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Web Hosting•December 15, 2025• 40 views

How to add a domain on cPanel

How to add a domain on cPanel

How to add a domain on cPanel

Estimated Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: Beginner ⭐

📋 Introduction

You want to host multiple websites on your cPanel hosting? With addon domains, you can manage multiple independent sites from a single account.

This guide explains how to:

  • ✅ Understand the different types of domains
  • ✅ Prepare your domain (nameservers)
  • ✅ Add an addon domain (new site)
  • ✅ Create a domain alias (same site)
  • ✅ Add a subdomain
  • ✅ Manage and delete your domains

🎯 The 3 Types of Domains in cPanel

Before you start, understand the difference between the types of domains:

Type Description Example Use Case
🌐 Main Domain The base domain of your account monsite.com Your main site
➕ Addon Domain A new domain with its own site autresite.fr Host a 2nd site
🔗 Alias (Parked Domain) A domain that displays the same site monsite.fr Protect your brand
📂 Subdomain A section of your domain blog.monsite.com Specific section

Summary Diagram

📁 Your cPanel hosting
│
├── 🌐 monsite.com (main domain)
│   └── /public_html/
│
├── ➕ autresite.fr (addon domain)
│   └── /public_html/autresite.fr/  ← Independent site
│
├── 🔗 monsite.fr (alias)
│   └── → Redirects to monsite.com  ← Same content
│
└── 📂 blog.monsite.com (subdomain)
    └── /public_html/blog/  ← Site section

🔧 Prerequisites: Point Your Domain

Before adding a domain in cPanel, you must point its DNS to your OuiHeberg hosting.

Step 1: Get OuiHeberg Nameservers

Your nameservers are indicated in:

  • Your hosting welcome email
  • Your OuiHeberg Client Area

Example of OuiHeberg nameservers:

ns1.ouiheberg.com
ns2.ouiheberg.com
ns3.ouiheberg.com
ns4.ouiheberg.com

💡 Nameservers vary depending on your server. Always check in your client area.

Step 2: Change Nameservers at Your Registrar

Log in to the registrar where you purchased your domain (OVH, Gandi, Namecheap, etc.) and change the nameservers.

At OVH:

  1. Log in to the OVH client area
  2. Go to Domains → Select your domain
  3. Click on DNS Servers
  4. Click on Modify DNS servers
  5. Enter the OuiHeberg nameservers
  6. Validate

At Gandi:

  1. Log in to your Gandi account
  2. Go to Domain Names
  3. Select your domain → Name Servers
  4. Choose External name servers
  5. Enter the OuiHeberg nameservers
  6. Save

Step 3: Wait for DNS Propagation

After changing nameservers, you need to wait for DNS propagation:

Timeframe Description
⚡ 15 min - 2h Rapid propagation (common case)
⏳ 2h - 24h Normal propagation
🐢 24h - 48h Global complete propagation

Check propagation:

⚠️ Important: Do not add the domain in cPanel before propagation is complete, or you may encounter errors.

➕ Add an Addon Domain (New Site)

An addon domain allows you to host a completely independent website.

Step 1: Access the Domains Section

  1. Log in to cPanel
  2. In the Domains section, click on Domains

Image

Step 2: Create a New Domain

  1. Click on the Create a New Domain button (or "Create A New Domain")

Image

Step 3: Configure the Addon Domain

Fill in the following fields:

Field Description Example
Domain The domain name to add autresite.fr
Share document root ❌ Uncheck this box Not checked
Document Root The folder where the files will be public_html/autresite.fr

Image

⚠️ Important: Uncheck "Share document root" to create an addon domain. Otherwise, you will create an alias.

Step 4: Validate the Creation

  1. Review the information
  2. Click on Submit
  3. A confirmation message will appear

Image

Step 5: Upload Your Site

Your addon domain is now configured! Upload your files to the created folder:

📁 /home/user/public_html/autresite.fr/
├── index.html (or index.php)
├── style.css
├── images/
└── ...

Upload methods:

  • 📁 File Manager in cPanel
  • 🔌 FTP Client (FileZilla)
  • ⚙️ Softaculous to install WordPress

🔗 Create a Domain Alias (Same Site)

An alias (formerly "parked domain") displays the same content as your main domain.

Alias Use Cases

  • 🛡️ Protect your brand (monsite.com + monsite.fr)
  • 🔄 Redirect old URLs
  • 🌍 International extensions (.com, .fr, .eu)

Step 1: Access the Domains Section

  1. Log in to cPanel
  2. Click on Domains

Step 2: Create a New Domain (Alias)

  1. Click on Create a New Domain
  2. Enter the domain name
  3. ✅ Leave checked the "Share document root" option
  4. Click on Submit
Field Configuration for an alias
Domain monsite.fr
Share document root ✅ Checked

Step 3: Configure a redirection (recommended)

To avoid duplicate content (bad for SEO), configure a redirection:

  1. Go back to Domains
  2. Find your alias in the list
  3. Click on Manage Redirection
  4. Enter the destination URL: https://monsite.com
  5. Click on Save

💡 SEO Tip: Always redirect your aliases to the main domain with a 301 to avoid duplicate content.

📂 Create a Subdomain

A subdomain creates a separate section of your main site.

Examples of subdomains

Subdomain Usage
blog.monsite.com Blog section
boutique.monsite.com E-commerce
support.monsite.com Help center
dev.monsite.com Development site
en.monsite.com English version

Step 1: Create the subdomain

  1. In cPanel, click on Domains
  2. Click on Create a new domain
  3. In the Domain field, enter the full subdomain: blog.monsite.com
  4. ❌ Uncheck "Share document root" if you want a separate folder
  5. Set the Document Root: public_html/blog
  6. Click on Submit

💡 cPanel automatically recognizes it as a subdomain if the parent domain exists.

Step 2: Upload the content

Upload your files into the subdomain folder:

📁 /home/user/public_html/blog/
├── index.html
└── ...

📋 Manage Your Domains

View all your domains

In cPanel → Domains, you see the complete list:

Column Description
Domain Domain name
Document Root Files directory
Status Active / Redirected
Actions Manage, Delete

Modify a domain

  1. Click on Manage next to the domain
  2. You can modify:
    • The Document Root (files directory)
    • The redirection
    • The SSL certificate options

Delete a domain

  1. In Domains, find the domain to delete
  2. Click on Manage
  3. Click on Remove Domain
  4. Confirm the deletion

⚠️ Attention: Deleting a domain does NOT remove the files from the directory. You will need to delete them manually if needed.

🔒 SSL Certificate for Your Domains

After adding a domain, install a free SSL certificate:

With AutoSSL (automatic)

cPanel automatically generates an SSL certificate via AutoSSL. Wait a few minutes after adding the domain.

Check in cPanel → SSL/TLS Status:

  • 🟢 Green: Active SSL
  • 🟡 Yellow: Pending
  • 🔴 Red: Error (check DNS propagation)

Force renewal

If SSL is not generated automatically:

  1. Go to SSL/TLS Status
  2. Check the relevant domain
  3. Click on Run AutoSSL

⚠️ Troubleshooting

Error: "Domain already exists"

❌ Issue ✅ Solution
The domain is already added Check in the list of domains
The subdomain already exists Delete it before recreating

Error: "Could not determine nameserver IP"

❌ Issue ✅ Solution
DNS not propagated yet Wait 24-48h and try again
Incorrect nameservers Check nameservers with your registrar
Expired domain Renew your domain

Check propagation:

https://www.whatsmydns.net/

Site displays a 404 error or white page

❌ Issue ✅ Solution
No files Upload index.html or index.php
Incorrect directory Check the Document Root
Incorrect file name The file must be index.html or index.php

Site displays "Not Secure"

❌ Issue ✅ Solution
SSL not installed Wait for AutoSSL or run it manually
Incomplete DNS propagation Wait for DNS propagation
Mixed content Ensure all resources are in HTTPS

Addon domain not accessible

Verification checklist:

□ Nameservers point to OuiHeberg
□ DNS propagation is complete (whatsmydns.net)
□ Domain is added in cPanel
□ Document Root folder exists
□ An index.html or index.php file exists in the folder
□ SSL certificate is active

📝 Summary of Commands

Add an addon domain (new site)

1. cPanel → Domains → Create a new domain
2. Enter the domain: othersite.fr
3. ❌ Uncheck "Share document root"
4. Document Root: public_html/othersite.fr
5. Submit

Add an alias (same site)

1. cPanel → Domains → Create a new domain
2. Enter the domain: monsite.fr
3. ✅ Leave checked "Share document root"
4. Submit
5. Configure a 301 redirection (recommended)

Add a subdomain

1. cPanel → Domains → Create a new domain
2. Enter: blog.monsite.com
3. ❌ Uncheck "Share document root"
4. Document Root: public_html/blog
5. Submit

📚 Related Articles

  • 🌐 Configure DNS on cPanel (Zone Editor)
  • 🔒 Install a Let's Encrypt SSL certificate
  • 📧 Create emails on an addon domain
  • 🔄 Configure redirects on cPanel
  • ⚙️ Install WordPress with Softaculous
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