A subdomain is an extra address under your domain, such as blog.example.com or staging.example.com, that can show its own separate content. Your plan includes unlimited subdomains. This guide shows you how to create a subdomain in cPanel using the Domains tool.
Before you start
- In current cPanel, subdomains are created in Domains. There's no separate "Subdomains" page any more.
- Subdomains must be under your account's domain. Your plan hosts one website/domain per account, so you can't add a different domain name here. See One Website Per Account: What Your Hosting Plan Includes.
- If you want the subdomain to point to an outside service (such as a hosted store), don't create it here. Add a CNAME record instead. See How to Add a CNAME Record in cPanel.
How to create a subdomain in cPanel
- In cPanel, go to Domains > Domains.
- Click Create A New Domain.
- In Domain, type the full subdomain, for example
blog.example.com. - Untick Share document root. If you leave it ticked, the subdomain shows the same website as your main domain, which usually isn't what you want.
- Check the Document Root box. cPanel fills in a suggested folder for the subdomain's files. You can keep it or type a different folder name, but it must be inside
public_html(for examplepublic_html/blog). - Click Submit. (Use Submit And Create Another if you are adding several.)
The subdomain now appears in the list on the Domains page, with its folder shown in the Document Root column.
Add your website files
Your new subdomain's folder starts out empty. To put a site there:
- Upload files: click the folder link in the Document Root column to open it in File Manager, then upload your files. See How to Use cPanel File Manager to Manage Your Website Files.
- Install WordPress: in Domains > WordPress Management (WP Toolkit), choose the subdomain as the install location. See How to Install WordPress with WP Toolkit in cPanel.
- Staging copy: WP Toolkit can clone your live WordPress site to a subdomain for you. See How to Create a WordPress Staging Site and Push It Live.
DNS and SSL for your subdomain
- If your domain uses our nameservers, cPanel adds the DNS record for the subdomain automatically. It usually works within minutes, though some networks may take a few hours to see it. See DNS Propagation: Why Domain Changes Take Time and How to Check.
- If your DNS is hosted elsewhere, add an A record for the subdomain there, pointing to the same IP address as your main domain.
- AutoSSL adds a free SSL certificate for the new subdomain automatically, usually within a few hours (AutoSSL runs on its own several times a day). Check progress in Security > SSL/TLS Status. See Free SSL Certificates: How AutoSSL and SSL/TLS Status Work.
Troubleshooting
The subdomain shows my main website
Share document root was left ticked, so it uses public_html. Change its folder with How to Change a Subdomain's Document Root in cPanel.
The subdomain shows "Index of /" or a 403 error
The folder has no index.html or index.php yet. Upload your site files to the subdomain's document root.
The browser says the site can't be reached
DNS hasn't caught up yet, or your DNS is hosted somewhere else and the record is missing. Wait an hour, then check that the subdomain has an A record pointing to the Instant Access Internet Services server.
"Not Secure" warning on the subdomain
The SSL certificate hasn't been issued yet. Check Security > SSL/TLS Status and make sure the subdomain isn't excluded from AutoSSL. AutoSSL runs automatically several times a day; if the subdomain still has no certificate a day after DNS is working, open a ticket.
How do I delete a subdomain?
Go to Domains > Domains, click Manage next to it, click Remove Domain and confirm. The folder and files are not deleted; remove them in File Manager if you no longer need them.
Related guides
- How to Change a Subdomain's Document Root in cPanel
- One Website Per Account: What Your Hosting Plan Includes
- Free SSL Certificates: How AutoSSL and SSL/TLS Status Work
- How to Install WordPress with WP Toolkit in cPanel
- How to Create a WordPress Staging Site and Push It Live
Still stuck? Open a support ticket and the Instant Access Internet Services team will help.
