How to Add a Domain or Subdomain in cPanel

You can add another website, or a subdomain such as shop.yourdomain.com, to your hosting from cPanel’s Websites hub. A subdomain is a name in front of your main domain that can hold its own site.

Step 1: Create the domain or subdomain

1. Log in to cPanel. If you can’t log in, open a support ticket.
2. In the menu on the left, open the Websites hub.
3. Click Add Website. A setup wizard opens.
4. Choose Add another domain for a separate website, or Create a subdomain for a name such as shop.yourdomain.com. Click Continue.
5. Type the full domain name, or the subdomain name, when the wizard asks for it. If cPanel says the name is not a registered domain, check the spelling.
6. On the How do you want to build? step, choose how you’ll build the site. To upload your own files later, choose Custom Code. Click Continue.
7. Check your choices and click Launch My Website.

If your cPanel shows a Domains icon with a Create a New Domain button instead, use that: type the name in the Domain box, make sure Share document root is not checked if you see it (that choice can’t be changed later), and click Submit. You can also type the tool’s name in cPanel’s search box (Ctrl+K or Cmd+K). If you can’t find it, open a support ticket.

Step 2: Make the new name load from Blue Arctic

DNS is the internet’s address book for domain names. The new name needs a DNS record that points to your hosting’s IP address (a number like 203.0.113.10). To find it, open the Websites hub, click Manage next to your main domain, and look on the Overview tab. If you can’t find it, ask in a support ticket.

• Subdomain, and your main domain uses Blue Arctic’s nameservers: click Manage next to the main domain, open the DNS tab, and check that the Zone Records table has a record for the subdomain. If not, add an A record with the subdomain as the name (for example shop) and your hosting’s IP address.
• New domain with nothing set up yet: at the company where you registered it (your registrar), change its nameservers (the setting that tells the internet which company answers for your domain) to Blue Arctic’s. If you don’t have them, ask for them in a support ticket.
• DNS managed somewhere else (such as Cloudflare): add an A record for the new name there, using your hosting’s IP address. See How to Manage DNS in Cloudflare.

A new name can take up to two days to work everywhere. After it points here, a free SSL certificate (what lets the address start with https) is added by itself. Until then, your browser may show a security warning for the new name.

How to tell it worked

1. The new name is listed in the Websites hub.
2. Once DNS has updated, visiting the new name no longer shows your main site. Until you upload files or install WordPress there, it shows a blank page or an error. That’s expected.
3. In the Security hub, open the SSL Certificates tab. The new name and its www version should have a valid, trusted certificate, not a self-signed one. cPanel adds a temporary self-signed certificate first, and browsers warn about it.
4. Visit https:// plus the new name in a private browser window. It should open with no security warning.

Troubleshooting

• cPanel says the domain already exists: it may be set up on another hosting account. Remove it there first, or open a support ticket.
• You don’t see Add another domain, or cPanel says you’ve reached a limit: open a support ticket. We’ll tell you what counts toward your plan’s limit and help you upgrade if you need more.
• The new name shows your main site: it may have been added as an alias, or with a shared folder. Open a support ticket so we can help you set it up again with its own folder.
• The new name shows an error or a blank page: its folder is empty. Upload your site files or install WordPress there.
• Still no valid certificate a day after the new name starts loading: see How to Fix a “Not Secure” Warning, or open a support ticket.
• The new name doesn’t load after two days: check the record or nameservers from Step 2. See How Long DNS Changes Take.

Still need help?

Open a support ticket from the Client Portal at my.bluearctic.com. Our support page explains how. Include the main domain on your account, the domain or subdomain you’re adding, the exact error text, a screenshot, and what you already tried. Never include a password.