View Plans
Help

How to create a subdomain in cPanel

To create a subdomain in cPanel, open Domains and select Create A New Domain. Enter the full name, such as blog.yourdomain.com, clear Share document root to give it its own folder, and select Submit. If the domain uses your host’s nameservers, cPanel sets up the DNS for you.

Updated · HostUpIndia team

Create a subdomain with cPanel Domains

Current cPanel adds a subdomain in Domains, the same way as any other domain.

Some cPanel versions also have a separate Subdomains tool. There, enter the name, such as blog, choose your domain, check the Document Root and select Create.

  • Sign in to cPanel and open Domains.
  • Select Create A New Domain.
  • Enter the full subdomain, such as blog.yourdomain.com.
  • Clear Share document root to give the subdomain its own folder.
  • Check the folder in Document Root, or enter the one you want.
  • Select Submit.

Set up DNS for the subdomain

If the domain uses your host’s nameservers, cPanel adds the subdomain’s DNS record for you. You can skip this step.

If the domain’s DNS is at your registrar or a provider such as Cloudflare, add the record there. More on DNS: how to connect a domain to your hosting.

  • Find your hosting IP address in your welcome email or client area. cPanel also shows it under General Information.
  • Sign in where your DNS is managed and open the domain’s DNS records.
  • Add an A record with the name blog and your hosting IP address as its value.
  • Or add a CNAME record with the name blog and your main domain as its value, if the main domain already points to the same hosting.
  • Save the record. A new record usually works within minutes to a few hours.

Add free SSL to the subdomain

cPanel’s AutoSSL issues a free certificate for the subdomain once its DNS points to your hosting, and renews it on its own.

  • Wait until a DNS lookup for the subdomain returns your hosting IP address.
  • In cPanel, open SSL/TLS Status.
  • Select Run AutoSSL.
  • Open https://blog.yourdomain.com and check that it loads without a warning.
  • To send every visitor to HTTPS, open Domains and turn on Force HTTPS Redirect for the subdomain.

Upload files to the subdomain

The subdomain loads its files from its document root. Its homepage, index.html or index.php, must sit at the top of that folder.

  • In cPanel, open Domains and note the subdomain’s document root.
  • Open File Manager and go to that folder.
  • Upload your files there, or upload a .zip file, extract it and delete the .zip.
  • For FTP and databases, see how to upload a website in cPanel.

How to redirect or delete a subdomain

A redirect keeps the subdomain’s links working and sends visitors somewhere else. Deleting it takes it offline.

  • To redirect the subdomain, open Redirects in cPanel.
  • Choose Permanent (301), select the subdomain and enter the address to send visitors to.
  • Tick Wild Card Redirect to send each page to the same path at the new address.
  • Select Add.
  • To delete the subdomain instead, back up its folder first: in File Manager, select it, choose Compress and download the .zip file.
  • Open Domains and select Manage next to the subdomain.
  • Select Remove Domain and confirm.
  • cPanel keeps the folder and its files. Delete them in File Manager if you no longer need them.
  • Remove the subdomain’s A or CNAME record at your DNS provider, if you added one.

Subdomain or subfolder for SEO?

Google can rank both. A subfolder, such as yourdomain.com/blog, sits inside your main site, so the links it earns help that one site; most blogs and guides belong there. Use a subdomain for something that runs on its own, such as a store, an app or a staging copy.

HostUpIndia Web & cPanel Hosting

HostUpIndia Web & cPanel Hosting includes cPanel, so you add subdomains, manage DNS and issue free SSL in one place. Every plan includes LiteSpeed, NVMe storage, terminal (SSH) access, the AI Website Builder and daily backups kept 30 days.

Plans start at ₹49 a month on 3-year billing. Prices exclude 18% GST.

  • Moving from another host? The in-house team moves your site for you: free website migration.
  • Need a hand? Support tickets and email are received 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and WhatsApp is open for questions from 10 am to 7 pm IST, Monday to Saturday.
  • More help guides