how to set up a staging/development environment for a wordpress.com site

  • Unknown's avatar
    catconner1 · Member ·

    Hi all, I’ve been searching for awhile on this topic and haven’t found a clear answer. (Posts like https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/new-theme-web-redesign?replies=4#post-2715459 touch on the topic, but don’t answer my question…)

    I’m a wordpress.org user who’s been asked to help update/modify a wordpress.com site for a client. We’ve selected a new premium theme, but what I can’t figure out is how to set up an environment where I can install the new theme and set up the new site so the client can review and approve it before it goes live. I don’t think the “live preview” Theme Customizer allows you to save a draft version of the site — you either set the changes you’ve made live, or close it and lose them.

    I’ve read about the VIP development environment, but I really don’t need to change source code — I just need an environment to test out the new theme settings while the current site remains live.

    Is it possible to set up a free site as a staging environment, then transfer the site over to the live domain once the changes are made?

  • staff-loquaciousloon · Staff ·

    Hi @catconner1!

    a WordPress.com site isn’t going to have the same kind of staging environment some self hosting options might provide – your idea of using a free site as a staging environment is a good one.

    Depending on the situation, the best path forward can sometimes be to post a message (maybe a Sticky Post) on the site to let visitors know the site is being updated. Kind of a “under construction” message.

    You could try the other path you’ve described of using a separate site, and then connecting that site to the custom domain name. For that to work, you’d need to move the premium theme to a new free site and get it set up, then contact support for help moving the domain name over to the new site.

    One thing to keep in mind with this path: if your plans for the new site require features of a Premium Plan or Business Plan, the free site won’t have them because that site doesn’t have a plan on it.

  • Unknown's avatar
    catconner1 · Member ·

    Thanks so much for the response! Exactly the info I needed. Just wanted to be sure I understood the best staging options available.

  • staff-loquaciousloon · Staff ·

    You’re welcome! :)

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