Unable to activate a domain: "Turn on domain failed: Unable to change Mail List service status: There is a subdomain with name lists.example.com."

Symptoms

• Unable to activate the domain example.com. The following error appears:

  PLESK_ERROR: Turn on domain failed: Unable to change Mail List service status: There is a subdomain with name lists.example.com.

• MailMan mailing list is/was activated on some domain inside a subscription where example.com is located.

• There is a domain in Plesk with the name lists.example.com.

Cause

When activating the domain example.com, Plesk tries to create the DNS CNAME record lists.example.com, but fails, because this record is already in use by another domain lists.example.com.

The DNS record lists.<domain_name> should be reserved for MailMan mailing lists.

Resolution

1. Temporary rename the domain lists.example.com (for example, to list.example.com) at Plesk > Domains > lists.example.com > Hosting Settings.

2. Activate the domain example.com.

3. Rename the domain list.example.com back to lists.example.com.