If you'd like to test out changes or upgrades to your WordPress website without breaking the live version, you can create a staging site. A staging site is a great option for setting up temporary hosting. A staging site is also a good option to build a whole new website while keeping your current website online.
Using the WP Toolkit included in your cPanel account, you can easily create a staging site. You have two options: a new blank or a clone of an existing site:
Blank Website Option
- Log in to cPanel
- Click on Domains->Domains
- Click on Create A New Domain
- Enter a new subdomain you'd like to use for your new site. Make sure you include the subdomain and your full domain name.
- Ensure Share document root is NOT ticked and click on Submit
- From the main cPanel screen, scroll down to security and select SSL/TLS Status
- Ensure your new subdomain has an SSL (green icon). If it doesn't, click on the Run AutoSSL button and wait for it to complete.
Ensure the icon turns from red to green before proceeding:
- Click on the WP Toolkit option in cPanel on the left-hand menu
- Click on the Install button
- In the installation path drop-down, select https: and select the subdomain you created before. Leave the installation directory blank:
- Set any of the other options as required and click on Install.
- After a few minutes, your blank staging site will be ready.
Clone Website Option
- Log in to cPanel
- Click on the WP Toolkit option in cPanel on the left-hand menu
- Locate the current WordPress installation you'd like to clone and click on the Clone button:
- To install the clone site on a subdomain, use the Create Subdomain option.
Or use the Use existing domain if you'd like to install the clone on a different domain you've already added to cPanel.
- Click on the Start button and after a few minutes, your blank staging site will be published and ready to modify.
Please note that a Cloned WordPress installation is a completely separate site from your live site. Any registered plugins and themes may not be registered for your staging site. Most plugin providers will offer you a development license if you ask them for one.
