How to Add a Domain in cPanel (Primary vs Addon Domain)

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DNS sends visitors to the server, but cPanel must also be configured to serve the domain from a folder. This step is required for the site to load correctly.

Primary domain

Your primary domain is the main domain for the hosting account, usually served from:

  • public_html

Addon domain (additional website)

An addon domain is a separate website hosted under the same account. When you add it, cPanel creates a document root folder like:

  • public_html/example.com/ (varies by setup)

Steps to add a domain

In cPanel:

  • Open Domains
  • Choose Create A New Domain
  • Enter your domain name
  • Set the document root folder
  • Save

After adding the domain

Upload your website files to the document root folder. If you upload files to the wrong folder, you may see a blank page or default page.

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