{"id":18086,"date":"2019-05-24T12:52:08","date_gmt":"2019-05-24T12:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/?p=18086"},"modified":"2026-03-10T09:37:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T09:37:02","slug":"wordpress-staging-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/ph\/tutorials\/wordpress-staging-environment","title":{"rendered":"How to create a WordPress staging site using hPanel, A plugin, and a subdomain"},"content":{"rendered":"

WordPress websites have a significant advantage – the possibility of creating a staging site for testing changes and updates before going live. As a duplicate of your live site, a staging environment lets you experiment with different designs, plugins, and content without affecting the user experience.<\/p>

In this WordPress guide, we’ll cover three methods to create a staging site ‒ using Hostinger’s built-in staging tool, a staging plugin, and a subdomain website clone. We’ll also share tips for using and removing the staging site after updating your live WordPress site.<\/p>

For those new to testing environments, we’ll go over their benefits and how they help enhance your website’s performance and user experience at the end of the article.<\/p>

\n\n\n

\n

What Is a WordPress Staging Environment?<\/h2>\n

A WordPress staging environment is a private, test version of your entire site. With a staging website, you can safely test changes privately before implementing them on the live website.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>

How to Set up a WordPress Staging Environment<\/h2>

Regardless of your preferred method, keep in mind that publishing the staging content replaces files and databases on your original site. Back up your entire WordPress website<\/a> before deploying staging changes to avoid any potential data loss.<\/p>

Hostinger users can create and manage website backups in hPanel via Files <\/strong>→ Backups<\/strong>. If your web host doesn’t have a backup feature, various backup plugins are available to secure your data.<\/p>

How to Create a WordPress Staging Environment Using Hostinger’s Staging Tool<\/h3>

Hostinger’s WordPress Business and cloud hosting<\/a> users can create staging sites from hPanel, their hosting account’s dashboard. This method is beginner-friendly, as you don’t need to install additional tools.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>

1. Setting up the Staging Site<\/strong><\/p>

Let’s start by creating a staging site on Hostinger’s hPanel<\/a>:<\/p>

    \n
  1. Navigate to WordPress <\/strong>→ Staging <\/strong>from your hosting control panel.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
    \"hPanel<\/a><\/figure>
      \n
    1. In the Staging <\/strong>tab, select the Create staging<\/strong> button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
      \"WordPress<\/a><\/figure>
        \n
      1. Enter the subdomain name for the staging site and click Create<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
        \"A<\/a><\/figure>
          \n
        1. The duplication process can take up to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the production website. Hit the Close <\/strong>button to dismiss the confirmation message.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. Once done, scroll down to the staging site list and click Manage staging<\/strong> next to the newly created environment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
          \"WordPress<\/a><\/figure>
            \n
          1. In the staging dashboard, select Staging Admin Panel<\/strong> to access the WordPress admin area and start making changes.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
            \"WordPress<\/a><\/figure>

            2. Deploying the Changes to the Production Site<\/strong><\/p>

            After making all the necessary changes, follow these steps to deploy them to the live website:<\/p>

              \n
            1. On the staging site list, click the three dots icon next to the recently modified staging site and hit Publish<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
              \"WordPress<\/a><\/figure>
                \n
              1. Read the disclaimer and hit Publish <\/strong>to confirm. The process may take around 15 minutes to complete.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                \"A<\/a><\/figure>
                  \n
                1. Our WordPress staging tool automatically backs up your entire WordPress website. Click the three dots icon and hit Revert <\/strong>to roll back to the pre-staging version if needed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>

                  \n

                  Did You Know?<\/h4>\n

                  Our WordPress web hosting plans<\/a> feature an IP manager, WP-CLI and SSH access, and automatic backups, offering enhanced data safety and complete control over your test environment.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>

                  How to Create a WordPress Staging Environment Using the WP Staging Plugin<\/h3>

                  If your hosting provider doesn’t have a staging feature, you can create a WordPress staging website using a plugin. Luckily, many staging plugins are available to ease your work as a site owner.<\/p>

                  In the following section, we’ll use the free version of WP Staging<\/a>, one of the most popular WordPress plugins<\/a> for streamlining staging and backups. However, pushing changes to the live site is a Pro feature. To get it, purchase WP Staging’s premium plan starting at $8.08\/month<\/strong>.<\/p>

                  After installing and activating the WordPress plugin<\/a>, follow these steps to create a staging site:<\/p>

                    \n
                  1. Navigate to the WP Staging<\/strong> tab from the WordPress dashboard and click the Create Staging Site<\/strong> button.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                    \"WP<\/a><\/figure>
                      \n
                    1. Enter the site name to create a custom staging site URL. In this example, the staging site URL will be https:\/\/domain.tld\/staging<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                      \"WP<\/a><\/figure>
                        \n
                      1. The WordPress staging plugin automatically clones your live site’s data into the staging environment. Expand the Database Tables<\/strong> and Files <\/strong>sections to select items for duplication, streamlining the staging process. Otherwise, go with the default settings.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                        \"Choosing<\/a><\/figure>
                          \n
                        1. Select Start Cloning<\/strong> and wait for a few minutes for the process to complete.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        2. If the cloning process is successful, you’ll receive a confirmation message with the staging site URL. Click Close <\/strong>to dismiss it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                          \"A<\/a><\/figure>
                            \n
                          1. Return to WP Staging<\/strong> → Staging Sites <\/strong>and select Actions <\/strong>→ Open <\/strong>to access the newly created staging site with your admin credentials.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                            \"WP<\/a><\/figure>

                            How to Create a WordPress Staging Environment Manually Using a Subdomain<\/h3>

                            The manual method demands more technical expertise and time than using a staging tool. However, it provides full control over staging, enabling testing of custom codes or complex site setups within a tailored environment that mirrors the live site.<\/p>

                            This guide will cover how to create a WordPress staging site manually using Hostinger’s File Manager.<\/p>

                            1. Creating the Subdomain<\/strong><\/p>

                            Setting up a WordPress staging site in a subdomain<\/a> ensures safer changes as it’s separate from the production website. Here’s how to do it:<\/p>

                              \n
                            1. Go to Domains <\/strong>→ Subdomains <\/strong>from the hPanel dashboard.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                              \"Subdomains<\/a><\/figure>
                                \n
                              1. Enter the subdomain name. This step creates a new folder in the public_html<\/strong> directory. Alternatively, check the Custom folder for subdomain<\/strong> option to create a new subdomain folder with a custom name. Click Create<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                \"Hostinger's<\/a><\/figure>
                                  \n
                                1. The new subdomain will appear in the List of Current Subdomains<\/strong> section.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                  \"List<\/a><\/figure>

                                  2. Copying the Website Files<\/strong><\/p>

                                  The next step is to populate the new subdomain with your WordPress site’s files. You can copy the live site files using your hosting provider’s file manager or an FTP client like FileZilla<\/a>.<\/p>

                                  Follow these steps to duplicate the live site files using Hostinger’s File Manager:<\/p>

                                    \n
                                  1. Head to Files <\/strong>→ File Manager<\/strong> from hPanel, and choose Access files of [your live site]<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                    \"Hostinger's<\/a><\/figure>
                                      \n
                                    1. Double-click public_html<\/strong>, <\/strong>the root directory, to access it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    2. Copy all folders and files to the subdomain folder. The simplest method is to press Ctrl + A<\/strong> in Windows or Command + A <\/strong>in Mac, deselect the subdomain folder, and click the Copy file <\/strong>icon on the top toolbar.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                      \"The<\/a><\/figure>

                                      3. Cloning the Database<\/strong><\/p>

                                      After duplicating your WordPress files, do the same to the existing database.<\/p>

                                      Here’s how to clone your WordPress database<\/a> using phpMyAdmin<\/strong>, a popular administration tool for MySQL databases:<\/p>

                                        \n
                                      1. Navigate to WordPress <\/strong>→ Overview <\/strong>from hPanel. Open the Dashboard<\/strong> tab and check which database your main website is using.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                        \"WordPress<\/a><\/figure>
                                          \n
                                        1. Head to Databases <\/strong>→ Management<\/strong> from hPanel <\/strong>and create a new database for the staging site. If the process is successful, the new database will appear in the List of Current MySQL Databases And Users<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                          \"The<\/a><\/figure>
                                            \n
                                          1. Access Databases <\/strong>→ phpMyAdmin <\/strong>and click Enter phpMyAdmin<\/strong> next to your live site’s database.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                            \"List<\/a><\/figure>
                                              \n
                                            1. Once hPanel redirects you to phpMyAdmin, open the Export <\/strong>tab and hit Go<\/strong>. Using default settings lets you download the database in SQL <\/strong>format to your computer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                              \"phpMyAdmin<\/a><\/figure>
                                                \n
                                              1. Return to the phpMyAdmin <\/strong>section in hPanel. This time, select Enter phpMyAdmin<\/strong> next to your staging database.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                              2. Inside phpMyAdmin, open the Import <\/strong>tab and select the downloaded SQL file. Keep the default settings and hit Go<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                \"phpMyAdmin<\/a><\/figure>
                                                  \n
                                                1. If the import process is successful, a confirmation message will appear along with the database tables on the sidebar.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                  \"A<\/a><\/figure>

                                                  4. Configuring the Subdomain’s wp-config.php File<\/strong><\/p>

                                                  Now that you have a separate database for testing, connect it to your new staging site in the subdomain. You can do so by modifying the wp-config.php<\/a> file, a core element of your WordPress installation that stores database information.<\/p>

                                                  Follow these steps to establish a new database connection in the wp-config.php<\/strong> file:<\/p>

                                                    \n
                                                  1. On File Manager, open public_html<\/strong> → staging <\/strong>→ wp-config.php<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                    \"Hostinger<\/a><\/figure>
                                                      \n
                                                    1. Scroll down until you find a line of code that says Database settings – You can get this info from your web host<\/strong>. Add the following code above it:<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                      define('WP_HOME','http:\/\/staging.domain.tld');\ndefine('WP_SITEURL','http:\/\/staging.domain.tld');<\/pre>
                                                      Remember to change the staging.domain.tld<\/strong> placeholder to your staging subdomain.<\/p>
                                                      \"The<\/a><\/figure>
                                                        \n
                                                      1. Change DB_NAME<\/strong>, DB_USER<\/strong>, and DB_PASSWORD<\/strong> values to match your staging site’s database information and credentials. Once you’re done, click the Save <\/strong>icon.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                        \"WordPress<\/a><\/figure>
                                                        You can now use the staging environment.<\/p>
                                                        5. Deploying the Changes to the Production Site<\/strong><\/p>
                                                        This step involves importing the staging site’s database and files to the production environment.<\/p>
                                                        Since you can only import into an empty database, clear the live site’s database first. After backing up the original site’s database using phpMyAdmin’s export feature, follow these steps:<\/p>
                                                          \n
                                                        1. Export <\/strong>your staging site’s database via Databases <\/strong>→ phpMyAdmin<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                        2. Open your live site’s database in phpMyAdmin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                        3. In the Structure <\/strong>tab, tick the Check all<\/strong> box under the list of tables and choose Drop <\/strong>from the dropdown field next to it. Select Go <\/strong>to remove all tables from the database.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                          \"phpMyAdmin<\/a><\/figure>
                                                            \n
                                                          1. Import <\/strong>the staging site’s database file to the live site.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                            For your website files, copy everything except wp-config.php<\/strong> from the staging <\/strong>folder to the public_html<\/strong> folder using File Manager.<\/p>
                                                            How to Delete a Staging Site<\/h2>
                                                            Many WordPress users like the convenience of having staging sites ready at all times. However, deleting a staging site post-update can conserve server resources and streamline website management, focusing your efforts on the production environment.<\/p>
                                                            Here’s a guide to removing a staging site, depending on how you created it:<\/p>
                                                            Deleting a Staging Site in Hostinger’s Staging Tool<\/strong><\/p>
                                                              \n
                                                            1. Head to the staging site list in hPanel and locate the website you want to remove.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                            2. Select the three dots icon and hit Delete<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                              \"WordPress<\/a><\/figure>
                                                                \n
                                                              1. Read the disclaimer and select Delete <\/strong>to confirm.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                                Deleting a Staging Site in the WP Staging Plugin<\/strong><\/p>
                                                                  \n
                                                                1. Head to WP Staging<\/strong> → Staging Sites<\/strong> from the WordPress admin dashboard and locate the website you no longer use for testing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                                2. Click Actions <\/strong>→ Delete <\/strong>next to the chosen staging site.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                                  \"WP<\/a><\/figure>
                                                                    \n
                                                                  1. Select all the staging database tables and files you want to remove, then click Delete<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                                    \"Staging<\/a><\/figure>
                                                                    Deleting a Manual Staging Site in the Subdomain<\/strong><\/p>
                                                                      \n
                                                                    1. Delete <\/strong>the staging <\/strong>folder from the public_html<\/strong> directory via File Manager.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                                      \"Hostinger<\/a><\/figure>
                                                                        \n
                                                                      1. Head to the List of Current MySQL Databases And Users<\/strong> in hPanel through Databases <\/strong>→ Management<\/strong>. Click the three dots icon next to your staging database and choose Delete<\/strong>. Read the disclaimer and hit Confirm Delete<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                                        \"The<\/a><\/figure>
                                                                          \n
                                                                        1. Access the List of Current Subdomains<\/strong> via Domains <\/strong>→ Subdomains<\/strong>. Select the Delete <\/strong>icon next to the staging subdomain you no longer use. Read the disclaimer and hit Delete <\/strong>to confirm.<\/li>\n<\/ol>
                                                                          \"The<\/a><\/figure>
                                                                          Helpful Tips for Working With a WordPress Staging Site<\/h2>
                                                                          Here are some of the best practices to ensure a smooth and secure web development process:<\/p>