Create a subdomain in cPanel

A subdomain is an extra address in front of your domain, such as blog.yourdomain.co.nz or shop.yourdomain.co.nz. Each one can run its own separate website, which makes subdomains handy for a blog, a shop, a staging copy of your site, or a booking system.

Subdomains don't cost anything extra and don't need to be registered. You create them yourself in cPanel.

Create the subdomain

1. Log in to cPanel from your service page under Services → My Services (https://www.hooplahosting.co.nz/client/clientarea.php?action=services).
2. Open Domains (type it in the cPanel search bar).
3. Click Create A New Domain.
4. In Domain, type the full subdomain, for example blog.yourdomain.co.nz.
5. Untick Share document root. This gives the subdomain its own folder, so it runs a separate website rather than showing your main site.
6. Check the Document Root folder cPanel suggests (for example blog.yourdomain.co.nz). You can change it to something shorter if you like. This is where the subdomain's website files will go.
7. Click Submit.

If your domain uses our nameservers, the DNS record for the subdomain is created automatically. Our free SSL (AutoSSL) will add a certificate for it, usually within a few hours.

Put a website on it

• Install WordPress: in WP Toolkit, click Install and choose the subdomain from the list. See How to install WordPress with WP Toolkit.
• Upload your own files: upload them to the subdomain's document root folder. See Upload your website with File Manager or FileZilla.

Pointing a subdomain somewhere else

If the subdomain needs to point to another service, such as a Shopify store, a booking platform or another server, you don't need to create it here. Just add an A or CNAME record for it in the Zone Editor with the details that service gives you. See Manage DNS records with the Zone Editor.

If you've already created the subdomain in cPanel, delete it first (see below), or its existing record will clash with the new one.

Remove a subdomain

In cPanel's Domains, click Manage next to the subdomain, then Remove Domain. This removes the subdomain and its DNS record, but leaves its files in place. Delete the folder in File Manager afterwards if you no longer need them.

Troubleshooting

• The subdomain shows my main website: it was created with Share document root ticked. Click Manage next to it in Domains and change the document root to its own folder.
• "Site can't be reached": if your domain doesn't use our nameservers, add an A record for the subdomain at your DNS provider pointing to your hosting IP address (shown in cPanel under General Information as the Shared IP Address).
• "Not secure" warning: give AutoSSL a few hours to issue the certificate. See AutoSSL: install or fix your free SSL.

Need help?

If you get stuck, open a support ticket and we'll help.