To create a subdomain on Hostinger, log in to hPanel and choose one of two methods depending on your goal. If the subdomain will act as a fully independent website, go to Websites and add it as a new site during the onboarding flow. If it will remain part of your existing site, go to your website Dashboard, open Domains, and select Subdomains. Either way, the process takes a few minutes. Once created, Hostinger sets up the folder and handles DNS automatically if your domain uses Hostinger nameservers. The subdomain will not show anything until you add content to its folder.
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What You Need Before You Start
Before creating a subdomain in hPanel, make sure you have the following in place:
- Access to your Hostinger account and hPanel dashboard
- An active hosting plan with a domain already connected to it
- A clear idea of what the subdomain will be used for, since this determines which creation method to use (independent website or section of an existing site)
- A decision on whether the subdomain should point to a new folder or an existing one inside your hosting directory
It is also worth knowing which type of hosting you are on. The steps below apply to web and cloud hosting plans. Agency hosting has its own subdomain guide, and VPS hosting requires a different approach depending on your control panel setup.
If this is your first time using the dashboard, our Hostinger review explains how hPanel is structured and where core domain tools live.
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Creating a Subdomain in Hostinger’s hPanel
Hostinger offers two methods for creating a subdomain. The right one depends on whether you want the subdomain to function as a fully independent website or as a section under your existing site.
Method 1 (recommended) is for subdomains that will act as separate websites, such as a WordPress blog, an online store, or a standalone application. This is also the method to use if your main domain is connected to Hostinger Website Builder or Hostinger Horizons.
Method 2 is only available if your main domain is hosted as a PHP/HTML website (including WordPress) or a Node.js application, and the subdomain will remain part of that same site structure rather than function independently.
For most users, Method 1 is the right choice. The steps below cover both.
Find the Subdomains Section in hPanel
For Method 1, log in to hPanel and go to Websites. Select Add website on the hosting plan you want to use.
During the onboarding flow, enter the full subdomain address when prompted for the domain name, for example shop.yourdomain.com. This creates the subdomain as a fully independent website with its own settings.
For Method 2, follow these steps exactly as you will see them in hPanel:
- Log in to hPanel and click Websites in the left navigation menu
- Find the website connected to your main domain in the list
- Click the Dashboard button on the right side of that website row
- Inside the website Dashboard, look at the left sidebar and click Domains to expand it
- Click Subdomains from the expanded Domains menu
Enter the Subdomain Name and Choose the Main Domain
You will see a form titled “Create a New Subdomain” with two fields side by side. In the left field labelled Subdomain, type only the prefix you want, not the full address.
For example, to create blog.yourdomain.com, type blog.
The domain name is displayed on the right and is pre-filled with your main domain. If you have multiple domains on the same hosting plan, this will appear as a dropdown so you can select the correct one.
Keep the subdomain name short, clear, and relevant to its purpose. Then click “Create” to continue.
Choose the Directory
Below the subdomain and domain fields, you will see a checkbox labelled Custom folder for subdomain. By default, this is unchecked, which means Hostinger will automatically create a subfolder inside your main site’s directory using the same name as the subdomain.
For most users, leaving this unchecked is the right choice.
If you need the subdomain to point to a specific existing folder, tick the Custom folder for subdomain checkbox and enter the folder path manually.
Only do this if you have a clear reason, such as pointing the subdomain to a folder that already contains files.
Create the Subdomain and Wait for It to Apply
Select Create to complete the process. The page will refresh, and you will see a List of Current Subdomains table appear below the creation form, confirming the subdomain has been created.
The table shows the full subdomain name, the directory path it points to (for example, /home/u123456789/domains/yourdomain.com/public_html/blog), and a delete button in the Actions column.
Note that there is no edit option once a subdomain is created. If you made a typo or selected the wrong folder, delete the subdomain using the red trash icon in the Actions column and create it again with the correct details.
If your main domain uses Hostinger nameservers, DNS is configured automatically, and the subdomain should be accessible within a few minutes.
If your domain points to external nameservers such as Cloudflare, you will need to manually add a DNS A record at your external provider, pointing the subdomain to your Hostinger hosting plan’s IP address. After that, allow up to 24 hours for DNS propagation to complete globally.
Where Your Subdomain Files Live and How to Make It Show Something
Creating a subdomain in hPanel sets up the address. It does not automatically create a website or put any content there.
Once the subdomain is created, it points to a specific folder inside your hosting account. If you used the default directory setting, Hostinger creates a folder at the path shown in the List of Current Subdomains table, which follows the format /home/youraccountid/domains/yourdomain.com/public_html/subdomain-name.
For example, a subdomain named blog on webhostpro.io would sit at /home/u376535993/domains/webhostpro.io/public_html/blog.
You can find and access this folder by going to Files and then File Manager in hPanel.
Until you add content to that folder, anyone visiting the subdomain will see either a blank page or a default placeholder screen. That is expected behavior and not an error.
What you can put in the subdomain folder:
- A plain HTML file to create a simple static page
- A WordPress installation using Hostinger’s Auto Installer, which lets you select the subdomain as the installation target
- Output from Hostinger’s Website Builder if you connected the subdomain during the onboarding flow
- Any other web application files you upload manually via the File Manager or FTP
If you plan to build a full site on the subdomain, our guide on how to host a website on Hostinger explains what to do next.
If Your Subdomain Is Not Working: Quick Fixes
Most subdomain issues on Hostinger are straightforward to diagnose. Work through these checks before assuming something is broken.
1. Wait for DNS Propagation and Clear the Cache
If you just created the subdomain, it may simply need more time. DNS changes typically take a few minutes when your domain uses Hostinger nameservers, but can take up to 24 hours if external nameservers are involved. While waiting, open the subdomain in a private or incognito browser window to rule out cached results on your device.
2. Double-Check the Directory or Folder Path
If the subdomain loads but shows a blank page or a 404 error, the most likely cause is that the folder it points to is empty or does not contain an index file. Go to File Manager in hPanel, navigate to the subdomain folder, and confirm there is content there. If the folder path was set incorrectly during creation, you may need to delete the subdomain and recreate it with the correct directory.
3. Confirm the Domain Is Connected to Hostinger Correctly
If the subdomain is not loading at all, check whether your main domain is correctly pointing to Hostinger’s nameservers. Go to hPanel, open the Domains section, and verify the nameserver status. If the domain uses external nameservers, confirm that the A record for the subdomain has been added at your external DNS provider and that it points to the correct Hostinger IP address.
4. Enable SSL If the Browser Shows a Security Warning
After creating a subdomain, SSL is not always activated automatically for it. If your browser shows a security warning when you visit the subdomain, go to hPanel, open the SSL section, and check whether the subdomain is listed and whether the certificate is active. If not, you can request a free SSL certificate for the subdomain directly from hPanel.
Practical Tips for Managing Subdomains on Hostinger
These are the mistakes beginners make most often, and the habits that prevent them.
- Decide the folder structure before creating the subdomain. It is much easier to set the directory correctly upfront than to fix a mislabeled or misconnected folder after the fact.
- Do not name a subdomain before knowing its purpose. A name like “test” or “new” creates confusion later. Use descriptive names like “store”, “blog”, or “staging” from the start.
- Allow time for DNS propagation before troubleshooting. Most subdomain issues reported in the first hour resolve on their own. Check back after 24 hours before investigating further.
- Check SSL status after creation. Visit the subdomain in a browser and confirm there is no security warning. If there is, activate the SSL certificate in hPanel before adding content or sharing the link.
- Confirm the domain uses Hostinger nameservers. If your domain is registered elsewhere and pointing to external nameservers, subdomain DNS is not handled automatically. You will need to add records manually at your DNS provider every time.
- Keep subdomains organized as your project grows. If you are running multiple subdomains, use consistent naming conventions and document what each one is for. hPanel lists all active subdomains under Domains, so reviewing them periodically keeps things clean.
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Final Word
Creating a subdomain on Hostinger is a straightforward process once you understand how domains and folders connect.
The hPanel interface guides you through each step, and DNS is handled automatically when your domain uses Hostinger nameservers.
Most issues that come up after creation are not technical failures. They are either propagation delays or empty folders waiting for content.
