How to Create a Subdomain in cPanel

Overview

This tutorial provides a step-by-step walkthrough on how to create a new subdomain within cPanel using an existing registered domain. The process begins by authenticating into the cPanel administrative dashboard and navigating to the Domains management interface. From the Domains manager, users review their configured root and external domains before clicking the Create A New Domain button. The tutorial highlights the critical configuration step of unchecking the shared document root option to ensure the subdomain receives its own independent directory, entering the subdomain name, and submitting the request to generate the new subdomain.

Accessing cPanel and Navigating to Domains

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To begin setting up a new subdomain, open your web browser and navigate to your hosting account's cPanel login URL. Enter your administrative username and password to log in. Once inside the cPanel dashboard under Tools, scroll down to the Domains group and click on the 'Domains' icon to open the domain list management interface.

• Open the cPanel login page in your browser.
• Enter your credentials and log in to the dashboard.
• Locate and select the 'Domains' tool under the Domains category.

Selecting Domain Type and Creating a New Domain

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In the Domains interface, you will see a list of your existing domains, including root directories and domains registered with external providers. Identify the primary domain under which you want to create the new subdomain, then click the blue 'Create A New Domain' button in the upper-right corner of the table.

• Review existing root and external domains in the domain list.
• Determine the target domain to host the subdomain.
• Click 'Create A New Domain' to open the creation form.

Configuring the Subdomain and Document Root

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On the Create a New Domain page, ensure the 'Share document root' option is unchecked so the new subdomain does not share files with your root directory. In the Domain field, type the full subdomain name (for example, 'portfolio.bentechs.com'). The Document Root will automatically populate with its own dedicated file path. Click 'Submit' to process the request. A green success message will confirm that the subdomain has been created.

• Uncheck the 'Share document root' option.
• Enter the full subdomain name (e.g., portfolio.bentechs.com).
• Verify the auto-populated document root path.
• Click Submit and look for the green confirmation notification.