# Granting limited cPanel account access to a developer or other third-party contact

> Give a developer or other contact limited access to your files or databases instead of sharing your full cPanel login.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/cpanel/guides/granting-limited-cpanel-account-access-to-a-developer-or-other-third/

Sometimes you may need to give a developer or another third‑party contact access to your hosting account. Instead of sharing your full cPanel login (which grants complete control), you can provide **limited access** to specific areas such as files or databases. This ensures your account remains secure while allowing collaborators to work effectively.

## Why Grant Limited Access?

- Protects your account credentials.
- Restricts access to only the resources needed.
- Prevents accidental or unauthorized changes to unrelated sites.
- Provides flexibility for developers to maintain or update a single project.

## Methods for Granting Limited Access

### 1. Configure File Access via FTP

1. **Log in to cPanel.**
2. Go to **Files → FTP Accounts**.
3. Under **Add FTP Account**, enter:

   - **Login** → A unique username (e.g., `dev@example.com`).
   - **Password** → A strong password (or use the Password Generator).
   - **Directory** → Restrict access to the specific site’s document root (e.g., `/public_html/mysite`).
   - **Quota** → Set a storage limit or leave as unlimited.
4. Click **Create FTP Account**. ???? The developer can now upload and edit files only in the specified directory.

### 2. Configure Database Access (Optional)

If your site uses a database, you can grant access to just that database.

1. **Log in to cPanel.**
2. Go to **Databases → MySQL Databases**.
3. Under **Add New User**, create a database user with a secure password.
4. Under **Add User to Database**, assign the new user to the specific database.
5. Grant only the privileges needed (e.g., SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE).
6. (Optional) Enable **Remote MySQL Access** for the developer’s IP address if they need to connect externally.

### 3. Use the Manage Team Feature (If Available)

On some cPanel accounts, you can use **Preferences → Manage Team** to create sub‑users with specific roles (Database, Email, Web). This provides a more controlled way to grant access without exposing your main account.

> **Note:**
- Never share your main cPanel username and password with third parties.
- Always revoke access once the developer no longer needs it.
- Monitor activity using cPanel’s logs and audit features.
- Use strong, unique passwords for all sub‑accounts.