Logging in to DirectAdmin for the first time
Last updated 8/1/2026 by Alfie Web Solutions
DirectAdmin is the control panel you use to manage your web hosting - email accounts, files, databases, SSL, and more all live here.
Finding your login details
When your hosting was set up, we sent you a welcome email containing:
- Your DirectAdmin URL (usually https://yourdomain.com:2222, or a panel address like https://panel.alfieweb.com:2222)
- Your username
- A temporary password
If you can't find this email, submit a ticket under Web Hosting and we'll resend it (after verifying it's really you).
Logging in
- Open the DirectAdmin URL in your browser.
- If you see a certificate warning because you connected using an IP address or port 2222, this is normal for DirectAdmin's default setup - you can safely continue.
- Enter your username and password, then click Login.
Change your password immediately
The temporary password we sent you should be changed as soon as you log in:
- Go to Account Manager.
- Click Password / Language.
- Enter a new, strong password (a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols - a password manager can generate one for you).
- Save, and log in again with the new password.
A quick tour of the panel
Once logged in, you'll see a dashboard with a menu split into a few main areas:
- Account Manager - your password, contact email, and account settings.
- E-mail Accounts - create and manage mailboxes for your domain.
- File Manager - upload and edit your website's files without needing FTP.
- MySQL Management - create databases for apps like WordPress.
- SSL Certificates - enable the free padlock/HTTPS for your site.
- Domain Setup / Subdomain Management - manage domains and subdomains on your account.
- DNS Management - control the DNS records for your domain.
- Statistics - see your bandwidth and disk usage.
We've written a separate guide for each of these - see the other DirectAdmin articles in the Web Hosting category. If anything looks different from what's described, your hosting plan may use a slightly different DirectAdmin theme/version - submit a ticket and we'll point you in the right direction.