Create a staging website
Definitions
A staging website is a copy of your live site where you can test changes and updates before making them live.
Before you start
🚨 You must verify your hosting account size first, to determine to the steps applicable to your account and website type.
✅ Staging websites are a complimentary feature, if you need managed assistance setting one up or fixing errors, please consult with a website developer.
❌ Do not stage very large websites, as they will not stage properly and trigger errors.
⚠️ Staging a WordPress site with Oxygen Builder, Elementor, or similar plugins that store components in files can cause discrepancies. If this happens, consult with a WordPress website developer.
Step by step
Verify your hosting account size
First, confirm the size of your hosting account.
1. Log in to your hosting control panel
2. Click on the Stats / Errors Logs button
3. Click on the Usage Statistics tab
4. Your hosting account size is the number to the right of Disk Usage. In our example, the size is 251.9 MB.
4. After confirming your hosting account size, follow the appropriate steps below for your size and website type.
Stage your website
WordPress website, accounts under 2GB
⚠️ Use these instructions if you want to stage a WordPress website and your hosting account is under 2GB in total size. It must be under 2GB.
1. Log in to your hosting control panel
2. Click on the WordPress Manager button
3. Find your WordPress installation row and click the down arrow V
4. Click the Staging button
5. On the Choose Installation URL (Choose Domain) field, make sure your website is selected
6. In the Choose Installation URL (In Directory) field, type in staging
7. Check the box next to Disable Search Engine Visibility
8. In the Site Name field, type in Staging Website
9. Review the fields to make sure they’re correct. Here is an example of the page filled out:
10. Once ready, click the Create Staging button
11. You will see a confirmation screen. Note down or bookmark your Administrative URL, which is your staging website WordPress admin login page.
12. Click on the Return to WordPress Management button
13. At this point, you can click the Login button next to your WordPress admin dashboard or open a new window in your web browser to log in through the Administrative URL using your Admin Username and Admin Password. Your Admin Username and Admin Password will be the same as your main website.
14. Bookmark this guide: Push your staged website to your live website – once you’re ready to make your staging website live, use those steps.
WordPress website, accounts over 2GB
⚠️ Use these instructions if you want to stage a WordPress website and your hosting account is over 2GB in total size.
To stage a WordPress website on a hosting account over 2GB, you have the option of using a staging plugin. Here are some well-known options, however, they are not official endorsements:
🚨 Important: Keep in mind that the effectiveness of these staging plugins depends on the quality of the plugin and the specifics of your website’s build and size. Do not stage very large websites.
❗ If you encounter problems with a WordPress staging plugin, please contact a WordPress developer or the plugin’s development team.
Non-WordPress website
⚠️ Use these instructions if you want to stage a non-WordPress website.
The process of creating a staged copy of live website data is complex, and risks altering or deleting live website data permanently if not completed correctly.
Therefore, the only way to stage a non-WordPress website is with a professional website developer well versed in your website software.
There are several online marketplaces to find a website developer, you can explore some popular ones here:
Once you’ve found a developer, you will need to give them secure access to your hosting account, follow these steps to do that: