Clone

• Clone to existing website in ManageWP: Both source and destination websites must be connected to ManageWP. The websites will have different URLs after cloning. This is an easy way to create staging and production environments.
• Clone to a new website: The destination website isn’t connected to ManageWP (for example, when the destination server is empty). The source and destination websites will have different URLs after cloning.
• Migrate a website: When you want to move your website to a new server and keep the same domain. After you update your DNS records, only the website on the destination server will be publicly reachable.

If you have both source and destination websites added to ManageWP, you can use this option for cloning. Everything will be done through our ManageWP Worker plugin so you won’t have to add FTP and database details. Therefore, the destination website must be successfully connected to ManageWP for this cloning option to work.  

1. In your dashboard, go to the website you want to clone (source).
2. On the left sidebar, click Backups. 
3. By default, the most recent backup is used for cloning. To use a different backup, select a backup date from the calendar. If multiple backups exist for that day, select the one you want to clone.
   • You can also create a new backup and use it for cloning by select the corresponding checkbox in the next step.
4. In the Overview tab, click Clone website. 
5. Under Choose destination type, click Existing website in ManageWP. 
6. Under Select existing website, choose the clone destination from the list or by typing the website URL. The backup content will be copied to that site. 
   • If the destination website is not connected to ManageWP, it won’t appear on the list. In that case, use Clone to a new website instead. 
7. (Optional) Click Create new admin to add a new admin user on the destination website. 
8. (Optional) Click Search engine visibility to adjust this option on the destination website. 
9. Click Clone. 
10. (Optional) Once cloning is complete, check the destination website to ensure everything copied correctly.

Choose this option if your destination website isn’t connected to ManageWP or if you want to use an empty server. 

How to prepare

Here’s what to do beforehand on the destination:

• Make sure you have a database created and prepare database details in advance. We recommend using separate databases for source and destination websites. If you must use the same database, set a different prefix on the destination to avoid overwriting source database tables. For help with creating the database or obtaining the database details, contact your hosting provider.
• Prepare your FTP credentials and test the FTP path. You can contact your hosting provider if you need additional assistance.
• Make sure the destination URL is publicly reachable.

Steps for cloning

1. In your dashboard, go to the website you want to clone.
2. On the left sidebar, click Backups. 
3. By default, the most recent backup is used for cloning. To use a different backup, select a backup date from the calendar. If multiple backups exist for that day, select the one you want to clone.
   • You can also create a new backup and use it for cloning by select the corresponding checkbox in the next step.
4. In the Overview tab, click Clone website. 
5. Under Choose destination type, click New website. 
6. Enter the publicly reachable destination URL, then click Test URL. 
7. After the successful test, the Enter Connection Information section appears. Fill in the FTP and database details for the destination website.
   • If you previously saved the credentials for this destination, click Choose from list to autofill. 
8. Click Test Credentials. 
   • To save successfully tested credentials for future use, click Save connection info. 
9. Optional) Click Create new admin to add a new admin user on the destination website. 
10. (Optional) Click Change prefix to change a database prefix. If left blank, the source prefix will be used.  
11. (Optional) Click Search engine visibility to adjust this setting on the destination website. 
12. Click Clone. 
13. (Optional) Once cloning is complete, check the destination website to ensure everything copied correctly.

Choose this option to move your website to a new server but keep the same domain.

How to prepare

Here’s what to do beforehand on the destination:

• Make sure you have a database created and prepare database details in advance. For help with creating the database or obtaining the database details, contact your hosting provider.
• Prepare your FTP credentials and test the FTP path. You can contact your hosting provider if you need additional assistance.
• Make sure the temporary URL or IP address is publicly reachable.

Steps for the migration

1. In your dashboard, go to the website you want to migrate.
2. On the left sidebar, click Backups. 
3. By default, the most recent backup is used for cloning. To use a different backup, select a backup date from the calendar. If multiple backups exist for that day, select the one you want to clone.
   • You can also create a new backup and use it for cloning by select the corresponding checkbox in the next step.
4. In the Overview tab, click Clone website. 
5. Under Choose destination type, click Same domain on a new server. 
6. Under Enter destination URL, enter a temporary URL or an IP address (must be publicly reachable), then click Test URL. 
7. After the successful test, an Enter Connection Information section appears. Fill in the FTP and database details for the destination website.
   • If you previously saved the credentials for this destination, click Choose from list to autofill. 
8. Click Test Credentials. 
   • To save successfully tested credentials for future use, click Save connection info. 
9. (Optional) Click Create new admin to add a new admin user on the destination website. 
10. (Optional) Click Change prefix to change a database prefix. If left blank, the source prefix will be used.  
11. (Optional) Click Search engine visibility to adjust this setting on the destination website. 
12. Click Clone. 

Check the destination website

After migration, the source URL remains unchanged in the destination database. As a result, when you visit the destination website using the temporary URL or IP address after the migration, it will redirect to the source website.

To preview the migrated website on a destination using a temporary URL (or IP address):

1. Edit the wp-config.php file on the destination server.
2. Add the following lines above the line that says /* That's all, stop editing! Happy blogging. */
define( 'WP_HOME', 'http://temporarydomain.com' );
define( 'WP_SITEURL', 'http://temporarydomain.com' );
3. Replace http://temporarydomain.com with your actual temporary URL (or IP address)
4. After testing, remove this code from your wp-config.php file.

Alternative options:

• Update the domain’s DNS to the new server.
• Edit your computer’s hosts file to point the domain to the new location.