> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://speedypage.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Add a domain

> How to add a registered domain or subdomain to your cPanel account, configure its document root, and set up DNS.

You can host multiple domains and subdomains from a single cPanel account. Each domain you add gets its own document root directory and can have its own email accounts, SSL certificate, and DNS records.

Before adding a domain, make sure it is pointed to SpeedyPage's [nameservers](/web-hosting/nameservers). DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate, so it's best to update your nameservers first.

## Add a registered domain

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Domains page">
    Log in to cPanel through your [client area](https://my.speedypage.com) or at `yourdomain.com/cpanel`. Go to **Domains** and click **Domains**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create a new domain">
    Click **Create a New Domain**. Select **Registered Domain**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the domain name">
    Type your fully qualified domain name in the **Domain** field, for example `example.com`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the document root">
    By default, new domains get their own directory in your home directory (e.g. `/home/username/example.com`). You can change the path if needed, or select **Share document root** to use the same directory as your main domain.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Submit">
    Click **Submit**. The domain appears in the domains list.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Add a subdomain

The process is the same as adding a registered domain. In the **Domain** field, enter the subdomain followed by a period and the parent domain, for example `blog.example.com`.

Subdomains are useful for separating sections of your site (a blog, a staging environment, or an app) without registering a new domain.

<Tip>
  Subdomains get their own directory by default. If you want a subdomain to serve the same content as the main domain, select **Share document root**.
</Tip>

## Document root

The document root is the directory where a domain's publicly accessible files are stored. When a visitor loads your domain in a browser, the server serves files from this directory.

* Domains that share a document root with the main domain serve the same content.
* Domains with their own document root act as independent websites.
* You cannot place a document root in system directories like `mail`, `ssl`, `tmp`, or `cgi-bin`.

You can change a domain's document root later from the [Manage domain](/web-hosting/domains/manage-domain) page.

## SSL certificates

When you add a domain or subdomain, the system automatically requests a free AutoSSL certificate. The certificate is issued and installed without any action on your part, usually within a few minutes.

For AutoSSL to work, the domain must be pointed to SpeedyPage's [nameservers](/web-hosting/nameservers) and resolving to your server's IP address. If the domain isn't resolving yet, AutoSSL will retry on its next scheduled run.

<Note>
  DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours. If your SSL certificate hasn't been issued after that time, check that your nameservers are set correctly and contact support.
</Note>