A subdomain is a subsection of your website that exists as a subdirectory in your public_html
(Document Root) directory. Subdomains use a prefix in conjunction with the domain name. For example, if the registered domain name was example.com
, the subdomain will be prefix.example.com
.
It is important to remember that it takes time for the subdomain to become recognized by other computers on the web. Visitors will not be able to view your subdomain immediately; the process takes anywhere from 2 days to a week.
Subdomains can be useful for creating unique user accounts for “vanity domains.” This is helpful if, for example, you have a blog, or any other type of website that uses a domain specifically titled for a user.
Add a Subdomain
To create a subdomain:
- Enter the desired prefix in the Subdomain field.
- Select the desired main domain from the pull-down menu.
- Enter the home directory for the subdomain into the Document Root field.
- This directory will be where files pertaining to the subdomain will be placed.
- Click Create.
To open the subdomain’s main directory with the File Manager:
- Click the link under Document Root that corresponds to the subdomain you would like to view in the File Manager.
Search Subdomains
You may also search through existing domains:
- Enter the search criteria into the Search field.
- Click Go.
Results matching your search criteria will populate the list.
Modify Subdomains
Modify the document root for a subdomain
To modify the document root for a subdomain:
- Click the notepad icon corresponding to the subdomain you wish to manage. cPanel displays a new screen.
- Enter the new file path you would like to use as the document root in the available text field.
- Click Change.
Enable or disable subdomain redirection
To enable or disable redirection of a subdomain:
- Click the Manage Redirection link corresponding to the subdomain you wish to manage. cPanel displays a new screen.
- If you wish to redirect the subdomain, enter the link you would like to redirect the subdomain to in the available text field.
- Click Save.
- To disable the redirect, click Disable Redirection.
Remove a subdomain
To remove an existing subdomain:
- Click the Remove link corresponding to the subdomain you would like to remove. cPanel displays a new screen.
- Confirm that you would like to remove the subdomain by clicking Yes.
- To keep the subdomain, click No.