To create a "Coming Soon" page using cPanel, use the Site Publisher tool or create an index.html file in your File Manager. Inside the cPanel File Manager, open the public_html folder, create a blank file named index.html, and type a simple "Coming Soon" placeholder message. No coding experience required.
How Web Servers Recognize Your Homepage
Web servers follow a strict priority order when serving files. When a visitor loads your domain, the server looks for specific filenames in your public_html folder:
The most important rule: The file must be named exactly index.html in lowercase. Web servers on Linux hosting are case-sensitive. Index.HTML or INDEX.html will not be recognized and will return a 404 error.
Get the spelling right and the server does the rest automatically.
Why It Matters: First Impressions Before Launch
A domain without a homepage returns a blank error screen or a default server page. Early visitors (potential clients, investors, or press) see a broken experience.
A simple "Coming Soon" page solves this:
- Signals a real business is behind the domain
- Lets you collect emails from interested visitors
- Prevents the default hosting placeholder from appearing
- Gives a professional starting point before the full site is ready
Method 1: Site Publisher (Sitepro) via cPanel
NameSilo hosting includes access to Sitepro, a website builder integrated into cPanel, which has a quick-launch option for placeholder pages.
- Log into cPanel at cp1.hostsilo.com (or cp2/cp3 depending on your server)
- Locate the "Website" section and open the site builder
- Select your domain and click to create a new website
- Choose a "Coming Soon" or single-page template from the 200+ available templates
- Customize the text and click Publish
Sitepro publishes the page to your public_html folder automatically. No file management needed.
Method 2: Manual File Manager Route
For full control over the HTML, use File Manager directly.
- Log into cPanel → File Manager
- Navigate to public_html (this is your website's root folder)
- Check for any existing index.html, index.php, or cgi-sys default files and delete them or move them out of the directory
- Click "+ File" → name it exactly index.html (lowercase, no spaces)
- Right-click the file → Edit → open the HTML editor
- Paste or type your content and click Save Changes
<head><title>Coming Soon</title></head>
<p>We're working on something great. Check back soon.</p>
Visit your domain to confirm the page loads.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the default cPanel placeholder active: New hosting accounts often include a default index.html already inside public_html. If you create a new file without deleting the existing one, your new page may not appear. Check for existing files before creating yours.
Incorrect filename casing: Index.html, INDEX.HTML, and index.HTML are all treated as different files on Linux servers. Only index.html in all lowercase triggers the homepage.
Uploading via FTP with wrong permissions: If you upload via FTP and the file permissions are set to private (e.g., 600), the web server cannot read the file. Set permissions to 644.
What This Means for You
NameSilo Hosting plans include cPanel, File Manager, and the Sitepro website builder on all tiers. You can have a professional placeholder live within minutes of activating your hosting. Frequently Asked Questions
Does cPanel have a coming soon template?
Yes. The Sitepro builder in cPanel includes coming soon templates.
How do I put an under construction page on my website?
Create an index.html file in public_html via File Manager.
What file name overrides a website homepage?
index.html in all lowercase takes priority on Linux servers.
How do I use the cPanel Site Builder?
cPanel → Website section → open site builder → select template → publish.
Do I need coding to build a coming soon page?
No. Sitepro templates require no code. File Manager includes a visual editor.
Where is the public_html folder in cPanel?
File Manager → public_html is your website root directory.
How do I remove a placeholder page when my site is ready?
Delete or replace index.html in public_html with your new site files.
Does NameSilo hosting offer free placeholder tools?
Yes. Sitepro website builder is included with all NameSilo hosting plans.
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