You can create an unlimited number of new subsites within a WordPress Multisite network. Because the new site is generated inside an already existing WordPress installation, there is no need to set up a separate database or file system—the creation process takes only a few seconds.
Creating new subsites requires Network Administrator (Super Admin) privileges.
Creating a Subsite via the Dashboard
The process is exactly the same whether your network uses a subdirectory or a subdomain structure.
Log into WordPress with your Network Administrator (Super Admin) credentials.
Navigate to the network dashboard from the top toolbar: My Sites > Network Admin > Sites.
Click Add Site at the top of the page.
The Sites view and the Add Site button
Fill in the details for the new site:
Site Address (URL): Enter the identifier for the new site (e.g.,
helsinki).In a subdirectory network, this will become
example.com/helsinki.In a subdomain network, this will become
helsinki.example.com.
Site Title: The public name of the site (e.g., Helsinki Branch).
Site Language: Select the language you want to use in the dashboard of this specific subsite.
Admin Email: A notification about the new site will be sent to this address. If you enter an email address that does not yet have a WordPress account, the system will automatically create a user and send the password to that address.
The new subsite creation form and its fields
Click Add Site.
You have now created a new subsite! You can access its individual dashboard via the My Sites menu in the top toolbar to begin configuring themes, pages, and plugins.
Creating a Subsite via Command Line (WP-CLI)
Developers can quickly create a new subsite over an SSH connection using WP-CLI:
# Create a new subsite
wp site create --slug=helsinki --title="Helsinki Branch" [email protected]
(WP-CLI automatically detects whether the network uses subdirectories or subdomains and generates the correct URL format based on the --slug parameter).
Configuring a Custom Domain for the New Subsite
If you are running a subdomain network, or if you want to map a completely separate custom domain (like mynewdomain.com) to the subsite you just created, the address must be updated in the subsite settings and in Seravo's server routing:
Mapping a Custom Domain:
See our detailed guide: Multisite Domain Mapping and Configuration. The guide covers server routing, updating WordPress address fields, and cookie settings.
Subdomain Networks (*.example.com):
If you created a subdomain (e.g.,
helsinki.example.com), make sure you have requested a wildcard certificate and DNS routing (*.example.com) for your primary domain from Seravo Customer Support. Otherwise, new subdomains may display a missing SSL certificate warning in the browser, or traffic may not route to the site at all.
Troubleshooting and Exceptions
The new administrator did not receive a password via email:
Ensure that email delivery (SMTP) is functioning properly on the primary site. The Super Admin can also manually set a password for the user directly from Network Admin > Users.
A subdomain subsite (e.g.,
helsinki.example.com) does not load in the browser:The DNS records are likely missing a wildcard routing (
*), or the new subdomain has not been separately added to the server's routing. Contact Seravo Customer Support.The "Add Site" button is missing:
Your account does not have Super Admin privileges. A standard Site Administrator cannot create new subsites in the network.
See Also
Creating new subsites in a Multisite network is extremely fast, and the new site template is ready to use immediately after saving the form. If you need assistance planning your site structure, mapping domains, or setting up a wildcard certificate, Seravo's experts are always happy to help at [email protected].