## How to Easily Create a Staging Site for WordPress (Step by Step)
**By Naveed Ahmed**
I’ve been working with WordPress for over 15 years, and one thing I’ve learned is that making changes to your live site directly can be extremely risky. That’s why a staging site is an essential tool for any WordPress user. Think of it as a safe sandbox where you can test updates, experiment with plugins, and refine your website’s design without impacting your live site’s performance.
**What Is a Staging Site?**
A staging site is a perfect replica of your live website, allowing you to test changes in a controlled environment before making them public. This safeguards your live site from potential downtime, broken features, and other complications.
**Why Use a Staging Site?**
* **Test Updates Safely:** Before implementing any new WordPress updates, themes, or plugins, test them on your staging site. This way, you can identify and fix any issues before they affect your live site.
* **Experiment with New Features:** Feel free to play around with new plugins, themes, or website designs without worrying about ruining your live site.
* **Optimize Your Website:** Use a staging site to experiment with SEO techniques, optimize your website’s speed, and analyze your website’s performance before applying those changes to your live site.
* **Collaborate with Developers:** If you have a developer working on your site, a staging site provides a controlled environment for them to work on, making it easier to resolve issues and test new features.
**How to Create a Staging Site for WordPress**
There are several ways to create a staging site for WordPress. Let’s explore the most common and effective methods:
**1. Using Your Hosting Provider’s Built-in Staging Feature**
Many popular WordPress hosting providers offer one-click staging site features. If your website is hosted with one of these companies, creating a staging site is incredibly straightforward.
**a. Creating a Staging Site on Bluehost**
1. Log in to your Bluehost dashboard and go to the ‘My Sites’ section.
2. Switch to the ‘Plugins’ tab and enable the ‘Bluehost Plugin’ option.
3. Access your WordPress site dashboard and navigate to the Bluehost » Staging page.
4. Click the ‘Create Staging Site’ button.
5. Bluehost will prepare the staging environment.
6. Check the ‘Not currently editing’ box in the ‘Staging Site’ section.
7. A prompt will appear, asking you to switch to the staging site. Click ‘Switch’.
8. You’ll see a confirmation message indicating that you are now working on the staging website.
**b. Creating a Staging Site on SiteGround**
1. Log in to your SiteGround dashboard and navigate to the ‘Websites’ tab.
2. Select ‘Site Tools’ below your website.
3. Choose ‘WordPress’ and then select the ‘Staging’ option from the left column.
4. Select your website and provide a name for your staging copy.
5. Click the ‘Create’ button.
6. Click the ‘Go to protected URLs’ button to password-protect your staging website.
7. Enter a username and password to secure your staging site.
8. Click the ‘Protect’ button to save your settings.
9. Return to the ‘WordPress’ » ‘Staging’ page and click the ‘Log in to Admin Panel’ button next to your staging website.
**c. Creating a Staging Site on WP Engine**
1. Log in to your WP Engine dashboard.
2. Go to the ‘Sites’ page and select your website.
3. Click the ‘Add Staging’ link from the left column or select it under your site name at the top.
4. Choose the ‘Copy an existing environment to this site’ option to create a copy of your live site.
5. Select the latest backup you want to copy from and click the ‘Next’ button.
6. Provide a name for your staging site and choose ‘STG’ as your environment type.
7. Click the ‘Create Environment’ button.
8. Click the Padlock button to enable password protection for your staging site.
9. Switch to the ‘Utilities’ tab to copy your staging site username and password.
10. Click the ‘WP Admin’ button to log in to your staging website.
**2. Creating a Staging Site Using a WordPress Plugin**
If your hosting provider doesn’t offer a built-in staging feature, you can use a WordPress plugin like WP Stagecoach.
1. **Install and Activate the Plugin:** Install and activate the WP Stagecoach plugin.
2. **Configure the Plugin:** Enter your WP Stagecoach username and API key. You can find these in your account on the plugin website.
3. **Create Your Staging Site:** Navigate to the WP Stagecoach » WP Stagecoach page and choose a name for your staging site. This name will be used as the subdomain of your WordPress staging website.
4. **Password Protect Your Staging Site:** Check the box next to the ‘Password protect the staging site’ option to keep your staging site private.
5. **Ride the Stagecoach:** Click the ‘Ride the Stagecoach’ button to start creating your staging environment.
6. **Access Your Staging Site:** Once the plugin has finished creating your staging site, you’ll see the link to your staging site and its admin area. Click the link to access your staging site.
**3. Creating a Staging Site Manually**
This method is more advanced and requires more technical knowledge. It’s recommended for users with experience in managing WordPress databases and files.
1. **Create a Subdomain:** Create a subdomain for your staging website. For example, you could use ‘staging.yourdomain.com’.
2. **Install Duplicator:** Install and activate the Duplicator plugin on your live site. Duplicator is a popular and reliable plugin for creating backups and migrating WordPress sites.
3. **Create a Backup:** Use Duplicator to create a backup of your WordPress site. The plugin will create an Installer file and an Archive package.
4. **Upload the Backup:** Upload the Installer file and the Archive package to the file directory of your newly created subdomain.
5. **Create a Database:** Create a new database in your hosting control panel for your staging site.
6. **Create a MySQL User:** Create a new MySQL user and assign privileges to access and modify the database you just created.
7. **Install WordPress:** Access the subdomain URL in your browser, like ‘staging.yourdomain.com/installer.php’.
8. **Connect to the Database:** Enter your WordPress database information and click the ‘Validate’ button.
9. **Install the Staging Site:** Duplicator will unpack your WordPress database and files, importing them to your staging site.
10. **Password Protect the Staging Site:** You can password protect the staging site’s directory in your hosting control panel to keep it secure.
**Deploying Changes from Staging to Live**
Once you’re satisfied with the changes on your staging site, it’s time to deploy them to your live site. The deployment process will vary depending on the method you used to create the staging site.
* **Bluehost:** Use the Bluehost » Staging page to deploy changes. You can choose to deploy only files, only the database, or all changes.
* **SiteGround:** Navigate to the ‘WordPress’ » ‘Staging’ page and use the three-dot menu next to your staging site to choose ‘Full Deploy’ or ‘Custom Deploy’.
* **WP Engine:** Click the ‘Copy Environment’ button and select your staging site as the source and your live site as the destination. Choose what you want to copy (files, database, or both).
* **WP Stagecoach:** Go to the WP Stagecoach » Import Changes page and click the ‘Check for Changes’ button. Choose from all changes, file changes, or database changes.
* **Manually:** Create a new Duplicator package on your staging site, download the Installer and Archive files, and upload them to your live site’s directory. Delete the live site’s files, run the Duplicator installer, and then import the staging site to your live server.
**Conclusion**
Creating a staging environment for your WordPress site is an essential practice for preventing downtime, ensuring website stability, and enabling you to test new features and updates. By following these steps, you can easily create a staging site and deploy changes to your live site with confidence.
**FAQs**
**h2**
**Frequently Asked Questions**
**h2**
**h3**
**How often should I update my staging site?**
**p**
It’s recommended to update your staging site whenever you make changes to your live site, especially before any significant updates or modifications. This helps to ensure that your staging site is always a true reflection of your live site.
**p**
**h3**
**What if I’m using a caching plugin?**
**p**
You’ll need to clear the cache on your staging site after making changes and before deploying them to your live site. This ensures that the changes are reflected properly.
**p**
**h3**
**Can I use a staging site for testing different themes?**
**p**
Yes, you can easily test different themes on your staging site without affecting your live site. Just install the new theme on the staging site and preview it before making it live.
**p**
**h3**
**What are the best WordPress hosting providers for staging environments?**
**p**
Bluehost, SiteGround, and WP Engine are among the best WordPress hosting providers that offer built-in staging features.
**p**
**h3**
**Should I use a plugin or manual methods for creating a staging site?**
**p**
If your hosting provider offers a built-in staging feature, use that. Otherwise, a plugin like WP Stagecoach can be a good option. Manual methods are best left to experienced users.
**p**
**h3**
**How long does it take to create a staging site?**
**p**
The time it takes to create a staging site depends on the method you choose and the size of your website. Using your hosting provider’s built-in feature is usually the fastest.
**p**
**h3**
**Can I use a staging site to test different plugins?**
**p**
Absolutely! You can safely test new plugins on your staging site to avoid breaking your live site.
**p**
**h3**
**What happens to my live site when I deploy changes from staging?**
**p**
The changes you made on your staging site will replace the corresponding files and database entries on your live site. Make sure you’re happy with the changes before deploying them.
**p**
**h3**
**Can I use a staging site for SEO testing?**
**p**
Yes, you can test different SEO strategies and techniques on your staging site before implementing them on your live site.
**p**
**h3**
**Is a staging site necessary for every website?**
**p**
While a staging site is highly recommended for most websites, it’s especially important for websites with significant traffic, e-commerce sites, and websites with complex functionality.
**p**
If you’re interested in learning more about tech news, feel free to visit my website: www.naveedahmed.me.