Title: Cannot create a Subdomain based Multisite Network
Last modified: August 31, 2016

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# Cannot create a Subdomain based Multisite Network

 *  [Kookidooki](https://wordpress.org/support/users/kookidooki/)
 * (@kookidooki)
 * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-create-a-subdomain-based-multisite-network/)
 * Hello,
 * I cannot create a Subdomain based Multisite Network.
 * I would like to setup something like this:
 * Main Site: mymainsite.com
    Sub Site 1: sub1.mymainsite.com Sub Site 2: sub2.mymainsite.
   com
 * The steps:
    In wp-config.php I added this code just before the /* That’s all,
   stop editing! Happy blogging. */ line:
 *  **define( ‘WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE’, true );**
 * after saving wp-config.php, I selected “**Tools » Network Setup**” to configure
   my multisite network.
    Normally I’m supposed to see the network setup screen 
   where I can select “Sub-domains” or “Sub-directories”. However, I don’t see this
   screen; I cannot select the “sub-domain” based network. It looks like it’s skipping
   this screen and goes right to the page where it asks me to add some additional
   codes into wp-config.php and .htaccess.
 * And at the top op the page I see this warning:
    **Warning: An existing WordPress
   network was detected.
 * What’s going on? I don’t have another WP network. Have I overlooked something?
   
   Where can I find and delete the so-called “existing WP network”? In wp-config,.
   htaccess or database?
 * Thank You!

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  [Tony Zeoli](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tonyzeoli/)
 * (@tonyzeoli)
 * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-create-a-subdomain-based-multisite-network/#post-7066177)
 * Kookidooki,
 * Once you enable multisite, you must add the rewrite rules in the network admin
   to your .htaccess file.
 * First, check your wp-config.php and make sure these rules exist:
 *     ```
       define('MULTISITE', true);
       define('SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', false);
       define('DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', 'yourdomain.com');
       define('PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/');
       define('SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1);
       define('BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1);
       ```
   
 * Set define subdomain to true, so you can enable subdomains instead of subdirectories.
 * Second, replace the current .htaccess rewrite rules with the following:
 *     ```
       RewriteEngine On
       RewriteBase /
       RewriteRule ^index\.php$ - [L]
   
       # uploaded files
       RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?files/(.+) wp-includes/ms-files.php?file=$2 [L]
   
       # add a trailing slash to /wp-admin
       RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?wp-admin$ $1wp-admin/ [R=301,L]
   
       RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -f [OR]
       RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} -d
       RewriteRule ^ - [L]
       RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(wp-(content|admin|includes).*) $2 [L]
       RewriteRule ^([_0-9a-zA-Z-]+/)?(.*\.php)$ $2 [L]
       RewriteRule . index.php [L]
       ```
   
 * If you want subdomains, you’ll want to make sure that add the domain mapping 
   plugin to your WordPress install. In the domain mapping plugin, there is a file
   called sunrise.php. That file must be added to /wp-content/. Then, you must add
   a similar single line of code to wp-config.php to enable sunrise.php. See the
   readme.txt file included in the plugin for instructions.
 * Remember that with subdomains, you must add a CNAME record for each subdomain
   you want to resolve to a specific site instance. Or, you can use an A record 
   with * inserted as a wildcard so you won’t need to constantly add new CNAME records.
   This method may be problematic with SSL certificates, as each certificate may
   require a specific CNAME added to the zone file.
 * Hope that helps.
 *  [blairw](https://wordpress.org/support/users/blairw/)
 * (@blairw)
 * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-create-a-subdomain-based-multisite-network/#post-7066224)
 * I have a slightly different problem. I have installed WordPress (4.4.2) twice
   now and both attempts to create subdomain networks have left me with 403 errors
   when I add the new subdomain and then try to load it’s dashboard. The Multisite
   itself is up but if I make an additional site (site1.domain.com) complete with
   cname (*.domain.com) and subdomain (in cPanel) it just doesn’t connect.
    I’ve
   been over the tutorials and written instructions 5 times (each) now and from 
   various sources. Now 3 days later I’m still no closer to figuring out what’s 
   preventing this from working. I tried the MU plugin, but I still get the same
   result. It all seems very straight forward, I just don’t understand what I am
   missing.
 *  [littlezena](https://wordpress.org/support/users/littlezena/)
 * (@littlezena)
 * [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-create-a-subdomain-based-multisite-network/#post-7066257)
 * Hi,
 * I’ve the same issue here. I’ve deleted and added new site several times but it’s
   just not working: no access to the dashboard nor to the site itself. I’ve checked.
   htaccess file + wp-config.php and they are as they should be configuration wise.
 * It will be really much appreciate and extremely helpful if someone can have a
   look into this and let us know what we’re doing wrong or not doing to get the
   new site live.
 * Many thanks for your help

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

The topic ‘Cannot create a Subdomain based Multisite Network’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [Multisite network](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/multisite-network/)

 * In: [Networking WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/multisite/)
 * 3 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [littlezena](https://wordpress.org/support/users/littlezena/)
 * Last activity: [10 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/cannot-create-a-subdomain-based-multisite-network/#post-7066257)
 * Status: not resolved

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