Overview
A subdomain is an extension of your main domain and acts as a separate part of the website.
Examples of subdomains:
blog.example.com
shop.example.com
customerportal.example.com
Subdomains are often used for:
Blogs
Online stores
Test environments
Customer portals
Documentation pages
When you finish this guide, you will know how to create and manage subdomains in cPanel.
Important information
⚠️ A subdomain depends on the main domain and cannot exist without it.
⚠️ cPanel normally creates a separate document root for each subdomain.
This allows you to keep the content separate from the main website.
Prerequisites
Before you start, make sure you:
Have access to cPanel
Are logged into cPanel
Have an active domain linked to the hosting account
Have a hosting package that supports subdomains
Step 1: Log in to cPanel
If your hosting service supports direct login to cPanel, you can log in via the client area.
This is how you do it:
Find your hosting service under active products/services
Click on Log in on cPanel
You are now automatically logged into cPanel
Step 2: Open Domains
Go to the Domains section and click on Domains
Step 3: Create a new subdomain
Click on Create A New Domain
Select Registered Domain
Enter the subdomain you want to create
In this example, we create the subdomain blog.getmeasandwich.com.
⚠️ Make sure you enter the entire subdomain including the main domain.
3. Select document root
The document root is the folder that contains the files of the site.
⚠️ Make sure you uncheck the Share document root checkbox
Otherwise, the subdomain will point to the same folder as the main domain, and display the same content.
When creating the subdomain, cPanel will suggest a document root:
/public_html/blog.getmeasandwich.com
💡 Tip: We recommend using the suggested folder unless you have a specific reason to choose a different location.
4. Click on Submit
The system now creates the subdomain and associated folder.
When the process is completed, the subdomain appears in the domain overview:
You can now upload files to the subdomain's folder, and these become visible in your browser.
Troubleshooting
The subdomain cannot be created
Make sure that:
The main domain is active in the hosting account
The hosting package supports subdomains
The subdomain name is not already in use
The subdomain shows an empty page
Make sure that:
There's an index file in the document root
The website's files are uploaded correctly
The files are in the correct folder
I'm getting a DNS error
Make sure that:
The main domain points to the correct server
DNS zone is correctly configured
DNS changes can take up to 24-48 hours to be updated globally.
The subdomain loads the main site
This is often because the document root points to the wrong folder.
Check the document root in your domain settings and make sure the subdomain has its own folder.
Summary
You have now learned how to create a subdomain in cPanel.
By using subdomains, you can create separate sections, websites, or test environments under your main domain, while keeping the content organized into your own folders.