How to create a Node.js app in cPanel

The Setup Node.js App tool in cPanel lets you run Node.js applications directly on your shared hosting account. This guide walks you through creating a basic working application so you can confirm Node.js is functioning correctly before building out your own project.

Create a Node.js app in cPanel

The steps below create a minimal Node.js application at a subdirectory of your domain. Once it loads in a browser, you have confirmed that the Node.js service is active on your account and requests are being routed correctly.

1. Log in to cPanel.
   Access your account through your hosting control panel login page.
2. Open the Node.js tool.
   Scroll to the Software section and click Setup Node.js App.

3. Create a new application.
   Click Create Application in the top-right corner of the page.
4. Set the application root.
   In the Application root field, enter a folder name for your app. For a test application, enter helloworld. This is the directory cPanel will create inside your home folder to store your application files.
5. Set the application URL.
   In the Application URL field, enter the path where your app will be accessible. Enter helloworld to make it available at https://yourdomain.co.uk/helloworld, replacing yourdomain.co.uk with your actual domain name.

6. Select a Node.js version.
   Choose a Node.js version from the Node.js version dropdown. Select the most recent LTS (Long Term Support) version available for the best compatibility with current packages.
7. Save the application.
   Click Create in the top-right corner. cPanel will provision the application directory and configure the Node.js environment.
8. Test the application in your browser.
   Open a new browser tab and go to https://yourdomain.co.uk/helloworld. If the page loads, Node.js is running correctly on your account.

Your Node.js application is now created and accessible at your chosen URL.

Troubleshooting

The page does not load or returns a 404 error

A 404 at your application URL usually means the application was not saved correctly or the URL path does not match what was configured. Check the following:

• Return to Setup Node.js App and confirm the application appears in the list.
• Verify the Application URL value matches the path you are visiting in the browser.
• Check that your domain is resolving to your hosting account. See our guide on why you cannot access your site for DNS troubleshooting steps.
• Review your site’s error codes using our guide on fixing website error codes.

The application was created but the page shows an application error

An application error after creation typically means the Node.js process failed to start. This can happen if the selected Node.js version conflicts with your application code, or if a required startup file is missing.

• Confirm the Application startup file field points to a file that exists in your application root directory.
• Check the application’s log output from within the Setup Node.js App interface for specific error messages.
• For complex application setups, a VPS gives you full control over the Node.js environment, including process managers like PM2 and custom port configuration.

Wrapping up

You have created a Node.js application in cPanel using the Setup Node.js App tool and confirmed it is accessible in a browser. This verifies that the Node.js service is active on your hosting account.

From here, you can replace the default application files with your own project code and install dependencies via the cPanel terminal. For DNS-related issues during setup, see our guide on checking DNS propagation. If you need SSH access to manage your application files, our guide on connecting and using SSH covers the setup process.

For production Node.js applications that need full environment control, take a look at our Node.js hosting plans.