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How to Set Up Custom Error Pages in cPanel (403, 404, 500)

Samuel Lester June 28, 2025

Custom error pages are often overlooked, but they play a crucial role in user experience and branding. Instead of showing a generic server error when something goes wrong, you can display a branded, helpful message that keeps visitors engaged. Whether it’s a 404 “Page Not Found” or a 500 “Internal Server Error,” cPanel makes it easy to create and configure these pages.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to create and assign custom error pages (403, 404, 500) using your cPanel account.

 

Why Custom Error Pages Matter

  • Improves user experience: Help users understand what went wrong and what to do next.
  • Reinforces your brand: Keep the design and tone consistent with your website.
  • Reduces bounce rate: Offer navigation options instead of dead ends.
  • Enables tracking: Add scripts or logging to monitor errors.

 

Step 1: Prepare Your Custom HTML Error Pages

Create a separate HTML file for each error type you want to customize:

Example: 404.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Page Not Found</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>404 - Page Not Found</h1>
    <p>Sorry, the page you're looking for doesn't exist. <a href="/">Go Home</a></p>
</body>
</html>

You can create similar files for 403.html and 500.html with relevant messages and branding.

 

Step 2: Upload Your Error Pages

  1. Log in to your cPanel account.
  2. Navigate to File Manager under the Files section.
  3. Go to your website’s root directory (usually public_html).
  4. Create a new folder named errors (optional but recommended for organization).
  5. Upload your 403.html, 404.html, and 500.html files into this folder.

 

Step 3: Edit .htaccess to Point to Your Custom Pages

Now that your HTML files are in place, you’ll need to tell the server to use them.

  1. In File Manager, locate and open your site’s .htaccess file in the root (public_html).
    • If you don’t see it, enable “Show Hidden Files” in File Manager settings.
  2. Add the following lines to the bottom of the file: 
    ErrorDocument 403 /errors/403.html
ErrorDocument 404 /errors/404.html
ErrorDocument 500 /errors/500.html
  3. Save the changes.

Make sure the paths match where you uploaded the HTML files.

 

Step 4: Test Your Error Pages

To confirm everything is working:

  • Visit a nonexistent URL on your domain to trigger the 404 page:
    https://yourdomain.com/thispagedoesnotexist
  • To trigger a 403 error, try accessing a directory with no index file and no listing enabled.
  • The 500 error usually appears if you introduce a syntax error in .htaccess or PHP code (for testing only; remove the error afterward).

If your custom page loads instead of the default server message, your setup is working.

 

Optional: Create Error Pages via cPanel’s Built-in Editor

cPanel also provides a simple interface to create error pages:

  1. Go to Advanced > Error Pages.
  2. Select the domain and click the error code you want to customize (e.g., 404).
  3. Use the HTML editor to create your custom message.
  4. Save the page.

This method stores your error pages in the default errors directory and automatically updates .htaccess.

Note: This editor is best for simple layouts. For branded or styled pages, uploading your own HTML files is recommended.

 

Best Practices

  • Include a link to your homepage or sitemap.
  • Keep the design consistent with your main website.
  • Avoid displaying technical jargon that may confuse users.
  • Log errors or include tracking scripts to monitor page visits.
  • Add humor or brand voice to make the experience more engaging.

 

Conclusion

Custom error pages are a simple but impactful way to enhance your website’s professionalism and usability. With cPanel’s tools and a few lines in your .htaccess file, you can easily guide lost or frustrated users back to your site.

Whether you’re building a personal blog or managing a corporate website, taking the time to set up branded 403, 404, and 500 pages shows your attention to detail—and could be the difference between a bounce and a conversion.