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  1. cPanel & WHM Documentation
  2. WHM
  3. The WHM Interface
  4. Getting Started in WHM
whmui interface nameservers

Getting Started in WHM

Valid for versions 138 through the latest version

Version:

82

138

Last modified: 2026 July 8

Looking for this interface?
Note:

Your hosting provider can enable or disable this interface for resellers in WHM's Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges interface (WHM >> Home >> Resellers >> Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges).

Overview

When you log in to WHM for the first time on a new cPanel & WHM server, the system will display our legal agreements and some basic configuration steps.

Security warning

You may see a There is a problem with this website's security certificate message when you log in. To resolve this issue, replace the server’s self-signed certificate with a certificate that you purchase from WHM’s Purchase and Install an SSL Certificate interface (WHM » Home » SSL/TLS » Purchase and Install an SSL Certificate).

If your hosting provider allows it, your server will attempt to install a free hostname certificate from WebPros International, LLC during the installation process. For more information, read our Automatic SSL Certificate Replacement documentation.

When you log in to WHM for the first time on a new cPanel & WHM server, the system prompts you to accept our legal agreements.

Important:

You must select the checkbox to acknowledge that you accept these agreements before you can continue.

The Legal step displays links to the following agreements:

Each link opens in a new tab.

  • If you click Cancel and Exit, the system will log you out of WHM. The legal agreements prompt will appear again the next time you log in to WHM. You will not be able to use cPanel & WHM unless you accept the agreements.
  • If you select the checkbox and click Continue, the system will record that you have accepted the agreements. You will proceed to the next step of the basic configuration process.
Note:

To revoke legal agreement acceptance on an existing server, delete the acceptance record file: /var/cpanel/activate/eula_acceptance.json

  • After you revoke a server’s acceptance, you will not be able to use cPanel & WHM on that server until you accept the agreements again.
  • If you have questions about your license agreement, contact cPanel Customer Service.

Trial License

After accepting the legal agreements, the interface will display a Get Started with a Free cPanel Trial! message. For information on activating your license in the cPanel Store, read our How to Sign Up for a Trial License document.

  • cPanel & WHM requires a valid license. If this is a new installation, you can activate a free 15-day trial license.
  • To activate a new license, you must have a cPanel Store account with a verified email address.
Note:

The legal acceptance step is required for trial users and you cannot skip it. It is the only acceptance point in the trial flow.

Contact information and nameservers

After you accept the legal agreements, the system will allow you to specify a contact email address and two nameservers.

Important:

You must specify nameservers for the server or you will not be able to create new accounts.

Click Next to proceed to the WHM interface.

  • To view this interface on an existing server, delete the /etc/.whostmgrft file.
  • You also can update your contact email address and nameservers in WHM’s Basic WebHost Manager Setup interface (WHM » Home » Server Configuration » Basic WebHost Manager Setup).

For more information on how to quickly build a website on a newly-installed cPanel & WHM server, read our From WHM to Website documentation.

Additional Documentation