Remove an addon domain in cPanel to disconnect a separate website from your hosting account. Domain removal does not cancel its registration or automatically erase its website folder. Plan the change carefully if the domain still receives traffic or email.
Current cPanel versions remove addon domains through Domains and Manage. Older videos may show a dedicated Addon Domains page.
Before you start
- Back up the website files, relevant databases, and important email. Confirm the destination is working first if you are moving the site.
- Record the domain's document root and review any subdomains or other addresses that depend on it. A folder can be shared by more than one site.
Instructions
Locate the correct website
Sign in to cPanel and open Domains. Find the addon domain and choose Manage. Confirm its name and document root before proceeding.
Resolve dependencies
Review subdomains and related services. If cPanel reports a dependent domain, read the message and remove or reconfigure only the dependency you intend to retire.
Remove the domain entry
Choose Remove Domain and confirm the named domain. This removes its hosting configuration and relevant cPanel DNS entries while retaining its document directory and contents.
Review external services
Update externally managed DNS, email routing, monitoring, and application settings where necessary. Manage registration renewal separately through the registrar if you also wish to stop renewing the domain.
Keep retained files until verified
Do not immediately delete the old document root or database. Confirm the migration or retirement is complete and that no remaining website uses those resources.
Check the result
- The intended addon domain is absent from Domains, and other hosted websites remain available.
- Any replacement website and email service work using the domain's current DNS records.
Troubleshooting
- cPanel reports an associated subdomain error.
- Check the listed dependency. If the entries cannot be removed normally, send the exact error to support instead of deleting folders manually.
- Files are still present after removal.
- That is expected. Domain removal and file deletion are separate operations; retain the files until their dependencies and backups are confirmed.
Watch the video
The video may show an older interface. Use the written instructions above when screen names differ.
Continue with a related task
- How to Add an Addon Domain in cPanel
- How to Remove a Subdomain in cPanel
- How to Download Website Files with FileZilla
