How to Create a Subdomain in cPanel and DirectAdmin

A subdomain is a prefix added in front of your main domain, like blog.yourdomain.com or shop.yourdomain.com. It lets you run a separate section of your website, such as a blog, an online store, or a staging area, without buying a new domain. You create and manage subdomains from within your hosting account, and the steps depend on whether you use cPanel or DirectAdmin.

In cPanel

1. Log in to your cPanel account.
2. Under the Domains section, click Domains (labeled Subdomains on older cPanel themes).
3. Click Create A New Domain.
4. Type the subdomain prefix you want, e.g. blog, in the domain field, then confirm it's attached to the correct main domain.
5. Leave the Document Root as suggested, or set a custom folder if you want the subdomain's files kept somewhere specific.
6. Click Submit to finish.

Your subdomain is now active, and cPanel automatically creates a folder for its files inside your account, usually under public_html.

In DirectAdmin

1. Log in to your DirectAdmin account.
2. Go to Domain Setup, then select the domain you want to add the subdomain to.
3. Click Subdomain Management.
4. Type the subdomain name in the input field, e.g. shop.
5. Click Create to save it.

DirectAdmin creates a matching folder automatically, typically inside public_html/subdomainname, where you can upload the subdomain's files.

Uploading files to your subdomain

Once the subdomain exists, treat it like its own mini-website. Upload your files to its dedicated folder using File Manager or FTP, the same way you would for your main site. If you're installing an app like WordPress on the subdomain, point the installer to that folder rather than your main public_html directory.

A new subdomain usually works within a few minutes, but in some cases it can take longer to become reachable everywhere, especially if you're accessing it from a network that caches DNS aggressively. If it doesn't load right away, wait a bit and try again from a different network or device.

Subdomain vs addon domain

A subdomain and an addon domain both let you run extra sections of your site, but they're not the same thing. A subdomain still uses your existing domain name (like blog.yourdomain.com), while an addon domain lets you host a completely separate domain name inside the same hosting account. If you're trying to decide which one fits what you're doing, see How to Add an Addon Domain.