What Is WordPress Multisite?

WordPress Multisite is a built-in feature that lets you manage multiple websites from one WordPress installation. Instead of setting up separate WordPress installs for each site, you can create a network of sites that share the same core files, plugins, and themes.

This is perfect for:

• Universities or schools with multiple departments
• Businesses running sub-brands under one parent domain
• Agencies managing client sites in one place
• Bloggers running different niche sites

Subdomains vs. Subdirectories

When enabling Multisite, you’ll be asked to choose between:

• Subdomains: site1.example.com, site2.example.com
• Subdirectories: example.com/site1, example.com/site2

👉 If your site is brand new, you can choose either.
👉 If your site is already established, subdomains may be easier.

Step 1: Enable Multisite

Edit your wp-config.php file and add this line above “That’s all, stop editing!”:

define('WP_ALLOW_MULTISITE', true);

Now, go to Tools > Network Setup in your WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: Configure the Network

Here, WordPress will ask if you want subdomains or subdirectories. Make your choice, then click install.

WordPress will give you two sets of code to paste:

• One into wp-config.php
• One into .htaccess (Apache) or nginx.conf (Nginx)

Example wp-config.php snippet:

define('MULTISITE', true);
define('SUBDOMAIN_INSTALL', false); // true for subdomains
define('DOMAIN_CURRENT_SITE', 'example.com');
define('PATH_CURRENT_SITE', '/');
define('SITE_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1);
define('BLOG_ID_CURRENT_SITE', 1);

Step 3: Adjust Server Rules

For Apache, update .htaccess with WordPress Multisite rules.
For Nginx, add try_files rules and (if subdomains) configure a wildcard DNS entry (*.example.com).

Without these, your subsites may not load properly.

Step 4: Add Sites and Users

Once Multisite is enabled:

• Go to My Sites > Network Admin > Sites > Add New
• Fill in the site title and URL
• Assign an admin user

Each subsite can have its own dashboard, users, and content—but all share the same plugins and themes.

Step 5: Domain Mapping (Optional)

If you want subsites to use custom domains (e.g., store.com instead of example.com/store):

• Add the domain under Site Address (URL) when editing the site in Network Admin.
• Point the domain DNS to your server.
• Install an SSL certificate for each domain.

Best Practices for Multisite Management

• Keep plugins lightweight since they’re shared across all sites.
• Use staging environments for major updates.
• Set up automated backups (both files + database).
• Use role-based permissions carefully to prevent accidental changes.

Final Thoughts

WordPress Multisite is a powerful feature that can save time and centralize management if you run multiple websites. While setup requires a few technical steps, the long-term benefits—centralized updates, plugin sharing, and easier scaling—make it worth the effort.

💡 Pro Tip: Multisite is great for networks with related sites. If each site has very different needs, consider separate installations for better isolation.