Table of contents
What does it mean to mask a subdomain?Configure DNS for subdomain maskingUse .htaccess to redirect subdomain trafficAlternative masking for NGINX serversUse an iframe to mask the subdomain (not ideal)WordPress plugin options for masking or redirectingThings to consider before maskingCommon mistakes to avoidAlternative method: manual FAQ schema with custom JSON-LD (advanced)Common issues and how to fix themExamples of effective half-size cardsFinal tips for great-looking half-size cardsNext stepsAdditional resources
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WordPress Guide → Build → Mask URL For a Subdomain

How to mask the URL for a subdomain in WordPress

Your guide to bare metal management best practices.

URL masking can help you keep a clean, on-brand web address even when the actual content is served from a different source. 

For WordPress users, masking a subdomain URL involves a mix of DNS setup, server-side rules, and sometimes plugins. Each step needs to be done correctly to make sure your visitors have a seamless experience and search engines don’t get confused.

Let’s walk through everything you need to know to mask a subdomain URL and make your WordPress site look and function the way you want.

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What does it mean to mask a subdomain?

Masking means keeping the subdomain visible in the browser’s address bar while serving content from a different location, usually the main domain. For example, if someone visits dashboard.example.com, they still see that in the address bar, even though the content might be coming from example.com.

Masking vs redirecting: what’s the difference?

Redirecting, on the other hand, sends users from one URL to another, and the address bar updates to show the new URL. This is good for SEO in some cases but not ideal if you want to maintain a branded subdomain.

Why you might want to mask a subdomain

  • You’re running a white-label client portal.
  • You want a microsite to appear under a specific brand but use the same WordPress install.
  • You’re using affiliate links or landing pages and want a cleaner look.
  • You want users to stay on a subdomain for navigation or UX reasons.

Configure DNS for subdomain masking

DNS setup is the first step. You need to make sure your subdomain points to the correct server or domain.

Create a CNAME record

  1. Log in to your DNS provider or domain registrar.
  2. Find the DNS or Zone Editor section.
  3. Create a new CNAME record:
    • Name: sub (or whatever your subdomain is)
    • Type: CNAME
    • Value: example.com (your main domain)
  4. Save the record.

This tells browsers that sub.example.com should resolve the same as example.com.

Optional: Add an A record

Some hosting providers may require you to point the subdomain directly to an IP address.

  1. Create an A record:
    • Name: sub
    • Type: A
    • Value: Your server’s IP address (same as example.com)
  2. Save the record.

Not all setups need this, but it’s useful for more direct control.

Use .htaccess to redirect subdomain traffic

If you’re on an Apache server, WordPress lets you control redirection through the .htaccess file. This lets you serve main site content under the subdomain URL.

Access and edit your .htaccess file

  • Connect to your server using an FTP client or use the File Manager in your hosting control panel.
  • Navigate to the root of your WordPress site (often public_html).
  • Find .htaccess. If it doesn’t exist, create a new text file and name it .htaccess.
  • Always make a backup before editing.

Add rewrite rules for masking

Paste the following into your .htaccess file:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^sub\.example\.com$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://example.com/$1 [L,P]

Here’s what each line does:

  • RewriteEngine On: Turns on mod_rewrite.
  • RewriteCond: Checks if the user is visiting the subdomain.
  • RewriteRule: Loads the content from the main domain but keeps the subdomain in the browser.
  • [L,P]: The P flag tells Apache to proxy the request instead of redirecting.

Test the result

Visit sub.example.com. You should see the same content as example.com, but the URL should remain sub.example.com.

Check your site on different browsers and devices to confirm it behaves consistently.

Alternative masking for NGINX servers

Apache uses .htaccess, but if you’re using NGINX, you’ll need to update your server configuration directly.

Use a reverse proxy block

In your NGINX config file, add:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name sub.example.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass https://example.com;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    }
}

Then restart NGINX to apply changes.

This proxies content from the main domain while keeping the subdomain URL intact.

Use an iframe to mask the subdomain (not ideal)

This method is outdated but simple. It involves using an HTML file with an iframe that loads your main domain.

Example iframe masking file

Create a basic index.html file under the subdomain directory:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Subdomain</title>
</head>
<body style="margin:0;padding:0;">
  <iframe src="https://example.com" style="width:100%; height:100vh; border:none;"></iframe>
</body>
</html>

Why it’s not recommended

  1. Search engines may not index the content.
  2. Users can’t bookmark internal pages.
  3. Bad for accessibility and performance.

WordPress plugin options for masking or redirecting

If you don’t want to edit server files directly, some plugins can help manage masking or redirection inside WordPress.

WP Hide & Security Enhancer

WP Hide & Security Enhancer is a powerful plugin that lets you hide or change core WordPress paths like wp-admin, wp-login, and even plugin directories. While it’s primarily a security plugin, it also helps rewrite how URLs appear on your site.

Strengths:

  • Comprehensive interface for hiding WordPress core URLs
  • Does not affect SEO negatively when used correctly
  • No server-side changes required

Best for: Site owners who want to cloak and customize many aspects of WordPress URLs for branding or security purposes.

Pretty Links

The Pretty Links plugin was built for affiliate marketers but is useful for anyone wanting to cloak URLs or create custom shortlinks. It doesn’t technically proxy content but can be used to redirect or mask sub-paths.

Strengths:

  • Great for managing large numbers of custom URLs
  • Detailed click tracking and reports
  • Friendly user interface

Best for: Affiliate marketers and content creators who want to cloak or shorten links using their domain or subdomain.

Redirection

Redirection is a long-standing and trusted plugin for managing 301 redirects, conditional redirects, and logging 404 errors. It won’t keep the subdomain in the address bar like a proxy, but it’s ideal for clean, consistent redirection behavior inside WordPress.

Strengths:

  • Easy redirect setup through WordPress admin
  • Full redirect and 404 logs
  • Supports regex and query parameter matching

Best for: Users who want to manage complex redirection logic in WordPress without needing FTP or server access.

Things to consider before masking

SEO implications:

  • Masking can confuse Google if not done right.
  • Use canonical tags to point to original content.

Hosting limitations:

  • Shared hosting might block proxy rules or iframe embedding.
  • Check with your host before setting up reverse proxies.

WordPress settings:

  • Some themes and plugins may not load correctly if assets aren’t accessible via the subdomain.
  • Test carefully after setting up masking.

Additional resources

How to build a WordPress site →

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How to use WordPress Gutenberg blocks →

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