An addon domain allows you to host a separate, fully functional website on your cPanel account alongside your primary domain. Each addon domain has its own document root (folder), email accounts, and FTP access. Before adding an addon domain, make sure the domain's nameservers are pointed to your hosting provider.
Step 1: Log in to cPanel
Navigate to your cPanel login page (typically https://yourdomain.com/cpanel or https://yourdomain.com:2083) and sign in with your credentials.
Step 2: Open the Addon Domains Tool
In the cPanel dashboard, locate the Domains section and click on Addon Domains. In newer cPanel versions, this may be listed under Domains as Domains → Create a New Domain.
Step 3: Enter the Domain Name
In the New Domain Name field, enter the full domain name you want to add (e.g., mysecondsite.com). Do not include http:// or www.
Step 4: Configure the Subdomain and Document Root
cPanel will automatically populate the Subdomain and Document Root fields based on your domain name. Review these:
- Subdomain — A subdomain is created automatically (e.g.,
mysecondsite.primarydomain.com) for internal routing. You generally do not need to change this. - Document Root — This is the folder where the addon domain's files will be stored (e.g.,
/home/username/mysecondsite.com). You can change this path if needed.
Step 5: Set a Password
Enter a strong password for the new FTP account associated with the addon domain. You can also click the Password Generator button to create a secure password automatically.
Step 6: Add the Domain
Click Add Domain. If successful, cPanel will confirm that the addon domain has been created. You can now upload your website files to the document root folder.
Important Notes
- Your hosting plan must support addon domains. Check your plan details or contact your hosting provider if the option is unavailable.
- The domain's nameservers must already be pointed to your hosting provider before the site will resolve. DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours.
- Each addon domain counts toward your plan's domain limit. If you have reached the limit, you will need to upgrade your plan or remove an existing addon domain.
- Removing an addon domain will delete its document root folder and all files inside it. Back up your files before removing an addon domain.
- A free SSL certificate is typically issued automatically for addon domains on most modern cPanel setups via AutoSSL or cPanel Store Free SSL.
Troubleshooting
- "Sorry, you cannot add more than X addon domains" — You have reached the limit allowed by your hosting plan. Upgrade your plan or remove an unused addon domain.
- "The domain is already in use" — The domain may already exist as a parked domain, addon domain, or subdomain on your account. Check your Domains section and remove the conflicting entry first.
- Website does not load after adding — Verify that the domain's nameservers are correctly pointed to your hosting provider. Use whatsmydns.net to check DNS propagation status.
- Addon Domains option is missing — Your hosting provider may have disabled this feature. Contact support for assistance.
- SSL not working on the addon domain — Navigate to SSL/TLS Status in cPanel and ensure the domain is included in AutoSSL. You can also run AutoSSL manually to issue a certificate.
