Connect a Subdomain to WordPress.com

You can create a subdomain of any domain you own. This guide will show you how to connect a subdomain to your site on WordPress.com.

In this guide

1. About Subdomains
2. Step 1: Decide Which Site
3. Step 2: Create the Subdomain
   1. Verify Domain Ownership
      1. If the domain is registered at WordPress.com
      2. If the domain is registered elsewhere
4. Step 3: Add DNS Records

About Subdomains

A subdomain has an extra piece of text before your main domain (called the root domain.) For example, if your root domain is yourgroovydomain.com, you can create subdomains such as blog.yourgroovydomain.com and shop.yourgroovydomain.com.

You can connect a subdomain to:

1. The same website as your root domain on WordPress.com.
2. A separate website to your root domain on WordPress.com.
3. An external website.

This guide will cover the steps for 1 and 2. To connect a subdomain to a site not hosted on WordPress.com, see Connect a Subdomain to an External Site.

Subdomains cannot connect to a specific page (directory) other than the homepage. For example, members.yourgroovydomain.com could not connect to a page on your site like yourgroovydomain.com/members. Instead, you can create a new site for members.yourgroovydomain.com.

Step 1: Decide Which Site

If you wish to connect your subdomain to the same site as your root (main) domain, you can jump straight to Step 2.

If you wish to connect a subdomain to a new website separate from your main domain site, create a new site here. Connecting a subdomain is included with any paid WordPress.com plan (each site requires its own plan.)

Step 2: Create the Subdomain

To connect a subdomain to a site on WordPress.com, take the following steps:

1. Visit the dashboard of the site you wish to use with your subdomain.
   • If you don’t yet have a site for your subdomain, create a new site in your account here.
2. Navigate to Upgrades → Domains.
3. Click the Add a domain button.
4. Select Use a Domain I own from the drop-down menu:

5. Type the full subdomain you want to use, such as blog.yourgroovydomain.com for example.
6. Click Next.
7. On the next screen, click Select in the Connect your domain section:

8. If the site does not have a WordPress.com plan, you will be taken to checkout to complete your purchase. Otherwise, you’ll see a message that your subdomain has been created.

Verify Domain Ownership

Sometimes, you may be asked to submit an authorization code to complete the subdomain connection:

If the domain is registered at WordPress.com

1. Open a new tab (or a different browser if the domain is under another account, and log in to that account)
2. Switch to the site the domain is added to, go to Upgrades → Domains
3. Click on the 3 vertical dots before the domain name and click View Settings → Transfer → Get authorization code. The code is sent to the contact email address on the domain. The option Transfer lock on can remain toggled on.

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To find the contact email address on the domain, go to Upgrades → Domains, click on the 3 vertical dots in front of the domain name and click View Settings → Contact information. Learn more about updating a domain’s contact information here.

4. Copy the authorization code from the email and return to the previous tab used to connect the subdomain. Click the button I found the domain’s settings page.

5. Paste the authorization code in the box, and click the Check my authorization code button.

6. You’ll see a confirmation that the subdomain is connected successfully.

If the domain is registered elsewhere

If your domain is registered at another provider like Bluehost, Godaddy, etc., you’ll need to obtain the authorization code from your domain registrar to verify your domain ownership. The authorization code is sometimes referred to as a transfer, auth, or EPP code and is commonly used for domain transfer. Once you provide the authorization code, you can proceed with the next step to connect your subdomain.

We only use the authorization code to verify your domain ownership. We will not transfer the domain registration to WordPress.com.

Step 3: Add DNS Records

If your root domain uses WordPress.com name servers, our system will have already set up the required DNS records for your subdomain. You can test your new subdomain now to ensure it’s working as expected.

If your root domain does not use WordPress.com name servers, you’ll be prompted to make some changes in your DNS so that your subdomain can function.

1. Click the Start setup button.
2. Open a new browser tab and log in to your account with your domain provider (where your name servers are set.)
3. Back on WordPress.com, click I found the domain’s settings page. We’ll then show you the required DNS records.
4. Enter the necessary DNS records for your subdomain in your domain provider’s DNS settings.
5. Back on WordPress.com, click Verify connection.

The recommended method is adding NS records to your subdomain’s settings page. Alternatively, you can click the advanced setup link to use A records (IP addresses) and CNAME records.