For the purposes of this document, we'll be using youraccountname.web.illinois.edu as our example site. Substitute your account name (it could be your NetID or it could be the name of the project) wherever you see the word youraccountname.

First step: Look in File Manager for public_html/index.html

To find public_html/index.html in File Manager:

1. Log in at https://web.illinois.edu.
2. In the Commonly Used Features section, click File Manager.
3. In the directory structure that appears, click the public_html folder in the left hand panel.

4. Look for a file named index (most likely index.html or index.php) in the contents of that folder.

If you don't have public_html/index.html or index.php:

public_html/index.html or index.php is where cPanel looks for the page to serve when someone visits youraccountname.web.illinois.edu. The easiest way to get a webpage there is to put a HTML file at index.html.

cPanel, Quick Starts provides several ways to get started with simple websites, or if you've developed your own site you can upload it via File Manager or SFTP.

If you've installed something like WordPress or Drupal but your home page is not stored at public_html/index.html or index.php:

If you followed the automatic installation for WordPress or Drupal or another Softaculous-provided package, it may have installed in its own specific subdirectory.

• By default, WordPress will install into public_html/wp and will create public_html/wp/index.php. 
• If you chose the defaults during WordPress installation, visiting youraccountname.web.illinois.edu/wp could reveal your site. 
• Other software uses other default directories. If you see a directory with a name like the thing you installed, look inside it to see whether it contains index.html or index.php.

Why you wouldn't want these subdirectories

If you want only one website in your account, you'll either want to move the contents of your subdirectory up so that index.html is in public_html, or you'll want to redirect where your home page is living.

If you're using a content management system, look at that system's instructions for more guidance. 

Why you might want these subdirectories

If you want to have more than one system on your site – for example, WordPress for blogging, Drupal for a database, and a forum for conversation – these subdirectories are useful and you can help people navigate among them with a public_html/index.html that contains links to the different systems on your site.

Next step: Look at the permissions of index.html or index.php

Once you have located public_html/index.html or a redirect, take a look at its permissions in File Manager. The permissions should be identified as 644, so that you can write to it but the rest of the world can only read it.

Next step: Once those both check out, try reloading youraccountname.web.illinois.edu

 Try reloading the page once you've checked both the placement and the permissions.

If it still doesn't show up, contact the organization through which you set up your cPanel account. Some departments have their own local cPanel coordinators.

For most people, the organization through which you set up your account will be Technology Services, and you can contact the Help Desk for assistance.