A staging site is a private copy of your live WordPress site. WP Squared can create one for you, so you can try a new theme, a big plugin update or a PHP version change without visitors seeing anything break. When you are happy, you publish the changes back to live.
Before you start
- Access to the WP Squared dashboard from MdmHost dashboard → Services.
- Enough disk space for a second copy of the site, including its media.
- A plan for what you want to test, so the staging copy does not drift too far from live.
Create a staging copy
- Open the WP Squared dashboard and select the live site.
- Choose the option to create a staging site.
- Confirm. WP Squared copies the files and database and gives the copy its own address.
- Open the staging site from the dashboard and log in to its WordPress admin.
A banner or different address makes it clear you are on staging. Check the address bar before making changes, so you never edit live by mistake.
Keep staging private
- Make sure search engines are discouraged on staging under Settings → Reading.
- Stop staging from emailing real customers: disable newsletter or order email plugins, or set your SMTP plugin to log emails only.
- Do not connect live payment gateways on staging; use their test mode.
What to test on staging
| Change | What to check |
|---|---|
| Major plugin update | Key features of that plugin, forms, checkout |
| New theme or redesign | Every page template, menus, mobile layout |
| PHP version change | Debug log for deprecated and fatal errors |
| WordPress major release | Editor, page builder, custom blocks |
Publish changes to live
- Take a backup of the live site first.
- From the staging site's options in WP Squared, choose to publish or push it to live.
- If the tool lets you choose, decide whether to push files only or files and database.
- After publishing, purge caches and test the live site in a private window.
Warning: Pushing the staging database to live replaces live content. Orders, comments, form entries and new users created on live after you made the staging copy are lost. On shops and busy blogs, push files only, or repeat the tested changes on live by hand.
Refresh or delete staging
Staging copies get outdated quickly. Delete the staging site when you are done, and create a fresh one next time from the current live site. This avoids testing against old content and frees disk space.
Troubleshooting
- Staging links point to the live domain: some plugins store full URLs in their own settings. Search and replace the live address with the staging address on the staging copy.
- Login to staging fails: clear cookies or use a private window; both sites set similar cookies.
- Images missing on staging: a CDN or offload plugin serves images from live. Disable it on staging.
- Not enough space to create staging: remove old backups or unused media first, or ask support about your plan's limits.