# Create a staging site or clone a site

Make a private staging copy of a WordPress site to try changes on, or clone it into a new, separate site, without touching the live site.

## Before you start

- A running WordPress site. Other site types can't be copied yet.
- Room for another site on your plan, because the copy is a new site.
- A server set up for WordPress (Docker host or general-purpose) for the copy. The site's own server works.

## Step 1: Choose staging or clone

Open the WordPress site from [Sites](https://app.nuvlo.dev/dashboard/sites). At the top of the page:

- **Create staging site** makes a private copy to try changes on. It is hidden from search engines.
- **Clone site** makes a new, separate site with the same files, database and WordPress accounts.

If the site already has a staging site, the button reads **Open staging site** instead. A staging site itself can't get another staging site; clone it, or create the staging site from the live site.

![The WordPress site header with the Create staging site and Clone site buttons](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/shots/copy-a-site--header.webp)

## Step 2: Pick the address

In the dialog, choose where the copy is reachable:

- **Temporary address**: a random name with HTTPS, nothing to set up.
- **Your own domain**: for example `staging.example.com`. Enter it in **Domain** and point its DNS at the server.

If you have more than one server for WordPress, choose one under **Server**. The site's own server is marked **(same server)**.

![The Create a staging site dialog with Temporary address selected and the Server list](https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/shots/copy-a-site--dialog.webp)

## Step 3: Start the copy

Click **Create staging site** or **Clone site**. The dialog shows the progress: setting up a new WordPress site, copying themes, plugins and uploads, copying the database, switching links to the new address and clearing caches.

You can close the dialog; you get a notification when the copy is done. Only one copy of a site can run at a time.

## Step 4: Open the copy

When it finishes, click **Open staging site** or **Open new site**. Log in with the same WordPress accounts as on the original.

## If the copy fails

The dialog shows the error and a **Try again** button. On the new site's page, **Copy again from** the original domain replaces its files and database with the original's again.

> **Warning:** Changes made on the new site while a copy into it is running are lost.

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Source: https://app.nuvlo.dev/docs/copy-a-site