or Junk folder and make sure you're looking at the email address associated with your Namecheap account. If you still can't find the message, contact our Support Team.
The hosting account can be located in your Namecheap account >> Hosting List.
If a domain name and a hosting plan are purchased together during checkout, the domain is usually connected automatically. Otherwise, new domains use BasicDNS nameservers by default, allowing you to decide where to use the domain and which services to connect to it.
To activate all hosting-related services, we recommend changing the nameservers:
For domains registered with Namecheap: go to Namecheap account >> Domain List >> Manage >> Nameservers and select Namecheap Web Hosting DNS;
For third-party domain names: update the nameservers with your registrar to dns1.namecheaphosting.com and dns2.namecheaphosting.com.
Alternatively, you can keep your current nameservers and connect the domain to your hosting account using an A record.
Changes to individual DNS records, such as A or CNAME records, often take effect within 30-60 minutes, although some providers may take longer to update their DNS caches. Nameserver changes may take up to 24-48 hours to propagate worldwide, but they are often completed sooner.
For more details, see DNS propagation explained.
If your domain is still propagating, you can preview your website by modifying your local hosts file. For detailed instructions, check this article.
There are several ways to access cPanel:
Using the shortcut in your Namecheap account: Hosting List >> Go to cPanel;
Using login credentials provided in the Your Hosting Account Details for yourdomain.tld welcome email.
Yes, Shared Hosting fully supports WordPress. You can install it from cPanel >> Exclusive for Namecheap Customers >> Softaculous Apps Installer >> WordPress >> Install.
The best option depends on your goals and experience:
WordPress is a flexible platform suitable for blogs, business websites, portfolios, and online stores. It offers thousands of themes and plugins and gives you the most customization options.
Sitejet Builder is designed for beginners and lets you build a website using templates, AI tools, and a drag-and-drop editor without coding.
Other platforms may be a good choice if you already use a specific website builder or application and are comfortable managing it.
For most beginners, Sitejet is usually easier to start with, while WordPress offers more flexibility as your website grows.
Some tools are available only on specific Shared Hosting plans:
Stellar and Stellar Plus include ImunifyAV, while Stellar Business includes the more advanced Imunify360 scanner;
AutoBackup is available on Stellar Plus and Stellar Business plans.
If your domain is pointed to your Shared Hosting account and the SSL certificate has not been issued or installed within 30-60 minutes, contact our Support Team for assistance.
You can add additional domains from cPanel >> Domains >> Domains. For detailed instructions, see How to create an addon domain.
Yes, you can upgrade your Shared Hosting plan at any time if your website needs more resources or additional features.
Need help? We're always here for you.