Before you begin
Keep your HillHost welcome email available. It contains your service information, nameservers, server address, and control-panel link. For security, never forward this email or share its passwords.
### First-day checklist
1. Sign in to the HillHost Client Area.
2. Open **Services > My Services**, select the hosting service, and confirm that its status is **Active**.
3. Connect your domain by setting the HillHost nameservers shown in your welcome email. DNS changes can take time to become visible worldwide.
4. Open cPanel from the service page. You normally do not need to enter a separate password when using the automatic login button.
5. Upload your website through **File Manager**, or install WordPress through **Softaculous Apps Installer**.
6. After the domain resolves to the server, enable HTTPS. In cPanel, check **SSL/TLS Status** and run AutoSSL if that option is available.
7. Create required mailboxes under **Email Accounts**.
8. Test the website and email from a device that is not already signed in.
9. Enable two-factor authentication in the Client Area.
10. Create your first backup before making major changes.
### If the website does not open
- Confirm that the domain uses the correct nameservers.
- Check that the files are in the domain's document root, commonly `public_html` for the primary domain.
- Make sure the main file is named `index.php` or `index.html`.
- Test both `https://yourdomain.example` and `https://www.yourdomain.example`.
- If you recently changed DNS, wait and try from another network.
### Need help?
Open a support ticket and include the domain, the exact error, when it started, and any changes made immediately beforehand. Never include a password in a ticket.
**Related articles:** How to Connect a Domain to HillHost; How to Fix SSL Problems; How to Create and Restore a cPanel Backup