How to Set Up a Subdomain in cPanel

What is a subdomain?

A subdomain is a word added in front of your domain name. If your domain is yourdomain.com, then blog.yourdomain.com and shop.yourdomain.com are subdomains. Think of your domain as a building. A subdomain is a separate room with its own door. It can hold its own website.

Why use one?

• Run a blog beside your main site.
• Keep an online shop in its own space.
• Test a new design without touching the live site.

Steps

1. Log in to cPanel. cPanel is a web page for managing your hosting. Your login is in your welcome email.
2. Find the Domains section and click Subdomains. In newer versions, click Domains and then Create A New Domain.
3. In the Subdomain box, type the name you want, like blog.
4. From the list, choose your main domain.
5. Check the Document Root box. This is the folder where the subdomain's files will go. cPanel fills it in, often as public_html/blog or blog.yourdomain.com. You can keep it.
6. Click Create.

cPanel shows a message when it is done. It also adds the DNS record for you. DNS is like a phone book for the internet.

Add content

1. Open File Manager in cPanel.
2. Go to the subdomain's document root folder.

   

3. Upload your files, such as index.html.
4. Open blog.yourdomain.com in your browser.

If the new subdomain does not load right away, wait a little. In rare cases it takes a few hours.

Naming rules

• Use letters, numbers and dashes.
• Do not use spaces.
• Keep it short and clear.

Delete a subdomain

On the same page, find the subdomain in the list and click Remove or Manage, then the remove option.

Need help?

If you cannot find the tool, open a support ticket.

Quick recap

• A subdomain is a prefix added to your domain.
• Go to Subdomains in cPanel.
• Choose a name and the main domain, then click Create.
• Upload files into its document root.
• Back up before deleting.