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How to create WordPress staging and cloned copies.

Softaculous can create a separate copy of your WordPress website so you can test updates, plugins, themes or design changes away from the live site. Use Staging when you may want to push the tested changes back to live, or Clone when you want a separate duplicate of the site.

cPanel Softaculous Staging Cloning Push to Live
1

Step 1

Open your WordPress installation in Softaculous.

Log in to cPanel and open Softaculous Apps Installer. Open the list of installations or WordPress Manager and find the live WordPress website you want to copy.

Screenshot placeholder Softaculous WordPress Manager showing the installed website
Select the existing WordPress installation you want to use as the source.
2

Choose the Copy Type

Choose Staging or Clone.

Staging Creates a test copy linked to the live installation. Use it when you want to test changes and then use Softaculous Push to Live.
Clone Creates a separate duplicate of the installation. Use it when you want another copy without the staging-to-live workflow.
Keep the copy away from the live location

Use a different domain, subdomain or directory for the staging or cloned site. Do not select the same installation path as the live website.

3

Create Staging

Create a staging copy.

Click the Stage option for the WordPress installation. Softaculous will open the staging form.

  • Choose Domain — select the domain or subdomain where the staging site should live.
  • In Directory — enter a directory if you want the staging copy in a subdirectory, such as staging.
  • Database — Softaculous creates a separate database for the staging installation.

Check the destination carefully, then click Stage Installation. The time required depends on the size of the WordPress site.

The WordPress administrator login details on the staging copy are the same as the source installation when the copy is first created.

Screenshot placeholder Softaculous Create Staging screen with domain, directory and database options
Create the staging installation in a location separate from the live site.
4

Test Safely

Make and test your changes on staging.

Open the staging website and make the changes you want to test. This is a good place to try WordPress updates, plugin changes, theme changes, PHP compatibility checks or design work before changing the live site.

  • Check the front-end pages and navigation.
  • Test forms, logins and any important site functions.
  • Check the WordPress dashboard for errors.
  • Test important plugins after updates.
Staging is still a real website copy

Do not treat a staging site as a backup. Hostmate's JetBackup and Acronis backup systems are separate from Softaculous staging and cloning.

5

Push to Live

Push tested staging changes back to the live site.

When you are satisfied with the staging copy, open the staging installation in Softaculous and select Push to Live.

Softaculous provides Default and Customize push options. The customized workflow can overwrite live files, replace the full live database with the staging database, or push selected database changes.

Be careful with live database data

If the live site has received new orders, form submissions, comments, member changes or other database activity since the staging copy was created, replacing the full live database can remove those newer changes. Take a current backup and contact Hostmate support if you are unsure which push option to use.

Screenshot placeholder Softaculous Push to Live screen showing Default and Customize options
Review the push options carefully before changing the live site.
6

Create a Clone

Create an independent cloned copy instead.

If you do not need the staging-to-live workflow, return to the source WordPress installation and select Clone.

Choose the destination domain, directory and database, then click Clone Installation. Softaculous will duplicate the WordPress installation into the new location.

The WordPress administrator login details on the clone are initially the same as the source installation.

Screenshot placeholder Softaculous Clone Installation screen
A clone is a separate duplicate rather than a staging copy intended for Push to Live.
7

When Finished

Remove copies you no longer need.

Staging and cloned installations use hosting storage and databases just like other WordPress installations. Once you have finished testing and no longer need the copy, remove it through Softaculous after checking that you are deleting the correct installation.

Before pushing to live Make sure you have a current backup and understand whether files, the database or both will be changed.
Before deleting a copy Check the URL and installation path carefully so you do not remove the live WordPress website.

Need Help?

Not sure what should be pushed to live?

If you are a Hostmate customer and you are unsure about the staging destination or Push to Live options, contact Hostmate support before changing the live installation.

Open a Support Ticket

This guide follows the current Softaculous staging, cloning and Push to Live workflow. Create Staging, Clone and Push to Live are documented by Softaculous.