How to Add a Website in IIS (IIS 7 and Later)
Follow these steps to create a new website in Internet Information Services (IIS) on any version from IIS 7 through IIS 10+.
1. Open IIS Manager
- Log in to your server.
- Open IIS Manager:
- Press
Windows + R, type inetmgr, then press Enter.
- Or search for "IIS Manager" in the Start menu.
2. Add a New Website
- In the Connections pane (left panel), expand the server node.
- Right-click on the Sites node and select Add Website…
3. Configure Site Details
✔ Web Site Name
Enter a friendly name for your site (e.g., MySiteName). This is only for display in IIS.
✔ Application Pool
Click Select… to choose an existing Application Pool or keep the default.
- Ensure the pool matches your app's framework (e.g., .NET, PHP, Node.js).
✔ Physical Path
Set the path to your site’s files, or click [...] to browse your file system.
4. Bindings (Protocol, IP, Port, Host Name)
✔ Type
Select your protocol:
- http – for non-secure sites
- https – for SSL-secured sites (certificate required)
✔ IP Address
Choose one of the following:
- All Unassigned – recommended for most setups
- A specific static IP, if required
✔ Port
Use default ports:
- 80 for HTTP
- 443 for HTTPS
✔ Host Name (Optional)
Specify a domain (e.g., example.com) if you're using name-based hosting or multiple sites on the same IP.
5. Start the Website
Check Start Website Immediately if you want the site to go live right away.
6. Click OK to Finish
This will create and start your new website in IIS.
📝 Additional Notes
- To use HTTPS, set up an SSL certificate under Edit Bindings….
- Ensure ports 80 and 443 are open in your firewall.
- Manage site settings from the Features View in IIS (e.g., authentication, default documents).
