> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.digitalfyre.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Staging

Every WP Cloud instance supports a staging environment — a separate copy of your site where you can test changes, updates, or redesigns without affecting your live site.

## Creating a Staging Environment

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Your Instance">
    From **My Instances**, click on the instance you want to stage.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Staging">
    Click the **Staging** button in the top action bar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create the Staging Site">
    PanelAlpha creates a full copy of your live instance as a staging environment with one click. No additional configuration is needed.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Info>
  The staging site is a fully independent copy of your live site. Changes made to staging do not affect the live site until you push them.
</Info>

## Switching Between Live and Staging

Once a staging environment exists, you will see tabs at the top of the instance — **live** and **staging** — allowing you to switch between the two environments and manage them independently.

## Pushing Staging to Production

When you are satisfied with changes on staging, you can push them to your live site:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Staging Environment">
    Click the **staging** tab at the top of the instance.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Push to Production">
    Use the available push option to select what to push — files, database, or both.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm">
    Review and confirm. The live site is updated immediately.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Pushing the database from staging to production overwrites your live database. Create a backup of your live site before pushing if you need to preserve recent changes.
</Warning>

## Common Uses

* Testing WordPress core, plugin, or theme updates before applying them live
* Developing a redesign without taking the live site offline
* Verifying configuration changes before they affect visitors