cPanel setup

cPanel is a hosting control panel, not always the authoritative DNS provider. Use its Zone Editor only when the domain's active nameservers point to the cPanel host.

Choose the setup path

For shared hosting, managed DNS is usually the practical path because server-level reverse proxy access may not be available.

Before changing the public domain, keep a separate origin available:

• a hosting preview or temporary URL
• a staging hostname
• an origin.example.com subdomain that points directly to the current server

Add that address as the Origin URL in Prerender Buddy. Never use the protected www hostname as its own origin.

Update the cPanel DNS zone

Open Domains > Zone Editor, choose Manage for the domain, and add or edit:

1Type: CNAME
2Name: www
3Record: customers.prerenderbuddy.com

Some cPanel installations append the domain automatically. Follow the field preview and avoid producing www.example.com.example.com.

Remove only the conflicting www A, AAAA, or CNAME record. Keep mail and verification records.

Redirect root to www

Use the host's redirect feature to send example.com permanently to https://www.example.com. Confirm that paths and query strings are preserved. Ask the hosting provider for help if the control panel only redirects every URL to the homepage.

If Zone Editor is missing

Hosting providers can disable parts of cPanel. If Zone Editor is unavailable, edit DNS at the active nameserver provider or ask the host to add the record.

Finish in Prerender Buddy

Add the displayed TXT validation records, wait for public DNS propagation, refresh status, and run Verify Installation against the exact public hostname.