---
title: "Create a Website in Cloud Sites"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/cloud-sites/website-management/create-a-website-in-cloud-sites/"
description: "Create websites via the Cloud Sites control panel and begin to develop and manage them."
vertical: "Hosting"
date: "2024-03-04"
last_modified: "2026-07-23"
---

# Create a Website in Cloud Sites

You can now add websites to the Cloud Sites control panel and begin developing and managing them after the control panel has been added to your [Liquid Web account](https://portal.nexcess.com/).

1. Once you’ve registered your domain using the steps in our article [Registering a Domain Name (Main URL)](https://www.liquidweb.com/help-docs/registering-a-domain-name-main-url/), navigate to your [Cloud Sites control panel](https://portal.nexcess.com/).  
    ![cloud sites control panel home](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_zWUeyg.png)| ### **Registering a Domain** |
    |---|
    | The instructions for registering a domain are for newly created websites being put on Cloud Sites control panel. If you have an existing website, please see [Managing Your DNS with Cloud Sites](https://www.liquidweb.com/help-docs/managing-your-dns-with-cloud-sites/) for instructions to change your DNS to be pointed correctly to use Cloud Sites control panel. |
2. Click **Create New Site** button at the top of your website list.  
    ![create new site button highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_uo8EvK.png)
3. Select the **Account** this site will belong to. See our article [Creating Client Accounts in Cloud Sites](https://www.liquidweb.com/help-docs/setting-up-client-accounts-in-cloud-sites/) to add client accounts to your portal.  
    ![account select highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_jeh7Oj.png)
4. Enter the domain name of your site.  
    ![domain entered and section highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_q902Kh.png)
5. The **Application** section is for choosing a CMS to build your site. If you are using a CMS, please see our article [Installing a CMS in Cloud Sites](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/cloud-sites/website-management/installing-a-cms-in-cloud-sites/) to see how to use these applications with Cloud Sites.  
    ![application drop down open and highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_kL9C9d.png)
6. Choose the **Framework** for your site. You can select Linux/Apache/PHP 7.1, Linux/Apache/PHP 7.2, Windows/IIS 8.5/CLR 4(.NET 4.0. 4.5.2 4.7) or Windows IIS 8.5/CLR 2 (.NET 2.0, 3.0, 3.5.1).  
    | ### **Warning:** |
    |---|
    | Once you create a site with either a Linux or Windows Framework, it cannot be changed to a CMS installation. You can only change Frameworks between Linux and Windows. |
    
    ![framework drop down highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_8KjMAD.png)
7. If you would like to enable **Automatic DNS Provisioning** you can do that next. As long as you are [using Liquid Web nameservers](https://docs.nexcess.com/hosting/portal/domains-and-dns/dns-management/changing-your-websites-nameservers/), Cloud Sites can automatically create necessary DNS records. If you choose automatic DNS provisioning, you’ll be able to [manage your DNS](https://www.liquidweb.com/help-docs/managing-your-dns-with-cloud-sites/).  
    ![automatic dns provisioning highlighted](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_S3VMfa.png)
8. Click on the **Create New Website** button in the pop-up.
9. The new site will appear in your **Websites** list once the site is created.  
    ![site highlighted in list](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/help.liquidweb.com_9gDD9q.png)

Before your site is actually live, you will need to change your DNS to point to your Cloud Sites IP address. See our article [Managing Your DNS with Cloud Sites](https://www.liquidweb.com/help-docs/managing-your-dns-with-cloud-sites/) for instructions on how to change your DNS. If you want to upload your content and [test it](https://www.liquidweb.com/help-docs/locating-and-using-your-test-link-in-cloud-sites/) before making the site live, see the instructions in the article [Uploading Files Using FTP in Cloud Sites](https://www.liquidweb.com/help-docs/using-ftp-in-cloud-sites/).