Create Staging Site Hostinger: The Step-by-Step Guide (2025)

You need to update a critical plugin or redesign your homepage. However, you are terrified of pressing “Update” and watching your live website crash. Consequently, this is why you need to learn how to create staging site Hostinger environments.

A staging site is a clone of your live website. Specifically, it acts as a safe sandbox where you can test code changes, try new themes, or troubleshoot errors without affecting your real visitors. Therefore, if you break something on staging, no one sees it but you. You can read more about the benefits of staging environments in the official WordPress Documentation.

Hostinger has made this process incredibly easy with their custom hPanel interface. However, the exact steps depend on which hosting plan you own.

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In this extensive guide, we will walk you through the two best methods to build your sandbox: the official “One-Click” tool (for Business plans) and the “Manual Subdomain” method (for Single/Premium plans).

Why You Must Create Staging Site Hostinger Environments

Before we dive into the “how-to,” let’s clarify why this is non-negotiable for serious website owners.

1. Risk-Free Updates: WordPress 6.x updates often break older plugins. Thus, testing them on staging prevents live downtime.

2. Design Freedom: Furthermore, you can redesign your entire header or homepage layout over several days without showing your visitors a “Under Construction” page.

3. Troubleshooting: If your site has a bug, you can deactivate all plugins on staging to find the culprit without stopping sales on your live store.

In summary, the ability to create staging site Hostinger setups effectively separates your development work from your business operations.

Method 1: The One-Click Tool to Create Staging Site Hostinger

If you are on a Business Web Hosting or Cloud Hosting plan, Hostinger provides a built-in tool that handles everything for you. Undoubtedly, this is the fastest way to create staging site Hostinger users can utilize.

Step 1: Access hPanel Dashboard

First, log in to your Hostinger account. Then, click Websites in the top menu and select Manage next to the site you want to clone.

Step 2: Locate the Staging Feature

Next, in the sidebar menu on the left, look for the WordPress section. Click on Staging.

• Note: If you do not see this option, your plan does not support the one-click feature. In that case, skip to Method 2 (Manual Setup).

Step 3: Create the Environment

Subsequently, you will see a screen labeled “Staging”.

1. Click the Create Staging button.

2. Then, you may be asked to enter a subdomain prefix (usually staging.yourdomain.com).

3. Finally, click Create.

As a result, Hostinger will automatically copy your files and database. This creates a separate installation that is password-protected from the public.

Step 4: Manage and Push Changes

Once the process finishes (it takes 5-15 minutes), you will see your new staging site listed.

• Manage Staging: Click this to log in to the WP Admin of your test site.

• Publish (Push to Live): Eventually, once you are happy with your changes, click the Publish button. This will overwrite your live site with the staging version.

Method 2: Manually Create Staging Site Hostinger (Single/Premium Plans)

If you are on the cheaper “Single” or “Premium” plans, the “Staging” button is locked. However, you can still create staging site Hostinger setups manually. It takes a few more steps, but it works exactly the same way.

Step 1: Create a Subdomain

1. To begin, go to Domains > Subdomains in hPanel.

2. Then, enter a name for your subdomain (e.g., dev or test).

3. Click Create.

   • Consequently, this creates a folder in your file manager: /public_html/dev.

Step 2: Copy Website Files

1. Go to Files > File Manager.

2. Next, open your public_html folder.

3. Select all files except the new dev folder.

4. After that, right-click and select Copy.

5. Navigate inside the dev folder and Paste the files.

Step 3: Clone the Database

You need a separate database so your staging site doesn’t delete your live content.

1. First, go to Databases > Management.

2. Create a New Database (name it something like u123_staging).

3. Next, go to phpMyAdmin for your LIVE database.

4. Click Export > Go. This action downloads a .sql file.

5. Open phpMyAdmin for your NEW STAGING database.

6. Finally, click Import and upload the .sql file.

Step 4: Update Configuration

Now, you must tell the staging files to use the staging database.

1. In File Manager, go to /public_html/dev/.

2. Then, edit wp-config.php.

3. Change DB_NAME, DB_USER, and DB_PASSWORD to match the new staging database credentials you created in Step 3.

Step 5: Update URLs

Lastly, tell WordPress it is running on a subdomain.

1. Open phpMyAdmin for the staging database.

2. Then, find the wp_options table.

3. Change siteurl and home from yourdomain.com to dev.yourdomain.com.

Congratulations, you have now successfully managed to create staging site Hostinger environments manually! You can access it at dev.yourdomain.com.

Method 3: Using Plugins to Create Staging Site Hostinger

Alternatively, if dealing with databases and file managers scares you, you can use a plugin like WPvivid or Duplicator.

1. First, create the subdomain in Hostinger (Step 1 of Method 2).

2. Install WordPress on that subdomain using Hostinger’s Auto Installer.

3. Next, install the WPvivid plugin on both your LIVE site and your STAGING site.

4. On the Live site, go to WPvivid > Auto Migration.

5. Then, paste the “Key” from your Staging site.

6. Click Clone & Transfer.

The plugin will handle the file copying and database rewriting for you. Therefore, this is often the preferred way to create staging site Hostinger setups for beginners.

Important: Protect Your Hostinger Staging Site

Crucially, you do not want Google to index your staging site. If it does, you will be penalized for “Duplicate Content.”

1. Log in to your Staging WordPress Dashboard.

2. Then, go to Settings > Reading.

3. Check the box: “Discourage search engines from indexing this site”.

4. Click Save Changes.

Alternatively, in Hostinger hPanel, you can go to Security > Password Protection and set a password for the dev directory. This ensures only you can see the work in progress.

Conclusion

Whether you pay for the Business plan or use the manual workaround, the ability to create staging site Hostinger environments is a superpower. Ultimately, it removes the fear of updating and gives you a professional workflow.

Summary of Options:

1. Business Plan: Use the built-in “Staging” tool in hPanel.

2. Single Plan: Conversely, create a subdomain and clone files/DB manually.

3. Plugin Method: Use WPvivid to push data to a fresh subdomain install.

Need Help Moving to Production? Pushing changes from manual staging back to live can be tricky. 👉 Contact Us Here if you need an expert to merge your changes, or check out our WordPress Service Plans where we manage staging environments for you.