How to create a WordPress staging site or clone?

 

A staging site or clone allows you to test website settings, plugins, and themes before deploying them to the live website. You will need a subdomain to create a staging site/clone.

 

Create a Subdomain


  • Go to cPanel > Domains > Create a New Domain.

    Create a subdomain (e.g., clone.yourdomain.com or stage.yourdomain.com) to install the staging/clone site.

  • If your DNS is not managed by us (e.g., if you are using a third-party DNS host), you will need to create two DNS records for each subdomain you create:

    A Record:
    Name: clone.yourdomain.com
    Value: <your IP>

    A Record:
    Name: www.clone.yourdomain.com
    Value: <your IP>

    *You can find the server shared IP on the right sidebar of your cPanel home.
    *Replace clone.yourdomain.com with your actual subdomain.

  • Install an SSL Certificate on the subdomain (e.g., clone.yourdomain.com and www.clone.yourdomain.com)

 

Clone


Staging sites slow down your primary website. A clone does not and is faster, but you cannot 'push to live' a clone:

  • Go to cPanel > WordPress Manager by Softaculous.

    Expand the website you want to clone.

  • Click "Clone".

  • Enter the following details:

    Choose Installation URL: https://clone.yourdomain.com

    Check mark [*] "Disable Search Engine Visibility".

    Site Name: <enter a name for the clone site title>

    The "Info" section displays the source installation details.

  • Click "Clone Installation".

    Wait for the process to finish. Do not leave this page until the progress bar reaches 100%.

  • Done! Go to WordPress Manager and click Login to log in to the WordPress dashboard.

 

Stage


You can 'push to live' a staging site, but it slows down your primary website:

  • Go to cPanel > WordPress Manager by Softaculous.

    Expand the website you want to stage.

  • Click "Staging".

  • Enter the following details:

    Live Installation URL: <URL of source website>

    Choose Installation URL: https://stage.yourdomain.com

    Check mark [*] "Disable Search Engine Visibility".

    Site Name: <enter a name for the staging site title>

  • Click "Create Staging".

    Wait for the process to finish. Do not leave this page until the progress bar reaches 100%.

  • Done!

 

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