How to Use cPanel to Manually Update WordPress Core Files

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How to Use cPanel to Manually Update WordPress Core Files
By HiveRift May 26, 2025

How to Use cPanel to Manually Update WordPress Core Files Manually update your WordPress core files using cPanel File Manager for complete control and better security management. Why Manually Update WordPress? While WordPress offers automatic updates, there are times when a manual update is safer or more reliable—such as when your site has customizations or plugin conflicts. Manual updates give you more control and allow you to back up first. Before You Begin ⚠️ Backup your entire website and database from cPanel. Ensure your theme and plugins are compatible with the latest WordPress version. Step 1: Download the Latest WordPress Version Visit the official website: wordpress.org/download. Click Download WordPress and save the ZIP file to your computer. Step 2: Extract WordPress Core Files Unzip the downloaded WordPress file on your computer. It will contain: wp-admin folder wp-includes folder Core files like index.php, wp-login.php, etc. Do not upload the wp-content folder as it contains your theme and plugin files which should not be overwritten. Step 3: Log in to cPanel and Access File Manager Login to your Hiverift Hosting cPanel account. Navigate to File Manager. Open the public_html folder (or wherever WordPress is installed). Step 4: Upload and Replace Core Files Use File Manager’s Upload option to upload your extracted WordPress files (excluding wp-content). Once uploaded, overwrite the existing wp-admin, wp-includes folders and core files. Ensure wp-content is untouched to retain your themes and plugins. Step 5: Update Database (If Prompted) After uploading, visit yourdomain.com/wp-admin. If a database update is required, WordPress will prompt you. Click the “Update WordPress Database” button. Final Check Clear your browser and site cache. Test all major functions, plugins, and themes. Check site performance and security plugins for issues. Troubleshooting Tips Site broke after upload? Restore from backup immediately. White screen or 500 error? Check error_log via File Manager or enable WP_DEBUG in wp-config.php. Double-check that you did not overwrite wp-content. Conclusion Manually updating WordPress core files via cPanel offers control and peace of mind. It’s ideal for users managing custom sites or troubleshooting conflicts. Always backup before proceeding and use cPanel’s File Manager to carefully replace files.   © 2025 Hiverift Hosting. All rights reserved. | Need Help? Contact Support  

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How to Troubleshoot Plugin Conflicts Using cPanel Access and Debugging
By HiveRift May 26, 2025

How to Troubleshoot Plugin Conflicts Using cPanel Access and Debugging Efficient conflict resolution for WordPress — by Hiverift 🔍 What Are Plugin Conflicts? A plugin conflict occurs when two or more WordPress plugins (or themes) interfere with each other, causing errors, broken layouts, or even site crashes. 🛠️ Step-by-Step: Troubleshooting with cPanel Access Step 1: Log Into cPanel Visit yourdomain.com/cpanel Enter your credentials Step 2: Access File Manager Go to File Manager under the “Files” section Navigate to public_html/wp-content/plugins Step 3: Disable All Plugins Rename the plugins folder to something like plugins_old. This deactivates all plugins at once. If your site loads after this, a plugin is causing the issue. Step 4: Reactivate Plugins One-by-One Rename the folder back to plugins Individually rename each plugin folder (e.g., seo-plugin → seo-plugin-temp) to isolate the problematic one Step 5: Check Site Function After Each Activation Reload your site after enabling each plugin. Once the error appears again, you’ve found the culprit. 🧪 Enable WP_DEBUG Mode (Optional but Helpful) Step 1: Open wp-config.php In File Manager, locate wp-config.php in the root directory Right-click → Edit Step 2: Add Debug Code define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true); define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true); define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false); Error logs will be saved in /wp-content/debug.log. Check this file to identify the conflicting plugin or function. 🧼 Clean Up After Debugging Don’t forget to disable debug mode after resolving the issue: define(‘WP_DEBUG’, false); 🔁 Alternative: Use phpMyAdmin (Advanced) If you can’t access the file manager: Open phpMyAdmin from cPanel Select your WordPress database Find the wp_options table Edit the active_plugins row to disable plugins manually Manual database edits can be risky — always back up your site and database before making changes. ✅ Conclusion Plugin conflicts can be tricky, but with cPanel access and debug mode, you can isolate and resolve them without losing access to your site. Need assistance? Let Hiverift handle your troubleshooting safely and efficiently. Need development help? Contact Hiverift for Dev Support

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How to Manage File Ownership and Permissions for WordPress Security in cPanel
By HiveRift May 26, 2025

How to Manage File Ownership and Permissions for WordPress Security in cPanel Protect your WordPress website by setting the correct file permissions and ownership using cPanel File Manager or terminal access. Why File Ownership and Permissions Matter Improper file permissions and ownership can lead to major vulnerabilities in WordPress. Hackers can exploit writable files or directories to inject malicious code. Ensuring that only necessary access is granted is key to securing your site. Understanding File Permissions Read (r): Allows viewing the contents of a file or directory. Write (w): Allows modifying or deleting a file or directory. Execute (x): Allows running a file (for scripts) or accessing a directory. Permissions are represented in three groups: User (Owner) Group Others (Public) Recommended WordPress File Permissions Files: 644 (read/write for owner, read-only for group and others) Directories: 755 (read/write/execute for owner, read/execute for group and others) wp-config.php: 440 or 400 for added security How to Change File Permissions in cPanel Log in to your cPanel account. Go to File Manager. Navigate to your WordPress root directory (usually public_html). Right-click on a file or folder and choose Change Permissions. Set the appropriate values (e.g., 644 for files, 755 for folders) using the checkboxes. Click Save. Changing Permissions Using Terminal (Advanced) If you have SSH access enabled in your cPanel hosting account, you can set permissions using terminal: cd public_html find . -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \; find . -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \; chmod 400 wp-config.php Checking and Fixing File Ownership (Optional) Ownership issues often arise after migrations or incorrect file uploads. If you notice permission errors in WordPress: Contact your hosting support to reset ownership to the correct user (usually your cPanel username). Via SSH (if allowed): chown -R yourusername:yourusername public_html Security Tips Avoid setting any folder or file to 777. Limit plugin and theme uploads from unknown sources. Scan your site regularly for malware using tools like ImunifyAV in cPanel. Back up your site before making permission changes. Conclusion Maintaining correct file permissions and ownership is a foundational step in WordPress security. By regularly reviewing and adjusting access settings using cPanel’s File Manager or terminal, you can prevent unauthorized changes and vulnerabilities.

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How to Configure WordPress .htaccess Rules Using cPanel File Manager
By HiveRift May 26, 2025

How to Configure WordPress .htaccess Rules Using cPanel File Manager Step-by-step tutorial by Hiverift 🧾 What is the .htaccess File? The .htaccess file is a hidden configuration file used by Apache web servers to control settings like redirects, security, permalinks, and more. In WordPress, it’s essential for SEO-friendly URLs and performance tweaks. 🔧 Step-by-Step: Edit .htaccess via cPanel Step 1: Log into cPanel Visit yourdomain.com/cpanel Enter your hosting username and password Step 2: Open File Manager Scroll to the Files section Click on File Manager Navigate to public_html (or the root folder of your WordPress site) Note: Make sure hidden files are visible by clicking Settings (top-right corner) and checking “Show Hidden Files (dotfiles)”. Step 3: Locate or Create .htaccess Look for the file named .htaccess If it doesn’t exist, click + File → Name it .htaccess Step 4: Edit the .htaccess File Right-click .htaccess → Click Edit Confirm any encoding prompts and begin editing Always back up your .htaccess file before making changes. ✅ Default WordPress .htaccess Rules # BEGIN WordPress <IfModule mod_rewrite.c> RewriteEngine On RewriteBase / RewriteRule ^index\.php$ – [L] RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d RewriteRule . /index.php [L] </IfModule> # END WordPress 🛡 Useful Custom .htaccess Snippets 🔒 Block XML-RPC Attacks <Files xmlrpc.php> Order Deny,Allow Deny from all </Files> 🚀 Enable Browser Caching <IfModule mod_expires.c> ExpiresActive On ExpiresByType image/jpg “access plus 1 year” ExpiresByType image/jpeg “access plus 1 year” ExpiresByType image/gif “access plus 1 year” ExpiresByType image/png “access plus 1 year” ExpiresByType text/css “access plus 1 month” ExpiresByType application/pdf “access plus 1 month” ExpiresByType text/javascript “access plus 1 month” ExpiresByType application/x-javascript “access plus 1 month” </IfModule> 🔁 Redirect HTTP to HTTPS RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301] Use redirects carefully. A single mistake can break site access. 🧹 How to Reset .htaccess Delete current .htaccess (or rename to .htaccess.bak) Log in to your WordPress dashboard Go to Settings → Permalinks and click Save Changes This will regenerate the default .htaccess rules ✅ Final Thoughts The .htaccess file is a powerful tool for managing WordPress behavior, performance, and security. Always take backups and test after editing to avoid site crashes.   Need development help? Contact Hiverift for Dev SupportHiverift. All rights reserved.

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How to Create Staging Sites for WordPress Using cPanel
By HiveRift May 26, 2025

How to Create Staging Sites for WordPress Using cPanel A Step-by-Step Guide by Hiverift 🚀 What is a Staging Site? A staging site is a clone of your live website where you can safely test updates, new features, or designs without affecting your production site. 🔧 Method 1: Use cPanel’s Built-in WordPress Manager (If Available) Step 1: Log in to cPanel Visit yourdomain.com/cpanel and enter your login credentials. Step 2: Open WordPress Toolkit or Softaculous Look for either: WordPress Toolkit (modern hosts) Softaculous Apps Installer → WordPress Step 3: Select Your Installation Find your active WordPress installation and click on the Staging or Create Staging option. Step 4: Configure Staging Settings Choose a staging folder (e.g., staging) Click Create and wait for the cloning process Some tools offer automatic synchronization from staging to live—great for pushing updates. 🛠 Method 2: Manually Create a WordPress Staging Site via File Manager + phpMyAdmin Step 1: Create a Subdomain In cPanel, go to Subdomains Create a subdomain like staging.yourdomain.com Step 2: Copy Files to Subdomain Open File Manager Copy all files from public_html to the new subdomain folder (e.g., public_html/staging) Step 3: Export and Import the Database Open phpMyAdmin Export your current database (SQL format) Create a new database and user in cPanel Import the SQL file into the new staging database Step 4: Update wp-config.php Edit the wp-config.php file in the staging folder: define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘your_staging_db’); define(‘DB_USER’, ‘your_staging_user’); define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘your_password’); define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’); Step 5: Update Site URLs Go to the staging database in phpMyAdmin Open the wp_options table Update siteurl and home fields to your new subdomain URL Be careful not to overwrite your live database or files during this process. 🔒 Secure Your Staging Site Add password protection via cPanel → Directory Privacy Block search engines with a robots.txt: User-agent: * Disallow: / ✅ Final Thoughts Creating a WordPress staging site using cPanel allows you to test and develop safely. Whether using cPanel tools or doing it manually, always back up your site before making changes. Need expert help setting up a staging environment? Our team at Hiverift is here to assist you. Need development help? Contact Hiverift for Dev Support

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How to Optimize WordPress Speed Using cPanel Tools
By HiveRift May 26, 2025

How to Optimize WordPress Speed Using cPanel Tools Improve your website’s loading time and performance by using built-in tools in cPanel for WordPress optimization. Why Website Speed Matters Website speed affects everything from user experience to search engine rankings. A slow site leads to higher bounce rates and lower conversions. Fortunately, with cPanel, you have access to several tools that can significantly boost your WordPress site speed without requiring advanced technical knowledge. 1. Use the Optimize Website Tool in cPanel Log in to your cPanel account. Go to the Software section and click on Optimize Website. Select Compress All Content to enable GZIP compression. Click Update Settings. This will compress text-based resources like HTML, CSS, JavaScript to improve page load times. 2. Enable Caching Using LiteSpeed or Cache Manager If your server uses LiteSpeed (common with Hiverift hosting): Install the LiteSpeed Cache Plugin in WordPress. In cPanel, open LiteSpeed Web Cache Manager. Enable caching for your WordPress installation. This reduces repeated server processing and speeds up page delivery for returning visitors. 3. Optimize Images Through cPanel File Manager Use image compression tools before uploading images to WordPress. Access File Manager in cPanel to locate the wp-content/uploads directory. Delete large or unused media files manually to reduce disk usage and load time. 4. Minify CSS and JavaScript Files You can manually minify files via File Manager or use WordPress plugins like Autoptimize. To minify manually: Go to public_html/wp-content/themes/your-theme. Edit the CSS and JS files to remove unnecessary spaces and comments. Save changes and clear cache. 5. Monitor Performance Using cPanel Metrics cPanel includes several tools under the Metrics section: Resource Usage – Shows CPU and memory usage over time. Visitors – View real-time and historical traffic. Errors – Check for slow-loading or broken scripts. 6. Remove Unused Themes and Plugins Navigate to File Manager and go to wp-content/themes and wp-content/plugins. Delete any folders that correspond to inactive themes/plugins. This will clean up server space and reduce security risks. 7. Manage and Optimize Databases Open phpMyAdmin in cPanel. Select your WordPress database. Scroll to the bottom, check all tables, and choose Optimize table from the dropdown menu. This helps reduce overhead and improves database query speed. 8. Set Up a CDN via cPanel Most cPanel accounts integrate with Cloudflare: Look for Cloudflare in your cPanel dashboard. Create an account and link your domain. Enable caching and content delivery optimization. Best Practices for WordPress Speed Optimization Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated. Use a lightweight theme. Limit the number of plugins installed. Use lazy loading for images. Schedule regular cleanups of your database and cache. Conclusion cPanel offers powerful tools that can dramatically improve the performance and speed of your WordPress site. By implementing compression, caching, database optimization, and file management, you’ll ensure faster load times and a better user experience. Start optimizing today using the tools right at your fingertips in cPanel.   Hiverift Hosting. Need help? Contact Support.  

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How to Monitor WordPress Error Logs via cPanel
By HiveRift May 26, 2025

How to Monitor WordPress Error Logs via cPanel Step-by-step guide by Hiverift 📌 Why Monitor WordPress Error Logs? Detect PHP errors, warnings, and notices Troubleshoot plugin or theme issues Improve site performance and security Prevent downtime or data loss 🔧 Step-by-Step: Accessing WordPress Error Logs via cPanel Step 1: Log Into cPanel Go to your hosting provider’s cPanel login URL (e.g., yourdomain.com/cpanel). Enter your username and password. Step 2: Locate the “Metrics” Section Scroll to the Metrics section. Click on “Errors” to view the last 300 error messages. Note: This section includes general server errors. Step 3: View Raw Error Logs via File Manager Go back to the cPanel dashboard. Click on File Manager under the Files section. Navigate to public_html and locate the error_log file. Right-click it and choose View or Edit. Pro Tip: If WordPress is installed in a subdirectory (e.g., public_html/blog), look there for a separate error_log file. Step 4: Enable WP_DEBUG to Generate Detailed WordPress Logs Open wp-config.php in File Manager. Edit the file and add the following lines: define( ‘WP_DEBUG’, true ); define( ‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true ); define( ‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false ); WP_DEBUG: Enables debug mode WP_DEBUG_LOG: Saves logs to /wp-content/debug.log WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY: Prevents errors from showing on the site front-end Important: Disable debugging on live sites after troubleshooting. Step 5: Check the WordPress Debug Log Navigate to public_html/wp-content/. Open debug.log to view WordPress-specific issues. 🛠 Optional: Download Logs for Offline Analysis Right-click on error_log or debug.log. Select Download. Use a text editor or log viewer to analyze the file. 🧹 How to Clear Error Logs Open the log file. Delete the content and save it as an empty file (do not delete the file). 🔒 Security Tip: Restrict Access to Debug Logs Add this code to your .htaccess file to protect debug.log: <Files “debug.log”> Order allow,deny Deny from all </Files> ✅ Final Thoughts Monitoring WordPress error logs via cPanel is a proactive way to maintain your site’s health and prevent critical issues. Follow these steps regularly to ensure smooth performance and quick troubleshooting. Need development help? Contact Hiverift for Dev Support  

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How to Set Up Cron Jobs for WordPress Scheduled Tasks in cPanel
By HiveRift May 26, 2025

How to Set Up Cron Jobs for WordPress Scheduled Tasks in cPanel A complete guide to optimizing your WordPress site by scheduling automated tasks using cPanel’s Cron Jobs tool.   What Are Cron Jobs and Why Use Them? Cron jobs are scheduled commands or scripts that your server runs at specific intervals. WordPress uses a virtual cron system called wp-cron.php to handle tasks like publishing scheduled posts, checking for updates, and clearing temporary files. However, relying solely on wp-cron can be unreliable on low-traffic sites. Setting up a real cron job in cPanel improves performance and reliability. Step 1: Disable WordPress’s Default Cron To prevent WordPress from running wp-cron.php on every page load: Log in to your cPanel account. Navigate to the File Manager. Locate and edit the wp-config.php file in your WordPress root directory. Add the following line of code above the line that says /* That’s all, stop editing! */: define(‘DISABLE_WP_CRON’, true); Step 2: Set Up a Cron Job in cPanel In cPanel, scroll to the Advanced section and click on Cron Jobs. Set the email address to receive notifications (optional). Under Add New Cron Job: Choose a common setting like “Every 15 minutes”. In the command field, enter the following: cd /home/yourusername/public_html; php -q wp-cron.php OR (better for many setups): curl -s https://yourdomain.com/wp-cron.php?doing_wp_cron > /dev/null 2>&1 Click Add New Cron Job. Step 3: Verify the Cron Job is Working Check your WordPress scheduled tasks are now executing on time (e.g., scheduled posts are publishing). If you set a notification email, you’ll receive reports each time the cron runs (unless silenced in command). Benefits of Using Real Cron Jobs Improved site performance by disabling wp-cron on every page load. Ensures time-sensitive tasks (like post publishing or backups) execute consistently. Reduces load on low-traffic WordPress sites. Troubleshooting Tips Ensure the wp-cron.php file exists in the WordPress root folder. Check file permissions (755 for directories, 644 for files) if the cron doesn’t execute. Use a basic curl or wget command if PHP paths don’t work on your server. Conclusion By setting up a proper cron job for WordPress via cPanel, you’re giving your site a more reliable way to handle background tasks. It’s a small step that can make a big difference in performance and automation.   Hiverift Hosting. Need help? Visit our Support Center.

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How to Manage Email Accounts for WordPress Domains Using cPanel
By HiveRift May 26, 2025

How to Manage Email Accounts for WordPress Domains Using cPanel A step-by-step guide to create, configure, and manage email accounts linked to your WordPress domains using the cPanel control panel. Why Manage Email Accounts via cPanel? Using cPanel to manage email accounts tied to your WordPress domains helps you create professional email addresses (e.g., info@yourdomain.com) without relying on third-party email providers. It’s easy to set up, monitor storage, and configure forwarding or autoresponders. Step 1: Log in to Your cPanel Dashboard Access your hosting provider’s cPanel by visiting the login URL (usually https://yourdomain.com/cpanel or via your hosting dashboard). Enter your username and password to log in. Step 2: Locate the Email Accounts Section Once inside cPanel, scroll down to the Email section. Click on Email Accounts. Step 3: Create a New Email Account Click on the Create button. Select the domain associated with your WordPress site from the dropdown menu. Enter the desired email username (e.g., admin, contact). Set a strong password or use the password generator. Specify the mailbox quota (storage limit) or leave it as default. Click Create to finish. Step 4: Access and Configure Your Email Account After creating the email account, you can: Access your mailbox via webmail: Click Check Email next to the email account, then select a webmail client like Roundcube or Horde. Configure your email on desktop/mobile clients using IMAP/POP3 and SMTP settings provided in cPanel. Step 5: Manage Existing Email Accounts From the Email Accounts page, you can: Change passwords for email accounts. Adjust mailbox quotas. Delete email accounts no longer needed. Set up email forwarders or autoresponders. Additional Email Management Features in cPanel Email Forwarders: Automatically forward incoming emails to another address. Autoresponders: Set automatic reply messages for your email accounts. Spam Filters: Manage spam settings to keep your inbox clean. Email Filters: Create rules to organize incoming mail. Troubleshooting Tips If you can’t receive emails, verify that your domain’s MX records point to your hosting server. Ensure your mailbox quota isn’t full to avoid missing new emails. Use the webmail client to test sending and receiving emails before configuring third-party apps. Conclusion Managing email accounts for your WordPress domains via cPanel is straightforward and provides professional communication channels tied to your brand. With cPanel’s intuitive tools, you can create, monitor, and customize email accounts easily. Hiverift Hosting. For more assistance, visit our Support Center.  

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How to Change WordPress Site URL via cPanel Database
By HiveRift May 26, 2025

How to Change WordPress Site URL via cPanel Database A step-by-step guide to update your WordPress site URL directly through the database using cPanel’s phpMyAdmin. Why Change Your WordPress Site URL via Database? Sometimes, you might need to change your WordPress site URL if you have moved your website to a new domain, fixed a broken URL, or updated your site from HTTP to HTTPS. If you cannot access your WordPress dashboard, changing the URL via the database is a quick and effective solution. Important: Backup Your Database First Before making any changes, always create a full backup of your WordPress database to avoid data loss in case of any errors. Step 1: Log in to cPanel Go to your hosting provider’s cPanel login page. Enter your username and password to access the cPanel dashboard. Step 2: Open phpMyAdmin In the cPanel dashboard, scroll down to the Databases section. Click on phpMyAdmin to open the database management tool. Step 3: Select Your WordPress Database In phpMyAdmin, locate your WordPress database from the list on the left sidebar. If you are unsure of the database name, check the wp-config.php file in your WordPress root directory for the DB_NAME value. Click on the database name to view its tables. Step 4: Edit the siteurl and home URL in wp_options Table Find and click on the table named wp_options. (Note: The prefix wp_ may be different if customized during installation.) Look for the rows with the option_name siteurl and home. They are usually within the first few rows. Click the Edit button next to each to modify their values. Replace the existing URL with your new site URL (e.g., https://www.newdomain.com). Click Go or Save to apply the changes. Step 5: Clear Your Browser and WordPress Cache After updating the URLs, clear your browser cache to avoid loading old data. If you use caching plugins in WordPress, clear those caches too. Step 6: Test Your Website Visit your website using the new URL to ensure everything loads correctly. Login to your WordPress admin dashboard using the new URL. Troubleshooting Tips If you encounter login issues, clear cookies and try again. Check your wp-config.php file for any hardcoded URLs. If the site still points to the old URL, verify that your domain DNS settings are updated correctly. Conclusion Changing your WordPress site URL via the cPanel database is an effective way to fix URL-related issues, especially when you cannot access the WordPress admin dashboard. Always remember to backup your database before making changes and proceed carefully. Hiverift Hosting. Need help? Visit our Support Center.

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