How to Access phpMyAdmin in cPanel and DirectAdmin

phpMyAdmin is the web-based tool for managing MySQL databases on your hosting account: creating and editing tables, running SQL queries, importing and exporting data, and more. You don't install it yourself. It comes built into your control panel, and how you reach it depends on whether your account runs on cPanel or DirectAdmin.

In cPanel

1. Log in to your cPanel account.
2. Scroll down to the Databases section.
3. Click the phpMyAdmin icon.
4. cPanel signs you in automatically, so you land straight on the phpMyAdmin home screen with all your databases listed in the left sidebar.

In DirectAdmin

1. Log in to your DirectAdmin account.
2. Open MySQL Management from your account menu.
3. Find the database you want to work with in the list, then click its phpMyAdmin link (shown as a small icon next to the database name).
4. You're signed in automatically and taken into phpMyAdmin with that database already selected.

If the database list is empty, you haven't created one yet. See How to Create a MySQL Database and Database User first, then come back to open it in phpMyAdmin.

What you can do once you're in

Once you're inside phpMyAdmin, you can:

• Browse and edit table data directly.
• Run custom SQL queries against your database.
• Import or export a database, whether for a backup or to move it elsewhere.
• Check table sizes, and repair or optimize a database that's running slowly.

Because phpMyAdmin gives you direct access to your live data, treat it carefully. Deleting a table or running the wrong query can't always be undone. Keep a recent backup on hand before making any bulk change.

Don't leave a phpMyAdmin tab signed in and unattended on a shared or public computer. Anyone who picks up that browser session can view or edit your database.

For most day-to-day tasks, like checking a table or running a quick query, phpMyAdmin through your control panel is all you need. If you manage databases often, it's worth getting comfortable with its interface since nearly every other database task, from backups to password resets, starts by opening it the way described above.