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cPanel / WHM

Manage DNS-01 records through a cPanel account or a WHM (reseller/root) server via an API token. This covers the large share of shared hosting that runs on cPanel, without needing a provider-specific API.

Prerequisites

  • A cPanel account (or WHM access) that manages the DNS zone.
  • The panel reachable from CertAutoPilot over HTTPS (cPanel :2083, WHM :2087).
  • The domain must resolve publicly — DNS-01 needs the zone in public DNS.

Create the API token

  • cPanel: Security → Manage API TokensCreate → copy the token. Interface = cpanel.
  • WHM: Development → Manage API TokensGenerate → copy the token. Interface = whm (use for reseller/root managing many accounts' zones).

Add the credential

  1. Settings → DNS CredentialsNewcPanel / WHM.
  2. Server URL: https://host:2083 (cPanel) or https://host:2087 (WHM).
  3. Interface: cPanel or WHM.
  4. Username + API Token.
  5. Test (with a domain) → Save.

Config fields

FieldRequiredPurpose
urlyesPanel base URL (cPanel :2083 / WHM :2087).
usernameyesPanel account username.
tokenyescPanel/WHM API token.
modenocpanel (default) or whm.

Propagation

The record is written to the panel's own DNS; propagation depends on that server's nameservers. Default settings usually work; raise the propagation timeout in Settings → General if the zone's NS are slow.

Troubleshooting

401 / "access denied"

Wrong username/token, token lacks DNS scope, or the mode doesn't match the port (cPanel token on a WHM URL or vice versa).

"Zone not found"

The domain isn't a zone on this panel, or the account can't manage it (WHM needed for a zone owned by another account).

See also