WHM Tweak Settings: A Complete Guide to the ‘Share Document Root by Default’ Feature

When managing hosting environments through WHM (WebHost Manager), proper configuration is essential for security, performance, and ease of management. One such option under WHM Tweak Settings is “Share the Document Root by Default when Creating a Domain”.

In this article, we’ll explain what this feature does, why it matters, and how you can disable it for better security and organization.

🔎 What Does “Share Document Root by Default” Mean?

By default, when you create a new Addon Domain or Subdomain, WHM/cPanel assigns a separate Document Root for each domain.

• Example:
  • example.com → /public_html/
  • addon.com → /public_html/addon.com/
  • sub.example.com → /public_html/sub/

However, if the “Share Document Root by Default” feature is enabled, all newly created domains and subdomains will point to the same Document Root (usually /public_html/).

This means multiple domains will serve the same content, which may cause content duplication, management issues, and security risks.

✅ Why Should You Disable This Option?

While there may be rare use-cases for enabling it (e.g., intentionally sharing the same content across domains), in most scenarios, it is recommended to keep it disabled:

• Security → If one site is compromised, others remain unaffected.
• Better Management → Each domain/subdomain has its own directory.
• SEO Advantages → Avoids duplicate content issues across multiple domains.
• Scalability → Easier to maintain separate websites.

🛠 How to Disable “Share Document Root by Default” in WHM

Follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to WHM using your root credentials.
2. From the sidebar, go to Tweak Settings.
3. Navigate to the Domains tab.

4. Scroll down until you find:
“Share the document root by default when creating a domain”

5. Set this option to Off (Disabled).

6. Click Save at the bottom of the page.

That’s it — from now on, every new domain or subdomain will have its own dedicated Document Root.

📌 Best Practice Recommendation

For most hosting providers and server administrators, the best practice is to keep this setting Disabled. This ensures:

• Organized directory structure
• Increased security isolation
• Better client experience

🏁 Conclusion

The “Share Document Root by Default” feature in WHM can be misleading if you don’t fully understand its impact. While it may seem convenient, enabling it can cause long-term management and security challenges.

👉 For a safer and more professional hosting environment, always disable this option under WHM → Tweak Settings → Domains Tab