How to change the login theme of cPanel/WHM/Webmail from WHM Root?
Change the default login theme that users see when accessing cPanel, WHM or Webmail by updating the Default login theme setting in WHM's Tweak Settings. This server-wide change applies to all accounts and requires root WHM access.
Log in to WHM as root, go to Server Configuration > Tweak Settings, open the Display tab, set Default login theme to the theme you want, then click Save. This updates the first login page for cPanel, WHM and Webmail across the server.
Before you start
- Root access to WHM on your Hostworld cPanel hosting. Reseller WHM alone is not enough, although the server's owner can grant a reseller access to Tweak Settings under WHM > Resellers > Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges.
- The login theme you want must exist on the server. Manage these in WHM > Themes > Theme Manager.
- This is a server-wide change via Tweak Settings. It cannot be applied per account.
- cPanel's documentation for this setting covers cPanel & WHM version 124 through the latest release. On older builds the Display tab may not list Default login theme in the same place, or at all.
Step 1: Confirm the login theme exists in Theme Manager
In WHM, open Themes > Theme Manager. In the Login section, check the theme you plan to use is listed. You can install, clone, download or delete login themes here. If you are using a custom or cloned theme, add it here first so it appears as a choice later.
Step 2: Set the Default login theme in Tweak Settings
In WHM, go to Server Configuration > Tweak Settings, then open the Display tab. Find Default login theme, select the theme you want the server to use, and click Save. The change applies to the cPanel, WHM and Webmail login pages for all users.
Step 3: Undo the change if you need to revert
Go back to Server Configuration > Tweak Settings > Display. Set Default login theme to your previous choice, or to cpanel which is the cPanel default, then Save. This restores the standard login page.
If it does not work
- You cannot see Tweak Settings. You are not logged in as root, or a reseller lacks the privilege. Log in as the root WHM user, or have the privilege granted under WHM > Resellers > Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges. If you are a Hostworld reseller and need this changed for you, open a support ticket.
- The login page falls back to a legacy page or shows errors after changing the theme. cPanel's fix is to rename the public contact directory and resynchronise cPanel's files:
mv /var/cpanel/public_contact /var/cpanel/public_contact.bak /scripts/upcp --syncRead this before you run it.
upcp --syncresynchronises cPanel across the server and can restart services while it runs, so sites and mail on that server may be interrupted. Run it at a quiet time, not in the middle of your working day, and take a backup first. If you would rather we ran it, open a support ticket. - You changed the wrong setting. Changing a user's cPanel Style or using WHM > cPanel > Customization updates the interface after login, not the login page. Set the login page under Tweak Settings > Display > Default login theme.
What next
If you would like us to apply or check this on your Hostworld server, open a support ticket and we will take a look. For more admin pointers on running a server with us, see our VPS guides.
Common questions
Does this change what users see after they log in?
No. The Default login theme only controls the first login page for cPanel, WHM and Webmail. To change the look after login, either use the cPanel Style inside a user’s cPanel or use WHM > cPanel > Customization for branding. Those do not affect the login page.
Can resellers set their own login theme?
Not by default. Tweak Settings is a system‑level, server‑wide configuration. Resellers will not see it unless the server owner grants that privilege. If you are a Hostworld reseller and need a change made, open a support ticket.
Where are login theme files stored and should I edit them?
The default login theme files live at /usr/local/cpanel/base/unprotected/cpanel/. Custom login themes are stored under /usr/local/cpanel/base/unprotected/themename/. The setting behind this is default_login_theme in /var/cpanel/cpanel.config, which defaults to cpanel. cPanel recommends changing the theme via WHM’s Tweak Settings and managing themes via Theme Manager, not by editing files or the config directly.
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