WORDPRESS STAGING
WordPress Staging With Pull, Push and Go Live
WordPress staging on xCloud gives you a separate copy of your site to test changes on. Create it with one click, pull fresh data from production, then push your work back when it is ready. It is built for site owners and agencies, and it is included on paid plans.
- Create a staging site from your live site
- Push files, the full database or chosen tables
- Choose to back up production before a push
WHY IT MATTERS
Why Use a WordPress Staging Site?
A plugin update or a theme change can break a live site. Staging lets you find out first.
Test without risk
Try updates, new plugins and design changes away from your live site.
Fewer stray emails
A pull turns off common mail plugins on staging, which lowers the chance of emailing real customers. Test a checkout before you rely on it.
Hidden from search
New staging sites start with search engine visibility turned off.
WHAT YOU GET
What Can You Move Between Staging and Production?
Choose what moves each time, in the Pull Data and Push Data windows.
Files
Choose Overwrite to match the source exactly, or Incremental to keep extra files on the target.
Database
Move the Full database or pick Selected Tables, such as keeping new orders on production.
Backup before push
Leave the box ticked and xCloud backs up your production site before it changes.
Hook scripts
Save a Post-Pull script for staging and a Post-Push script for production.
Deployment logs
See what ran and when under Deployment Logs on the Staging Management page.
Go Live
Give a staging site a real domain and it becomes its own live site.
HOW IT WORKS
How Do You Create a WordPress Staging Site in xCloud?
Deploy staging
Open your live site, click Deploy Staging and choose Test Domain or Custom Domain.
Pull fresh data
On the staging site, open Manage Staging and click Pull Data when you need current content.
Test your changes
Update plugins, change the theme and check every page you care about.
Push to production
Click Push Data, choose files and tables, and keep the backup box ticked.
LIMITS AND PLANS
What Do You Need to Use WordPress Staging?
Paid plans
Staging is included on paid plans. The Deploy Staging button does not show on the free plan.
Single WordPress sites
One-click staging is not available for WordPress multisite.
Free disk space
The server needs the size of the data being moved plus 1 GB free.
One run at a time
You can't start a second pull or push while one is running. Try again when it finishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What people ask about WordPress staging on xCloud.
What is a WordPress staging site?
A staging site is a separate copy of your WordPress site on its own domain. You test changes there first. Visitors keep using your live site until you choose to push the changes across.
Can I push only some database tables?
Yes. In the Push Data window, choose Selected Tables and tick the tables you want. You choose whole tables, not single rows, so check which tables hold new content on your live site first.
Will a push overwrite new orders on my live site?
It can, if you push the tables that hold them. Use Selected Tables to leave those tables out, and keep the backup option ticked so you can restore production if something goes wrong.
What does Go Live do to a staging site?
Go Live gives the staging site a real domain and makes it a separate site. It is no longer linked to the original, so you can no longer pull or push between the two.
Does staging work for sites other than WordPress?
Git-based Laravel, Custom PHP and Node.js sites have their own Add Staging option. This page covers the WordPress flow, with pull and push between staging and production.
Is WordPress staging free on xCloud?
No. One-click staging with pull and push is included on paid plans and is not available on the free plan. See the pricing page for current plans.
Test Every Change Before Your Visitors See It
Create a staging site, try your changes, and push them live when you are sure.