Bluehost Cloud Staging Site – Manage and Test Updates Easily

The Bluehost Cloud Staging Site serves as a private replica of your live website, also known as the production site. This controlled environment allows users to experiment with design modifications, content updates, plugins, and other changes without affecting the live site.  

With the Bluehost Cloud Staging Site, you can test and refine updates before making them live. This feature helps ensure a smooth user experience, minimizes the risk of errors, and keeps your website secure and performing at its best. 

This article walks you through managing your Bluehost Cloud Staging Site, from accessing phpMyAdmin and WP Admin to handling backups, domains, and more. By following these steps, you can confidently make changes without disrupting your live site.

• How to Manage Changes in Bluehost Cloud Staging
  • Accessing the Staging Site
  • Accessing phpMyAdmin
  • Accessing WP Admin
  • Connecting Domains
  • Scanning Malware
  • Viewing Backups
  • Viewing Plugins
  • Viewing Themes
  • Adjusting Storage Allocation
  • Changing WordPress Version
  • Changing PHP Version
  • Turning ON/OFF the WordPress Static 404 Handler
• Related Bluehost Cloud Staging Articles
• Summary

How to Manage Changes in Bluehost Cloud Staging

Accessing the Staging Site

Follow these steps to create a staging site in Bluehost Cloud for your development needs:

1. Log in to your Bluehost Account Manager.
2. Go to the Staging Dashboard. There are two options for doing this:
   • Websites Tab
     1. Navigate to the Websites tab from the left navigation menu.
        
        All websites currently associated with your hosting account will appear.
     2. Select the website to which you will create a Bluehost Staging Site, and click SETTINGS.
        
   • Hosting Tab
     1. Navigate to the Hosting tab from the left navigation menu.
        
        All websites currently associated with your hosting account will appear.
     2. Click the MANAGE button on the site where you want to manage the Bluehost staging site.
        
3. On the website details page, click the STAGING tab (use the chevron icon > icon to see the list of all tabs).
   

Accessing phpMyAdmin

Provided that you have already accessed your Staging Site, please follow the steps below:

1. On the Cloud Staging Site Overview page, please click the PHPMYADMIN button.
   

Accessing WP Admin

Provided that you have already accessed your Staging Site, please follow the steps below:

1. On the Cloud Staging Site Overview page, please click the WP ADMIN button.
   

Connecting Domains

Provided that you have already accessed your Staging Site, please follow the steps below:

1. Click the Domains tab.
   
2. Click the ADD DOMAIN button.
   
3. Enter the desired domain name on the Enter Domain Name text field.
4. Lastly, click the CONTINUE button.
   

Scanning Malware

Provided that you have already accessed your Staging Site, please follow the steps below:

1. Click the Start Scan link under Malware Scan.
   

Viewing Backups

Provided that you have already accessed your Staging Site, please follow the steps below:

1. Access the Backups section of your Staging Site by following either of the steps below: 
   • Click the Backups Navigation tab.
     
   • -OR-
   • Click the View Backups link under Latest Backups.
     
2. Click the FINISH CONNECTING button.
   

Viewing Plugins

Provided that you have already accessed your Staging Site, please follow the steps below:

1. Click the View Plugins link under Plugins.
   
2. After clicking the View Plugins link, you will be rerouted to the Plugins page, where you can add, delete, deactivate, and update plugins.
   

Viewing Themes

Provided that you have already accessed your Staging Site, please follow the steps below:

1. Click the View Themes link under Themes.
   
2. After clicking the View Themes link, you will be rerouted to the Themes page, where you can add, install, customize, and upload themes. 

Adjusting Storage Allocation

Provided that you have already accessed your Staging Site, please follow the steps below:

1. Click the SETTINGS navigation tab.
2. Set the desired storage that you want to allocate in the Storage text field.
3. Lastly, click the UPDATE button.
   

Changing WordPress Version

Provided that you have already accessed your Staging Site, please follow the steps below:

1. Click the SETTINGS navigation tab.
2. Click the CHANGE WORDPRESS VERSION button.
3. On the Change WordPress Version popup, please follow the steps below: 
   • Select the WordPress Version from the dropdown options (Previous, Latest, and Beta).
     

     Note:

     • We recommend that you keep the latest WordPress version in order to boost website security and functionality.
     • You may select the older versions of WordPress that suit your needs, and you can upgrade them at any time.
   • Lastly, click the APPLY button.
     

Changing PHP Version

Provided that you have already accessed your Staging Site, please follow the steps below:

1. Click the SETTINGS navigation tab.
2. Click the CHANGE PHP VERSION button.
3. On the Change PHP Version popup, please follow the steps below:  
   • Select the PHP Version from the dropdown options (PHP 8.1 to PHP 8.4).
     

     Important:

     • Before changing the version, we strongly recommend you create a backup of your site. 
     • We recommend that you keep the latest PHP version in order to improve site speed and security. 
   • Lastly, click the APPLY button.
     

Turning ON/OFF the WordPress Static 404 Handler

Provided that you have already accessed your Staging Site, please follow the steps below:

1. Click the SETTINGS navigation tab.
2. Toggle the switch to turn ON/OFF the WordPress Static 404 Handler feature of your Cloud Staging Site.
   

   OFF

   

   ON

   

Related Bluehost Cloud Staging Articles

• What is Bluehost Cloud Staging
• How to Manage and Edit a Staging Site
• How to Promote a Staging Site
• How to Remove or Delete a Staging Site

Summary

With the Bluehost Cloud Staging Site, you can safely test updates, plugins, and design changes before applying them to your live website. This staging environment gives you full control to experiment without worrying about breaking your site. 

To keep your website secure and running smoothly:

• Update WordPress and PHP versions regularly to improve security and performance.
• Test all changes thoroughly before pushing them live, especially for large or complex websites.
• Back up your site before making any major modifications to avoid potential data loss.

By making the most of your Bluehost staging site, you can ensure a seamless experience for your visitors while minimizing risks. Follow the steps in this guide to manage your WordPress staging environment confidently and keep your website running at its best.