To add a second domain, point its DNS records at the server, route that hostname to the correct WordPress directory with an Apache VirtualHost or Nginx server block, secure it with HTTPS, and then update WordPress if the domain belongs to a Multisite site. The correct configuration depends on whether the domain should show the existing site, run a separate installation, or identify a separate site in one Multisite network.
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What adding a domain actually involves
A domain name does not automatically select a WordPress site. Four layers must agree:
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- DNS: the new hostname resolves to the server’s public IPv4 or IPv6 address.
- Web-server routing: Apache or Nginx matches the hostname and sends the request to the intended document root.
- WordPress: the installation, site URL, and rewrite rules accept that hostname.
- TLS: the HTTPS certificate covers the new domain, including its
wwwvariant if you plan to use it.
WordPress describes the relationship directly: DNS maps the domain to the server IP, while the server maps the domain to the WordPress installation directory. See the WordPress network preparation guide.
If any layer is missing, visitors may see the old site, a default server page, a certificate warning, a redirect loop, or a 404. Build and test the layers in that order.
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Choose the right site model first
Decide what the second domain is supposed to represent before editing a virtual host. The choice changes your document roots, databases, WordPress settings, and maintenance responsibilities.
| Goal | Server arrangement | WordPress arrangement | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Another address for the existing site | Route both hostnames to the same document root | One installation; configure the preferred canonical URL and redirects | An alias, rebrand, or migration address |
| A completely independent site | Give the domain its own document root and virtual host/server block | Separate WordPress files and database | Sites that need independent plugins, administrators, updates, or backups |
| A separate site sharing one WordPress codebase | Route the domain to the Multisite installation and apply Multisite rewrite rules | One network with separate site tables and uploads | Organizations managing several related sites centrally |
Multisite sites share WordPress core files but retain separate site data structures and upload directories. The network creation documentation also requires choosing subdomain or subdirectory mode when the network is created. Domain mapping changes the public hostname; it does not turn an ordinary single-site installation into a network.
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- Control of the new domain’s DNS zone, or a DNS administrator who can create records for you.
- Shell and elevated privileges for the server, or a hosting control panel that exposes virtual-host/server-block settings.
- The intended WordPress document root, database details, and PHP-FPM socket or upstream name when using Nginx.
- Permission to reload Apache or Nginx after validating configuration.
- A plan for certificates covering the exact hostnames visitors will use.
- A recent backup of WordPress files and databases before changing URLs, rewrites, or Multisite settings.
Shared hosting that does not expose DNS or web-server configuration may require the host’s domain-addition workflow instead of manual virtual hosts. Do not edit system configuration you cannot reload or recover.
1. Point the new domain at the server
Create an A record for the apex name (for example, example.net) pointing to the server’s public IPv4 address. If the server has IPv6, create an AAAA record as well. Add a www record if that hostname will be accepted; it can be another A/AAAA record or a CNAME to the apex, depending on your DNS provider.
Do not point DNS at a private address such as 192.168.x.x. If a reverse proxy, load balancer, or CDN terminates traffic first, use the public endpoint specified by that service and ensure it forwards the Host header.
DNS changes are cached according to the records’ TTL. Verify from more than one network before assuming the server is at fault:
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dig +short example.net A
dig +short example.net AAAA
dig +short www.example.net AThe returned addresses should be the public addresses that accept web traffic. DNS only gets the request to the machine; it does not select a WordPress directory.
2. Add an Apache VirtualHost
Apache matches the request’s Host header against ServerName and ServerAlias. Create a separate file for the domain, point DocumentRoot at the correct WordPress directory, and make sure the directory permits WordPress rewrites. WordPress’s preparation guidance calls out virtual hosts, mod_rewrite, and suitable AllowOverride settings.
Independent WordPress installation
For a separate site, use a distinct directory such as /var/www/example.net/public. A typical HTTP virtual host is:
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName example.net
ServerAlias www.example.net
DocumentRoot /var/www/example.net/public
<Directory /var/www/example.net/public>
AllowOverride All
Require all granted
</Directory>
ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/example.net-error.log
CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/example.net-access.log combined
</VirtualHost>Use the path that contains that site’s wp-admin, wp-content, and wp-includes directories. If you intentionally use a shared installation, point the virtual host at that shared directory instead, but do not expect two independent databases to work from one ordinary single-site configuration without additional architecture.
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On distributions that use Apache’s site-management helpers, enable the rewrite module and the new site, then validate and reload. Names differ by operating system, so use your distribution’s service tooling:
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo a2ensite example.net.conf
sudo apachectl configtest
sudo systemctl reload apache2apachectl configtest must report a successful syntax check before you reload. On systems without a2ensite, place the configuration in the directory Apache includes and reload the service through that system’s documented command.
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When .htaccess is not being read
WordPress normally writes its Apache rewrite rules to .htaccess. If pretty permalinks return 404 while the home page works, check that AllowOverride All (or at least the required override classes) applies to the document root, that mod_rewrite is loaded, and that the file is readable by Apache. Avoid placing broad overrides on a parent directory that contains unrelated sites.
3. Add an Nginx server block
Nginx does not read Apache .htaccess files. Its rewrite and PHP handling must be written in the Nginx configuration itself. WordPress also notes that it can generate Apache and IIS rules but cannot generate Nginx configuration; use the official Nginx guidance as the reference for your PHP version and network mode.
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Single-site or independent installation
Set the new hostname in server_name, point root to the intended WordPress directory, and use a try_files fallback to index.php. Pass PHP requests to the PHP-FPM socket or upstream configured on your server:
server {
listen 80;
listen [::]:80;
server_name example.net www.example.net;
root /var/www/example.net/public;
index index.php;
location / {
try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;
}
location ~ \.php$ {
include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
fastcgi_pass unix:/run/php/php-fpm.sock;
}
}The socket path in this example is illustrative; use the PHP-FPM pool actually installed on your server. Some distributions use a versioned path such as /run/php/php8.x-fpm.sock, while others define a named upstream. Check the pool configuration instead of guessing.
Place the block in the directory included by your main Nginx configuration, test it, and reload only after a successful test:
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginxMultisite on Nginx
A Multisite network needs the network-specific rewrite rules in addition to the hostname and PHP settings. Subdomain and subdirectory networks use different rules, so copy the variant that matches the mode selected when the network was created. Confirm that uploaded media paths and administrative URLs are handled by the same server block. Never copy Apache directives such as AllowOverride into Nginx; they have no meaning there.
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4. Install HTTPS for the added hostname
Obtain a certificate whose names cover every hostname you serve. If visitors can use both the apex and www, include both or redirect one only after the certificate covers the initial request. WordPress’s domain-mapping guidance recommends SSL for the primary and mapped domains and identifies Server Name Indication (SNI) for multiple domains; see WordPress Multisite Domain Mapping.
Whether certificates are issued by an automated ACME client, your host, or another certificate authority, the operational sequence is the same:
- Make sure DNS resolves and port 80/443 traffic reaches the correct server or proxy.
- Request a certificate for the exact domain names.
- Add an HTTPS virtual host or server block that uses the certificate and key.
- Test the configuration, reload the web server, and then redirect HTTP to HTTPS.
- Check that WordPress’s home and site URLs use
https://and that no images, scripts, or forms still load over HTTP.
SNI lets one server present different certificates based on the requested hostname. It requires a modern client and a web server configured with each certificate; it is not a substitute for adding the hostname to the certificate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Map the domain in WordPress Multisite
Use this section only when the new domain identifies a site inside an existing Multisite network. Finish DNS, web-server routing, and TLS first so the mapped URL is reachable before you change the database-backed site address.
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- Choose the site to map and select Edit.
- On the site settings screen, replace the full Site Address (URL) with the mapped URL, for example
https://example.net. Include the scheme and do not add a trailing path unless that path is genuinely part of the site. - Save the change, then test the front end,
/wp-admin/, media, and permalinks while signed out and signed in.
Native domain mapping is available in WordPress 4.5 and later. Older versions required a domain-mapping plugin. The network’s original address remains important for network administration, cron jobs, and recovery, so record it before changing any site address.
Blocked-cookie login errors
If mapped-domain logins report that cookies are blocked even though the browser accepts cookies, check for inconsistent HTTP/HTTPS hosts, proxy headers, and mixed domains. The official mapping guide documents this possible configuration adjustment:
define( 'COOKIE_DOMAIN', $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST'] );Apply it only after understanding the effect on every site in the network and testing an administrator account. A malformed wp-config.php edit can lock out all network sites, so keep a console or file-based recovery path.
6. Configure a separate, non-Multisite WordPress site
If the new domain is independent, install WordPress in its own document root and create a separate database and database user. During installation, set the site URL to the HTTPS hostname you intend to keep. Do not point two unrelated databases at one directory and assume the virtual host alone separates them; WordPress reads its database and configuration from the files it loads.
Give the web-server user access to the new site’s files, but keep database credentials and wp-config.php protected from web downloads. Enable automatic updates and backups independently if the sites have different owners or risk profiles. A separate installation makes plugin conflicts less likely, at the cost of separate updates, monitoring, and resource usage.
7. Verify every layer
Test from an external network, not only from the server itself. Work through this checklist:
- DNS: A and AAAA lookups return the intended public addresses; remove stale records that send traffic elsewhere.
- Host routing: the response is from the intended virtual host, not the first/default host in the configuration.
- Status codes: HTTP and HTTPS return the expected 200 or intentional redirect, without an endless redirect chain.
- Certificate: the certificate’s names include the hostname in the browser address bar, and the chain is trusted.
- WordPress URL: the home page, canonical redirects, feeds, REST endpoints, and login all use the chosen scheme and hostname.
- Permalinks: a non-home page loads directly, not only after visiting the front page.
- Media: existing images and new uploads use the mapped domain and remain accessible over HTTPS.
- Isolation: an independent site cannot read or serve another site’s files, and the mapped Multisite site lands on the intended site ID.
- Logs: access and error logs for the new host show the requests, PHP errors, and upstream failures you expect.
Useful HTTP checks include:
curl -I http://example.net
curl -I https://example.net
curl -I https://www.example.netRun these with the exact hostnames users will enter. A successful response from the wrong site is a routing error, not proof that the setup is complete.
Common failures and precise fixes
| Symptom | Likely layer | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The old site appears | DNS or virtual-host order | Confirm the new hostname resolves to this server, then verify ServerName/server_name and that the request is not falling through to the default host. |
| A generic Apache or Nginx page appears | Host matching | Check that the configuration file is enabled or included, the hostname is spelled identically, and the service was reloaded after a successful syntax test. |
| Browser certificate warning | TLS | Issue a certificate containing the exact apex or www hostname being requested; confirm the HTTPS host serves that certificate rather than the default one. |
| Pretty-permalink 404s on Apache | Rewrite support | Enable mod_rewrite, verify AllowOverride, and resave Settings → Permalinks after correcting access to .htaccess. |
| Pretty-permalink 404s on Nginx | Server block | Use the WordPress try_files fallback and ensure the request reaches the correct PHP-FPM upstream. Nginx will not read .htaccess. |
| PHP source downloads or returns 502 | PHP-FPM | Check the configured socket/upstream, PHP-FPM service status, file permissions, and the Nginx error log. |
| Multisite redirects to the old domain | Site mapping or cached URLs | Confirm the full Site Address in Network Admin, clear page/browser caches, and inspect canonical and HTTPS redirect rules. |
| Login says cookies are blocked | Cookie host or scheme | Use one consistent HTTPS hostname, check proxy headers, and consider the documented COOKIE_DOMAIN adjustment only after testing network-wide effects. |
Security and maintenance after the change
- Redirect the non-canonical hostname to one canonical HTTPS URL instead of serving duplicate content indefinitely.
- Keep the certificate renewal process monitored; an expired certificate breaks both visitors and administrative access.
- Limit database users and file permissions per independent installation. Do not make every site directory writable by unrelated service accounts.
- Back up each database and upload directory, and test restoration before changing domain URLs again.
- Document the DNS records, document root, virtual-host file, PHP-FPM pool, certificate names, and rollback procedure.
- After plugin or WordPress updates, retest both the mapped domain and the network’s original administrative URL.
The WordPress server-configuration documentation is a useful reference when your host, PHP version, or web-server layout differs from the examples above.
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When to stop and ask the host
Use the hosting provider’s support channel when you cannot edit DNS, cannot create a virtual host/server block, cannot reload the web server, or are behind a managed proxy that controls certificates and Host headers. Ask them to confirm the domain’s DNS target, document root, HTTPS certificate coverage, and whether the request reaches Apache or Nginx. Those are the four facts needed to continue troubleshooting without guessing.
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