Installing and Running Node.js on Shared Hosting via cPanel

Installing and Running Node.js on Shared Hosting via cPanel

If you’re using shared hosting with cPanel and want to deploy a Node.js application, you’ll be happy to know that many providers now support Node.js through their software tools. This guide will walk you through the entire process of installing and running a Node.js app on shared hosting with cPanel access.

✅ Requirements

• A shared hosting plan that supports Node.js (check with your provider)
• Access to cPanel
• Your Node.js app files (in a zipped folder or Git repo)
• Basic knowledge of Node.js and your app’s startup file (like server.js or app.js)

🔐 Step 1: Login to cPanel

1. Open your browser and go to https://yourdomain.com/cpanel
2. Log in using your hosting account credentials

🛠️ Step 2: Locate the Node.js App Feature

1. In the cPanel dashboard, scroll to the Software section
2. Click on Setup Node.js App (or a similar option depending on your host)
3. Click Create Application

⚙️ Step 3: Configure Your Node.js Application

On the application creation screen, configure the following:

• Node.js Version: Choose the version your app requires
• Application Mode: Use production for live sites or development for testing
• Application Root: Name of the folder in your file system (e.g., myapp)
• Application URL: Where your app will be accessible
• Startup File: The main file of your Node app (e.g., server.js)

Click Create to set up the environment.

📂 Step 4: Upload or Clone Your Project Files

Now that your app environment is created:

1. Go to File Manager from cPanel
2. Navigate to the folder set as your Application Root
3. Upload and extract your zipped Node.js project OR use Git to clone:

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/your-repo.git

📦 Step 5: Install Project Dependencies

1. Return to the Node.js App interface
2. Find your app and click on “Run NPM Install”
3. This will install all packages listed in your package.json

🚀 Step 6: Start Your Node.js App

1. In the Node.js App section, click Restart next to your app
2. Visit your Application URL (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/myapp)
3. You should see your Node.js app running live

🧪 Optional: Create a .env File for Environment Variables

1. Use the File Manager or SSH to create a file called .env in the root directory
2. Add your environment variables like this:

PORT=3000
DB_URI=mongodb+srv://username:password@cluster.mongodb.net/app

Make sure to use a library like dotenv in your code to load them.

🔒 Step 7: Secure with SSL (Optional but Recommended)

1. In cPanel, go to SSL/TLS or AutoSSL
2. Install an SSL certificate for your domain
3. Ensure your app listens to HTTPS traffic properly

🛠 Troubleshooting Tips

• App not starting? Ensure your startup file is correct and your dependencies are installed
• 502 Bad Gateway? Your app might not be running on the specified port or failed to start
• Check Logs: Use cPanel’s Terminal or error log tools to debug runtime issues

📌 Conclusion

Running Node.js on shared hosting via cPanel is easier than ever with built-in tools and simplified environments. As long as your hosting provider supports Node.js, you can host modern web applications with just a few clicks. For more advanced setups, consider switching to VPS or cloud hosting, but shared hosting is a solid choice for small apps, portfolios, and APIs.