The User Manager in cPanel lets you create and manage subaccounts with unified login credentials for email, FTP, and Web Disk services. When you create a subaccount, the system automatically synchronizes passwords across all enabled services, making it easier for users to access multiple services with one set of credentials.
This tool also allows you to merge existing email, FTP, and Web Disk accounts that share the same username into a single subaccount, streamlining user management for your hosting account.
What Are Subaccounts in cPanel?
Subaccounts are limited user accounts that can access specific services on your hosting account without having full cPanel access. Unlike your main cPanel account, subaccounts can only log in to FTP, Web Disk, and Webmail. They cannot access the cPanel control panel itself.
This makes subaccounts perfect for:
- Giving employees or contractors limited access to upload files via FTP
- Allowing team members to manage email without accessing other account settings
- Providing Web Disk access for file management without full hosting privileges
Important: The User Manager does not create new cPanel hosting accounts. Only hosting providers and system administrators can create full cPanel accounts through their server management interface.
How to Add a New Subaccount
Creating a subaccount in User Manager is straightforward. Follow these steps:
- Click the Add User button in the User Manager interface
- Enter the person's name in the Full Name text box
- Choose a username in the Username text box (this will be used for all services)
- If you manage multiple domains, select the appropriate domain from the Domain menu
- Enter a contact email address for the user (this is required for password reset functionality)
- Create a strong password or allow the user to set their own password after receiving their login information
- Select which services the subaccount can access: Email, FTP, Web Disk, or any combination
- Click Create to finalize the subaccount
Important: You must provide a contact email address if you want the subaccount user to be able to reset their password independently. Without a contact email, the system generates a placeholder address that prevents the password reset feature from working properly.
Linking Existing Accounts Together
If you have existing email, FTP, or Web Disk accounts that use the same username, User Manager can merge them into a single subaccount. This consolidation simplifies management by giving users one password for multiple services.
The User Manager interface automatically identifies accounts that could be merged and groups them together. When you see accounts that can be linked:
- Click Link to merge the accounts into a unified subaccount
- Click Dismiss if you want to keep the accounts separate
After linking accounts, the system synchronizes the password across all services, so users only need to remember one set of credentials.
Managing Existing Subaccounts
Once you've created subaccounts, you can manage them from the User Manager interface. The accounts list shows all subaccounts along with their enabled services.
Note that some accounts display with a star icon on their account icons. These special accounts (like your main cPanel account and the logs account) cannot be edited or deleted through User Manager, as they're essential system accounts.
For regular subaccounts, you can:
- Edit account details, including the full name and contact email
- Change which services the subaccount can access
- Reset or change the subaccount password
- Delete subaccounts that are no longer needed
Password Management for Subaccounts
OBHost's cPanel platform provides several options for managing subaccount passwords:
- Set password during creation: When creating a subaccount, you can assign an initial password
- Allow user to set password: Users can set their own password using the reset password link sent to their contact email
- Change password anytime: Account owners can update subaccount passwords through User Manager
- User password reset: Subaccount users can reset their own passwords if they have a valid contact email on file
Remember that when you change a subaccount password, the system automatically updates it across all enabled services (email, FTP, Web Disk).
Security Considerations
When creating and managing subaccounts, keep these security best practices in mind:
- Use strong, unique passwords for each subaccount
- Only enable the services each user actually needs
- Provide accurate contact email addresses to enable password recovery
- Regularly review your subaccount list and remove accounts that are no longer needed
- Avoid sharing subaccount credentials between multiple people
Since subaccounts cannot access cPanel directly, they provide a secure way to grant limited access without compromising your hosting account's security.
Common Use Cases for Subaccounts
Subaccounts are valuable in many scenarios:
- Development teams: Give developers FTP access to upload files without full hosting control
- Content creators: Provide Web Disk access for uploading media files and content
- Customer service staff: Grant email access for team members who need to manage support inquiries
- Contractors: Create temporary subaccounts for freelancers that can be easily removed when projects end
- Department-specific access: Set up separate subaccounts for different teams or departments
Frequently Asked Questions
Can subaccounts access cPanel?
No, subaccounts cannot log in to or access the cPanel control panel. They can only access the specific services you enable for them: FTP, Web Disk, and Webmail. If someone needs full cPanel access, they would need a separate hosting account.
What happens to email when I link accounts together?
When you merge separate email, FTP, and Web Disk accounts into a single subaccount, all existing data remains intact. The system simply synchronizes the passwords across services, allowing the user to access everything with one set of credentials. No emails, files, or settings are lost during the linking process.
How do I delete a subaccount?
To delete a subaccount, locate it in the User Manager accounts list and click the delete or trash icon next to the account name. The system will ask you to confirm the deletion. Note that you cannot delete special system accounts marked with a star icon, such as your main cPanel account.
Can I create a subaccount with only email access?
Yes, when creating a subaccount, you can choose which services to enable. If you only want to provide email access, simply enable email and leave FTP and Web Disk disabled. You can always change the enabled services later by editing the subaccount.
For assistance with managing your subaccounts or any other hosting questions, the OBHost support team is available 24/7. Contact us at https://www.obhost.net/contact or email support@obhost.org.
