Each site can have one staging environment at a time. If you need to start fresh, delete the existing staging site and create a new one.
Creating a Staging Site
1
Navigate to Staging
In the Cloud Panel, click your site, then select the Staging tab.
2
Click Create Staging Site
Click the Create Staging Site button. WP Stratos immediately begins cloning your live site.
3
Wait for the clone to complete
WP Stratos copies all site files and the full database to an isolated staging environment. This typically takes one to three minutes. A status indicator shows progress.
4
Access your staging site
Once ready, your staging environment is accessible at the URL shown in the Staging tab. Click Open Staging WP Admin for direct one-click access to the staging WordPress dashboard.
Making Changes on Staging
Your staging environment is fully isolated from your live site, so anything you do there stays contained until you decide to push it. Use staging to:- Install and evaluate new plugins before adding them to production.
- Preview theme changes or a full redesign without affecting visitors.
- Test WordPress core or plugin updates to catch compatibility issues early.
- Prototype new content, page layouts, or checkout flows.
Push Staging to Live
When you’re satisfied with your changes on staging, push them to your production site.1
Navigate to Staging
In the Cloud Panel, click your site, then open the Staging tab.
2
Click Push to Live
Click the Push to Live button to begin the push workflow.
3
Choose what to push
Select the scope of the push:
- Full site — Copies both files and the database to live.
- Files only — Pushes themes, plugins, and uploads without touching the database.
- Database only — Pushes content and settings changes without overwriting files.
4
Confirm the push
WP Stratos automatically takes a backup of your current live site, then applies the selected staging content. You’ll receive a notification when the push is complete.
Pull Live to Staging
Refresh your staging environment with the latest content and settings from your live site.1
Navigate to Staging
In the Cloud Panel, click your site, then open the Staging tab.
2
Click Pull from Live
Click the Pull from Live button. WP Stratos copies the current live site files and database into your staging environment, replacing whatever was there before.
3
Wait for the pull to complete
A progress indicator shows when the pull is finished. Your staging environment now reflects the current state of your live site, ready for the next round of testing.
Deleting a Staging Environment
Each site supports one staging environment at a time. Delete your existing staging site when you want to start fresh or free up resources.1
Navigate to Staging
In the Cloud Panel, click your site, then open the Staging tab.
2
Click Delete Staging Site
Scroll to the bottom of the Staging tab and click Delete Staging Site.
3
Confirm deletion
Type the confirmation text in the dialog and click Confirm Delete. The staging environment is permanently removed. You can create a new staging site at any time.