How to Create a Staging Site with DreamHost for WordPress

When managing a WordPress site, it’s important to test changes before making them live. Whether you’re updating plugins, installing a new theme, or adding custom code, a mistake on your live site can lead to downtime or a broken experience for visitors.

That’s where a staging site comes in. A staging site is a private clone of your WordPress website, allowing you to safely test changes in a controlled environment. DreamHost offers several ways to set up a staging site, and in this guide, we’ll walk through the options step by step.

What Is a Staging Site?

A staging site is a working copy of your live WordPress site. It looks and functions just like the original but is only accessible to you or your team. This environment allows you to:

• Test theme or plugin updates
• Try out new designs or layouts
• Debug issues without affecting users
• Safely update WordPress core files
• Experiment with new features

Once you’re happy with your changes, you can push them to your live site with confidence.

Does DreamHost Offer Built-in Staging?

DreamHost does not currently offer a one-click staging feature like some managed WordPress hosts. However, you can still create a staging environment using a subdomain or subdirectory manually, or by using a plugin.

Here are the most common ways to create a staging site on DreamHost:

• Manually clone your site to a subdomain
• Use a plugin like WP Staging or Duplicator
• Set up a temporary WordPress install on a subdirectory

Let’s go through each option in detail.

Method 1: Create a Staging Site Using a Subdomain

This is a common method for staging on DreamHost. You’ll create a new subdomain (such as staging.yoursite.com) and install a copy of your site there.

Step 1: Create a Subdomain

1. Log in to your DreamHost panel at panel.dreamhost.com
2. Go to Websites → Manage Websites
3. Click Add Hosting to a Domain / Sub-Domain
4. Enter the subdomain you want to use (e.g., staging.yoursite.com)
5. Configure the directory and PHP version, then click Fully host this domain

Allow a few minutes for DNS propagation.

Step 2: Copy Your Live Site to the Subdomain

You can copy your WordPress site in two ways:

Option A: Use a Plugin like Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration

• Install the plugin on your live site
• Create a backup package
• Upload and install the package on your subdomain site
• Complete the installer process to clone the site

Option B: Manual Method

• Export your database via phpMyAdmin
• Copy your WordPress files via FTP or DreamHost File Manager
• Import the database into a new one associated with the subdomain
• Update the wp-config.php file with the new database credentials
• Update the site URL in the database (wp_options table) to match the subdomain

Step 3: Secure Your Staging Site

To prevent search engines and users from accessing your test site:

• Add noindex tags or use the “Discourage search engines” option in WordPress
• Use a plugin like Password Protected or set up .htaccess authentication

Method 2: Use a Staging Plugin (Easiest for Beginners)

If you want a simple option without setting up subdomains or copying files manually, consider using a plugin like:

• WP Staging (free and premium)
• Duplicator Pro
• BlogVault (premium)

How WP Staging Works:

1. Install WP Staging on your WordPress site
2. Go to WP Staging → Sites / Start
3. Click Create New Staging Site
4. Choose what to clone (database, files, plugins)
5. Click Start Cloning

The plugin will create a staging version of your site in a subfolder (e.g., yoursite.com/staging-site). You can access it separately and make changes without affecting the live site.

The free version supports basic cloning, while the pro version allows pushing changes back to the live site.

Method 3: Use a Subdirectory (Advanced)

You can install WordPress in a subdirectory like yoursite.com/staging and manually copy over your theme, plugins, and database. This method works similarly to using a subdomain but keeps everything under one domain.

Use it if:

• You want to keep the test site close to the live site’s domain
• You’re not comfortable managing DNS or subdomains
• You want a quick and lightweight solution

The process is the same as the manual cloning method above, just using a subdirectory instead of a subdomain.

What to Do After Testing

Once you’ve tested your changes and you’re ready to go live:

• Replicate the changes manually on your live site
• Or use a plugin that supports push to live, such as WP Staging Pro or Duplicator Pro
• Always back up your live site before pushing any changes

DreamHost provides automatic backups, but it’s a good idea to keep your own backups using plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy.

Final Tips for Managing a Staging Site on DreamHost

• Keep your staging site updated to match your live environment
• Test all major site functions (forms, logins, checkout, etc.)
• Limit plugin use on the staging site to avoid resource overload
• Delete the staging site once you no longer need it to free up space

Conclusion

While DreamHost doesn’t include built-in one-click staging, you can easily set up a functional and secure staging site using subdomains, subdirectories, or plugins. Whether you’re launching a new design, testing plugins, or building new functionality, a staging environment ensures you can work safely without disrupting your live WordPress site.

For more WordPress tutorials and DreamHost guides, continue exploring KnowbaseWP.