Automate WP has a 1-click option to create a staging website, and a 1-click option to push your changes live once your staging site is ready.
Why Do You Need a Staging Website?
If you want to make major changes to your WordPress website then a staging site is a must.
A staging site clones your live site to a test environment and allows you to make updates, add plugins, and add content without affecting your live site.
Some people worry that updates or code changes will crash their website.
Setting up a staging site is fast and easy and can save you from website downtime.
Here's a step-by-step on how to create your staging site.
Please note: This option is only available for people who installed WordPress through the Softaculous App installer in the cPanel.
Step 1: Create the Staging Environment
Log into your cPanel and find/search for 'WordPress Manager by Softaculous'
Click on the 'All Installations' icon at the top.
Then click the 1-click staging button to create the staging environment:
On the next page you will have to choose the protocol, the domain, and the subfolder the staging site will be installed in.
Visit your website and double check what protocol you're using (https://www.) or (https://) It should be one of these options.
You can name the subfolder directory anything you want.
Once you click the 'Create Staging' button you should see a success message that your staging site was successfully created:
Step 2: Make Changes to Your Staging Website
You can now click the Administrative URL where it will auto-log you into your staging WordPress site.
Here's where you will make all the changes and test everything to make sure it all works.
IMPORTANT: At this point any updates you make to your live website will not be added to the staging site.
Step 3: Push the Staging Website LIVE
Once you've made all your updates and changes to the staging website you can push the changes to your live site with a click.
To do this go back to 'All Installations' and click the 'Push to Live' icon.
This will bring you to a screen where you have 2 options: Default Options & Customize
Leave it on default and click 'Push to Live'
Step 4: Delete Your Staging Website
IMPORTANT: It's a HUGE security risk to leave a staging website installation on your server.
Plugins and themes will never get updates and hackers can infect your sever via this website.
To delete the staging website go back to Softaculous App Installer and click 'All Installations' then click the Red X
Be sure you're deleting the staging site and not your live site.
On the next screen click the blue 'Remove Installation' button:
And that's it!
Your staging updates and changes are now on your live site and the staging site has been removed from your server.
