WordPress multisite is an advanced feature of WordPress that allows you to run multiple sites from the same WordPress installation. Setting up and managing a WordPress multisite usually requires more attention than a standard single site install and can become complicated. If you’re not familiar with multisite, we recommend working with a qualified WordPress developer.

Install WordPress Multisite

To install a WordPress multisite, check the Install WordPress multisite option when adding your new site in MyKinsta.

Then, select either the Subdirectory or Subdomain option, depending on which type of multisite network you want to install.

  • A subdirectory multisite is one that’s loaded from a subdirectory of a root domain (e.g. domain.com/multisite/).
  • A subdomain multisite is one that’s loaded from a unique subdomain (e.g. multisite.domain.com).

    Select multisite when adding a new site in MyKinsta.
    Select multisite when adding a new site in MyKinsta.

If you want to switch an established single site to a WordPress multisite network, we recommend working with a WordPress developer who is familiar with that process.

Add and Point Your Primary Domain

The next step is to add your site’s custom domain to MyKinsta and point it to Kinsta to make your multisite live. It’s usually recommended that you use the non-www version of the domain for multisite. We’ll make sure the www-version of the domain is redirected in the next step.

Go to your site’s Domains page, click Add Domain, and add your custom domain. Check the box to Add domain(s) with and without www, and click the Add domains button. Checking that box will take care of redirecting the www-version to the non-www version of the domain.

After adding the domain, verify and point the domain to Kinsta. For more details, see our detailed guide for How to Add a Domain to a Site on Kinsta.

Once your domain has been verified and pointed to Kinsta, you can make it the primary domain by opening the kebab (three-dot) menu beside your domain in the Domains list and selecting Make primary domain.

Make a domain the primary domain in MyKinsta.
Make a domain the primary domain in MyKinsta.

You can opt to run a search and replace to update your site’s database with your new primary domain. Note this will not affect email addresses. If those need to be updated, you can use the Search and replace tool in MyKinsta.

Update wp-config.php File

Next, you’ll need to update your site’s wp-config.php file to work correctly with your new primary domain. Your wp-config.php file can be found in your site’s root directory (aka document root). To access and edit this, you can use SFTP (download, edit, upload the updated file) or SSH (can edit the file directly on the server).

First, on the line that begins with define( 'DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE' — change the domain from the kinsta.cloud domain to your new primary domain.

Change DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE in wp-config.php to your primary domain.
Change DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE in wp-config.php to your primary domain.

Next, to make sure you can log into your multisite network, including your subsites, add this line just below the define( 'BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE' line:

define('COOKIE_DOMAIN', $_SERVER['HTTP_HOST'] );

Save your changes, and if you’re using SFTP, upload the file to the server, overwriting the old version of the file.

Add Subsites

Now you’re ready to create subsites in your multisite network! Log in as the Super Admin (the user you added when you created the site in MyKinsta above).

In the My Sites menu near the top left corner, go to Network Admin > Sites and click the Add New button.

Add a new subsite in a multisite network.
Add a new subsite in a multisite network.

Enter your new subsite’s details in the fields provided and click the Add Site button. The Site Address will either be a subdomain or subdirectory of the main site’s domain.

Enter your subsite details and add your subsite.
Enter your subsite details and add your subsite.

Repeat these steps as needed to add any additional subsites.