Managing a website involves many tasks, from content creation to technical optimization. One of the critical technical tasks is the management of subdomains. It can significantly impact the organization and SEO of your site. cPanel, a popular web hosting control panel, simplifies this process, allowing users to create, delete, and redirect subdomains with ease. This blog post will tell you the steps of managing subdomains in cPanel, ensuring you have the knowledge to optimize your website’s structure efficiently.
This blog is a part of our cPanel server management services where we make sure your cPanel server works efficiently with any issues.
Table of Contents
What is a Subdomain?
A subdomain is an additional part to your main domain name, designed to organize and navigate to different sections of your website. For example, blog.example.com and shop.example.com are subdomains of the example.com domain.
Creating a Subdomain in cPanel
1. Log into cPanel: First, access your hosting account and navigate to the cPanel dashboard.
2. Find the ‘Domains’ Option: Scroll down or use the search bar to find the Domains’ function under the ‘Domains’ section.
3. Create Your Subdomain: Once you’re in the ‘Domains’ section, you will see a field to enter the name of the subdomain you wish to create. Enter your desired subdomain (e.g., blog if you’re creating blog.example.com). Then, select the domain (if you have multiple domains hosted) to which the subdomain will be attached. cPanel will automatically suggest a document root (the directory where the subdomain’s files will be stored), but you can change this if needed.
4. Finalize the Creation: Click the ‘Submit’ button. cPanel will then set up the subdomain, which may take a few moments. Once completed, you will see a success message.
Deleting a Subdomain in cPanel
1. Access the ‘Domains’ Section Again: Log into your cPanel dashboard and navigate to the ‘Domains’ function.
2. Locate the Subdomain: Scroll down to the ‘Modify a Domain’ section, where you’ll see a list of your created subdomains.
3. Remove the Subdomain: Find the subdomain you wish to delete and click the ‘Remove’ link beside it. Confirm the deletion. Keep in mind that this action may also delete the subdomain’s directory and files, so ensure you have backups if needed.
Redirecting a Subdomain in cPanel
1. Go to the ‘Domains’ Section: After logging into cPanel, open the ‘Redirects’ function.
2. Set Up a Redirect: Fill up all the details asled about the domain.
3. Apply the Redirect: Click the ‘add’ button to apply the redirection. The change might take a few moments to take effect.
Best Practices for Managing Subdomains
- Organization: Use subdomains to keep different sections of your site (such as a blog or store) neatly organized.
- SEO: Remember that search engines may treat subdomains as separate entities from the main domain. Use redirects wisely to consolidate your SEO efforts.
- Backup: Always backup your site before making significant changes, including adding or removing subdomains.
Conclusion
Subdomains are a powerful tool for organizing your website’s content and improving user experience. With cPanel, creating, deleting, and redirecting subdomains is a straightforward process that can be done in just a few clicks. By following the steps outlined in this blog, you can efficiently manage your subdomains, ensuring your website remains structured and easy to navigate.
FAQs
Q1. How do I create a subdomain in cPanel?
To create a subdomain in cPanel, log into your cPanel account and navigate to the ‘Subdomains’ section under ‘Domains’. Enter the desired subdomain name in the provided field and select the domain to which it will be attached from the dropdown menu. cPanel will automatically suggest a document root directory, but you can modify this if necessary. Finally, click ‘Create’ to establish your new subdomain.
Q2. How can I delete a subdomain that I no longer need?
To delete a subdomain in cPanel, go back to the ‘Subdomains’ section. Scroll down to the ‘Modify a Subdomain’ area, where you’ll see a list of your existing subdomains. Find the one you wish to remove and click the ‘Remove’ link next to it. Confirm the deletion to permanently remove the subdomain.
Q3. What steps should I follow to redirect a subdomain to another URL in cPanel?
To redirect a subdomain, access the ‘Subdomains’ section in cPanel. Next to the subdomain you intend to redirect, click the ‘Manage Redirection’ link. On the redirection page, input the full URL where you want the subdomain to point to in the ‘redirects to’ field. Click ‘Save’ to apply the redirection settings.
Q4. Can I set up a subdomain to redirect to an external site?
Yes, you can set up a subdomain to redirect to an external site. Follow the process to redirect a subdomain as described above, and simply enter the external site’s URL in the ‘redirects to’ field when managing the redirection. Click ‘Save’ to ensure the subdomain will start redirecting to the specified external site.
Q5. How long does it take for a new subdomain to become active?
The activation time for a new subdomain can vary depending on your hosting provider’s DNS propagation process. Typically, it takes anywhere from a few minutes up to 48 hours for a new subdomain to become fully active and accessible on the internet. It’s a good practice to check the subdomain after a few hours to see if it has become active.
