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WordPress 4.5 and later can map a custom domain to a Multisite subsite without a domain-mapping plugin. The reliable sequence is: point DNS at the network server, configure the web server to deliver the same WordPress document root, install HTTPS for the mapped hostname, then enter the complete HTTPS address under Network Admin → Sites → Edit → Site Address (URL). If any of those layers is missing, the dashboard change alone cannot work.
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What domain mapping does in WordPress Multisite
A normal Multisite network gives each site an address based on the network’s structure, such as store.example.net in a subdomain network or example.net/store in a subdirectory network. Domain mapping assigns a separate hostname, such as store.example.com, to that existing site. WordPress still runs one installation and one network; the mapped hostname becomes the public and administrative address for that subsite.
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In WordPress 4.5 and newer, this is a native feature. The mapping is stored in Network Admin rather than being created by the old MU Domain Mapping plugin. A plugin is normally unnecessary for a current installation unless you need a specialized workflow, compatibility with a legacy setup, or features such as custom alias and redirect handling that your network does not provide natively.
Mapping is not a DNS-only operation. DNS tells browsers which server to contact, and the web server must then select the WordPress installation for that hostname. Only after those requests reach the correct document root can WordPress use the URL saved for the subsite.
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Requirements and decisions before you start
Confirm that the network itself is healthy
Start with a working Multisite network. You should be able to create and open ordinary subsites, sign in to Network Admin, and save site settings without unrelated errors. Fix a damaged or incomplete network first; domain mapping adds another hostname but does not repair the underlying installation.
Identify the network’s site structure
Multisite is installed as either a subdomain or subdirectory network. In a subdomain network, SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL is true; in a subdirectory network it is false. The custom-domain procedure works with either type, but knowing the original structure helps you recognize the site you are editing and troubleshoot redirects.
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Have control of every required layer
- Access to the DNS zone for the custom domain.
- Access to the hosting panel or web-server configuration that controls virtual hosts, addon domains, or equivalent routing.
- Permission to obtain and install an SSL certificate for the mapped hostname.
- Network Administrator access in WordPress.
- A current backup of the database and WordPress files before changing URLs or advanced bootstrap files.
Decide whether the domain will be the site’s only public address or an additional alias that redirects to a canonical hostname. WordPress’s native screen changes the site address; it does not by itself design a broader alias or redirect policy.
How a mapped request reaches the right subsite
A browser request passes through several independent checks:
- DNS resolution: the mapped hostname resolves to the server hosting the Multisite network.
- Web-server routing: the server recognizes that hostname and sends the request to the same WordPress document root used by the network.
- TLS negotiation: HTTPS presents a certificate valid for that hostname before WordPress handles the request.
- WordPress site lookup: Multisite matches the incoming host and path to the site whose Site Address (URL) you saved.
A failure at one layer can look like a failure at another. For example, a DNS record can be correct while the server still shows a hosting placeholder, and WordPress can have the right URL while the browser rejects the certificate. Test each layer separately rather than repeatedly changing the WordPress setting.
Step-by-step: map a custom domain to a subsite
1. Verify the network and record its current settings
- Sign in to the network’s WordPress dashboard.
- Open Network Admin → Sites and confirm the target subsite opens at its existing network address.
- Check whether the network uses subdomains or subdirectories. The setting is represented by
SUBDOMAIN_INSTALLin the network configuration. - Record the current Site Address (URL), home URL, and any redirect or reverse-proxy rules. This gives you a rollback reference if the new hostname produces an error.
Do not begin by editing the database or changing wp-config.php. The supported native workflow starts with infrastructure and finishes in the Sites editor.
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2. Point the custom domain’s DNS to the network server
Create or update records so the hostname resolves to the server that hosts the network. For an apex domain, this is commonly an address record; for a subdomain such as shop.example.com, it may be an address or alias record depending on your DNS provider and hosting design. Use the exact hostname you plan to enter in WordPress, including whether you intend to use the apex or a www name.
The WordPress domain-mapping guidance assumes that every additional domain is already mapped to your DNS server and parked on the master domain. DNS propagation time varies by resolver and by the record’s time-to-live, so an old answer may remain visible temporarily. Check resolution from more than one network before treating an intermittent result as a WordPress problem.
DNS alone is insufficient. A correct record only directs traffic to an IP address; it does not tell the web server which virtual host should answer.
3. Route the hostname to the same WordPress document root
In your hosting control panel or web-server configuration, add the custom hostname as an addon domain, parked domain, or virtual host that shares the network’s existing document root. WordPress’s preparation guidance also covers wildcard subdomains and virtual hosts that use one document root. Do not create a second WordPress installation for the mapped site.
Open the hostname over plain HTTP while you configure routing and confirm that it reaches this network rather than a provider landing page, a different application, or a generic “site not found” response. If the server selects the wrong virtual host, changing Site Address (URL) cannot correct it.
4. Install and test HTTPS before changing the WordPress URL
Provision a certificate that covers the mapped hostname. The official guidance is to install SSL for the primary domain and use Server Name Indication (SNI) for additional domains. SNI allows one server and one IP address to present different certificates based on the hostname requested by the browser.
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Visit the exact HTTPS address you will use, such as https://example.com, and verify that the certificate is valid, the request reaches the Multisite installation, and there is no redirect to an unintended hostname. Test an ordinary front-end page and, where possible, a login request before saving the new URL. Administrative cookies must be sent over the secure origin you intend to keep.
5. Enter the mapped address in Network Admin
- Open Network Admin → Sites.
- Locate the subsite and choose Edit.
- On the site settings screen, find Site Address (URL).
- Replace the existing network address with the complete HTTPS URL, for example
https://example.com. Include the scheme and hostname; do not enter onlyexample.com. - Save the changes.
The native workflow applies whether the original subsite was created in a subdomain or subdirectory network. After saving, open a private browser window and test the mapped front end, /wp-admin/, and a logout/login cycle. A private window avoids stale cookies and cached redirects from the previous address.
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Navigate through representative pages, forms, media files, and the login screen. Confirm that internal links use the intended hostname and that HTTPS does not produce mixed-content warnings. If a page still points to the old network URL, identify whether it is a hard-coded link, a cache entry, or a separate service rather than immediately changing more database values.
Subdomain and subdirectory networks: what changes
| Network type | Typical original address | Configuration indicator | Domain-mapping implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subdomain | site.example.net |
SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL is true |
Wildcard or individual subdomain routing is commonly configured at the server. The custom domain still replaces the public site address after DNS, routing, and HTTPS are ready. |
| Subdirectory | example.net/site |
SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL is false |
The original path identifies the subsite internally, but the mapped hostname is entered as a complete URL in the same Site Address field. |
These network modes are not interchangeable after installation without a broader migration. Domain mapping does not require converting a subdirectory network to subdomains or vice versa.
Troubleshooting mapped-domain failures
The domain shows a parking page or another website
Check the DNS answer first, then inspect the server’s virtual-host or addon-domain entry. The hostname must resolve to the network server and share the WordPress document root. If DNS is correct but the response is wrong, the web server is selecting another site. Fix that routing before touching the WordPress setting.
The browser reports a certificate or HTTPS error
Ensure the certificate includes the exact hostname, not merely the primary network domain. Confirm that SNI is enabled for additional domains and that the certificate chain is installed correctly. Do not save an HTTPS Site Address until the same HTTPS URL opens without a certificate warning.
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The site redirects repeatedly or returns to the old URL
Look for competing redirects in the hosting panel, web-server configuration, a reverse proxy, or a caching layer. Compare the requested scheme and host with the value saved in Site Address (URL). Clear application and browser caches only after eliminating a rule that deliberately sends traffic back to the old address.
WordPress says cookies are blocked, or login silently fails
This is a documented Multisite domain-mapping symptom. If the mapped hostname is correct, HTTPS works, and the browser still cannot retain the login cookie, the WordPress guidance documents defining the cookie domain in wp-config.php after the other network-creation code:
define( 'COOKIE_DOMAIN', $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST'] );
Back up wp-config.php before editing it, place the definition exactly once, and test in a private window. Remove conflicting cookie-domain definitions if another configuration already sets one. If a reverse proxy changes the host or scheme, verify that the application receives the intended host before relying on this workaround.
Only some pages work, or assets load from the wrong host
Inspect the failing request’s hostname and scheme. Hard-coded links, cached HTML, media URLs, and scripts may still reference the old network address. Purge caches after the canonical address is settled, then update genuinely hard-coded references. Do not use a blanket search-and-replace on the database without a tested backup; serialized WordPress data can be damaged by unsafe replacements.
The network reports that a site cannot be found
The ms_site_not_found condition occurs when WordPress has identified a network but cannot find a matching site. Confirm that the saved hostname is spelled exactly as requested, that the request reaches the correct document root, and that no unexpected path or port is being supplied. If your installation uses a custom bootstrap process, inspect the sunrise configuration described below.
Native mapping versus a plugin
For a current WordPress installation, native mapping is the simplest baseline. The following distinctions help when evaluating a legacy network or a specialized requirement.
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| Consideration | Native WordPress mapping (4.5+) | Legacy or third-party mapping workflow |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress version | Built into WordPress 4.5 and later. | Historically required before 4.5; a plugin may still be used for a specialized or legacy network. |
| Core setup | Uses Network Admin → Sites → Edit → Site Address (URL). | Usually adds plugin configuration and may require additional bootstrap files. |
| Aliases and redirects | Provides the core site-address change; broader alias behavior may need separate configuration. | Some products advertise custom aliases or redirect controls, but behavior depends on the specific product and version. |
| HTTPS and wildcard domains | Still requires DNS, server routing, certificates, and SNI where additional domains share an address. | Does not remove those infrastructure requirements. |
| Maintenance | Fewer moving parts and follows WordPress core behavior. | Adds plugin compatibility, update, and vendor-support obligations. |
| Sunrise complexity | Not required for ordinary native mapping. | Some Multisite modes require a custom sunrise.php configuration. |
The old WordPress MU Domain Mapping approach is primarily relevant to networks running before WordPress 4.5 or to a workflow that deliberately depends on it. A current third-party product may advertise Multisite support while requiring separate server configuration, plugin installation, and a custom sunrise.php. Evaluate those requirements against the native screen before adding another layer.
Sunrise.php and advanced compatibility work
WordPress can load wp-content/sunrise.php early in the request lifecycle. The ms_site_not_found reference documents this mechanism in the context of site lookup. Sunrise code is an advanced compatibility or customization path, not a prerequisite for ordinary domain mapping.
Use it only when a documented integration requires it or when you understand the code’s host-resolution behavior. Back up the network before changing the file, keep a copy of the previous version, and test both the mapped site and unrelated subsites. A syntax error or incorrect host rule in an early bootstrap file can prevent the entire network from resolving sites.
Changing, removing, or rolling back a mapping
Move a subsite to another custom domain
- Prepare DNS, server routing, and HTTPS for the new hostname.
- Verify the new HTTPS URL reaches the network before changing WordPress.
- In Network Admin → Sites → Edit, replace Site Address (URL) with the new complete HTTPS URL.
- Test front-end pages, login, media, and redirects in a private window.
- Keep the old hostname routed long enough to handle planned redirects or communicate the change, rather than abandoning it while caches still contain old links.
Return to the original network address
Restore the previous Site Address (URL) in the same editor, then confirm that DNS and server rules still route the original hostname. If you changed wp-config.php or sunrise.php during troubleshooting, revert only the tested changes and preserve your backup. Clear stale cookies for both hostnames before testing again.
Operational checklist
- The network can create and open subsites before mapping.
- The subdomain/subdirectory mode is recorded.
- The custom hostname resolves to the network server.
- The web server sends that hostname to the existing WordPress document root.
- An SSL certificate covers the exact hostname, with SNI configured when needed.
- The HTTPS hostname works before the WordPress URL is changed.
- Site Address (URL) contains the complete HTTPS URL.
- Front end, administrator login, cookies, redirects, media, and representative links have been tested.
- A backup exists before any
wp-config.php, database, or sunrise change.
There is no published universal setup-time, adoption-rate, failure-rate, or search-visibility benchmark for Multisite domain mapping in the official guidance. Treat performance, propagation time, and SEO results as environment-specific rather than promising a fixed outcome.
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