How To Clone A WordPress Site: 3 Easy Ways

When you clone a WordPress site, this means making an exact copy of your website. This includes everything, from your theme, plugins and images to the database where all your content and settings are stored. Once you create a clone, it works like the original site but runs separately. So, any changes you make to the clone won’t affect your live WordPress website.

There are plenty of reasons why you may wish to clone your site. Maybe you’re switching to a new hosting provider and want to move your entire site without missing anything. Or perhaps you want to test out a new design, update some plugins, or try different settings without risking your live site going down.

Cloning is also helpful when you’re building a site locally and want to move it online or when you want to reuse a site layout for a new project on a different domain name.

This tutorial explains how to clone a WordPress site using 3 simple methods: with a plugin, using a clone tool, or manually. Each approach is easy to follow, so choose the best one for your setup. Whether you’re a beginner or have more experience, this tutorial will help you clone a WordPress site safely and without stress.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• If you clone a WordPress site, this means making a full copy of your website, including all files and content.
• This method is helpful when moving to a new host, creating a backup, or building a test site.
• You can use a plugin like Duplicatorto clone your site quickly with only a few clicks.
• Many hosting providers offer a 1-click clone tool that makes the process fast and easy.
• Manual cloning gives you complete control, but it takes more steps and is better for advanced users.
• After cloning, update permalinks, fix old URLs, and test all pages, images, and features.
• If you have any issues, check your database settings and use the right tools to correct broken links.
• Backing up your site before cloning is advisable, to avoid losing any data.
• Choosing the correct method depends on your comfort level and your hosting setup.
• No matter which method you decide on, cloning your site will keep your WordPress site safe and flexible.

Prerequisites to Cloning a WordPress Website

Before you clone a WordPress site, you will need various tools and access points that make cloning smooth and safe. Let’s go over them one by one.

First, you need access to your WordPress Admin Dashboard. This is where you manage your site, like adding posts, installing plugins, and changing settings. Log in to install a plugin or check your current setup before starting the cloning process.

Next, you need access to your hosting control panel or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) login details that you receive after creating an FTP account. The hosting control panel (like cPanel) helps you manage your website’s files and databases.

If you’re using FTP, you’ll need a tool like FileZilla to connect to your website’s file system. This step is essential as you copy and upload files to a new location.

Lastly, you’ll need a place to put your cloned site. This could be a new domain (refer Example 1) or a subdomain (refer Example 2).

Example 1: newsitename.com
Example 2: clone.yourcurrentsitename.com

If you’re only testing changes, a subdomain is a good choice. But if you’re moving to a new site, you must register a new domain name.

If this is ready before you start, it will save you time and help prevent errors. Once everything is in place, you can clone a WordPress site correctly.

How to Clone a WordPress Site

This section shows you 3 easy ways to duplicate your WordPress site safely and efficiently. The first method uses a WordPress plugin, which automates the cloning process and is perfect for beginners.

The second method uses a Clone tool, a one-click option many hosting providers offer. Finally, we show you how to clone your site manually, giving you complete control over the process, which is best suited for advanced users.

Every method has benefits, so choose the one that fits your skill level. Let’s begin with the first method below.

Method 1: Cloning Using a Plugin

The easiest way to clone a WordPress site is by using the Duplicator plugin. It’s a popular tool that copies your entire website – files, database, themes, and plugins – into one file that can then be moved to another location to create a full copy of your site. We have listed step-by-step instructions on how to copy WordPress site using Duplicator below:

• STEP 1: SET UP THE DUPLICATOR PLUGIN

To use this plugin, you first need to install and activate the plugin. To do this, navigate to WordPress Dashboard → Plugins → Add New Plugin. Search for Duplicator. Once the required plugin shows up, click Install Now, then Activate.

There’s also a pro version of Duplicator with extra features like scheduled backups and support for a WordPress multisite. But for this guide, the free version works fine.

• STEP 2: CREATE A DUPLICATOR PACKAGE

After activating the plugin, go to Duplicator → Backups in your dashboard and click Create New to start a new backup package.

You’ll see a screen where you can name your package. This is for your reference, so you can call it whatever you like. Then, click Next.

The plugin will now scan your website.

If there’s a problem, Duplicator will let you know how to fix it. If everything looks good, scroll down and click Build.

The Duplicator will start backing up your website. This includes your database, images, plugins, and all WordPress files. This may take a few minutes, depending on your site’s size.

Once the backup is done, click Download Both Files to get the Archive and Installer files. These two files are all you need to clone your site.

• STEP 3: UPLOAD FILES TO NEW LOCATION

Once you’ve downloaded the archive and installer, upload them to the new location, which is a local server or a live hosting environment.

For local servers:

If you’re using MAMP, create a new folder for your cloned website inside this directory:

/Applications/MAMP/htdocs/

If you’re using WAMP, create a folder in the following directory:

C:\wamp\www\

And, if you’re using XAMPP, make a new folder inside the following folder:

C:\xampp\htdocs\

Now, put the installer and archive files in the newly created folder.

However, if you’re using live servers, use the hosting File Manager or an FTP client to upload the files to the site’s root folder. Remember, in the Hosted.com File Manager, the website files are typically stored in /public_html/directory; this corresponds to:

yourprimarydomain.com.

For addon domains (additional domains hosted in the same cPanel account), and unless a custom directory was specified during setup, the files are usually stored in:

/public_html/addondomain.com/

And, for subdomains, the files are usually stored in refer Folder1 below (or sometimes in Folder2 below) if created outside public_html).

Folder 1: /public_html/subdomain/
Folder 2: /subdomain.yourprimarydomain.com/

If you want your cloned site to be visible online, ensure you create its folder inside this path. Also, ensure the folder only contains the installer.php and the archive zip file.

• STEP 4: CREATE A NEW DATABASE

You’ll now need a new database to install your cloned site. If you’re using a live server with Hosted.com, follow these steps:

Navigate to cPanel → Databases → Manage My Databases.

Locate Create New Database. Specify the name of your database and click Create Database.

Then, scroll down to Database Users. Add a new user, set a password, confirm the password, and click Create User.

Add your new user to the corresponding WordPress database and click Add.

Now, you’ll see the following screen. Check ALL PRIVILEGES. After that, click Make Changes. This will assign a user full access to the database.

Note: Keep your database name, username, and password safe, as you’ll need them in the next step. If you’re using a local server using phpMyAdmin, visit http://localhost/phpmyadmin/. Click Databases and create a new one. In most cases, use root as the username and leave the password blank.

• STEP 5: RUN THE INSTALLER SCRIPT

With the files and database ready, open your browser and type your website URL followed by /installer.php. In our example, we use a subdomain called clone, so the website link will be as follows:

https://clone.primarydomain.com/installer.php

This will launch the Duplicator installer tool.

Enter your database details and click Validate.

If everything checks out, accept the terms and click Next.

You’ll see a pop-up to confirm the process. Click OK to continue.

The Duplicator will now unpack your website files. Once complete, check the box that says Auto delete installer files after login to secure site (recommended!) and click Admin Login.

You’ve now successfully installed your cloned WordPress site.

• STEP 6: TEST THE CLONED SITE & CLEAN UP

Take a moment to test your cloned site. Check the admin dashboard and your site’s public view to ensure everything works. Finally, clean up by going to Duplicator → Tools → General and clicking Remove Installation Files. This keeps your site secure by deleting leftover setup files.

Method 2: Use the Hosted.com Clone Feature

Another easy way to clone a WordPress site is by using the Clone tool. Many WordPress hosting services, including Hosted.com, offer a 1-click clone feature that lets you copy your site without using any plugin. This is a simple option if you want something quick.

Here’s how to do it on Hosted:

Login to Hosted.com’s cPanel. Then, head over to Software → Softaculous Apps Installer.

Click All Installations.

Locate the required installation you want to clone and click Clone.

Note: Alternatively, you can create a staging site by clicking Create Staging on the left of Clone.

Then, follow the on-screen steps, such as choosing a protocol, a domain or subdomain, specifying the database name, and the site name.

Once done with that, scroll down and click Clone Installation.

The tool will automatically copy your entire website, including the database, files, themes, and plugins. There is no need to download or upload anything manually.

After you have completed the process, you’ll get a link to the cloned site and administrative login page.

Open it in your browser and check everything, including pages, images, links, and plugins. Ensure it looks and works just like your original WordPress website.

This approach is helpful because it’s fast and easy for beginners. You don’t need to install extra plugins – the work is done for you. It’s also safer because the hosting system handles everything behind the scenes. If you have any issues, feel free to contact us. Our experts will help you get this done.

Method 3: Manual Cloning

If you’re comfortable working with website files and databases, you can clone a WordPress site manually. This method gives you complete control over the process but requires more steps and technical work. For this method, we’ll use the Hosted.com File Manager. However, you can also use the FTP client FileZilla if you cannot access your hosting provider’s File Manager.

• STEP 1: BACKUP WEBSITE FILES

Go to the Hosted.com control panel (cPanel) → Files → File Manager.

Next, go to your site’s root directory, the public_html folder. Click Select All to select all folders and files within this public_html directory. After that, click Compress.

Choose Zip Archive as the compression type and click Compress Files.

Now, select your zip file and click Download for all the files and folders on your computer. These files include your themes, plugins, images, and WordPress system files.

• STEP 2: EXPORT THE DATABASE

Next, open phpMyAdmin from cPanel.

Choose the database your website uses from the list on the left. Then, click Export at the top. Select Quick – display only the minimal options for the export method and format as SQL, then click Export. This will save a .sql file to your computer. This file contains your website’s content and settings.

• STEP 3: UPLOAD FILES TO THE NEW LOCATION

Now, go to your new location in File Manager where you want the cloned site to be. Click Upload and choose the zip file you downloaded in Step 1.

Select the zip file and click Extract to uncompress the files. Afterwards, delete the zip file from the directory.

• STEP 4: IMPORT THE DATABASE

In the new hosting panel, create a new MySQL database and a new user with full access (we demonstrated this in Step 4 of Method 1 above).

Then, go to cPanel → Databases → phpMyAdmin again and open the new database. Click Import, then Choose File to upload the .sql file you exported earlier. This step returns your posts, pages, users, and settings.

• STEP 5: UPDATE THE WP-CONFIG.PHP FILE

Next, open the wp-config.php file in the new site’s folder. This file tells WordPress which database to use. Update these lines with your new database name, username, and password:

define('DB_NAME', 'new_database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'new_username');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'new_password');

Save the file and close it.

• STEP 6: UPDATE SITE URL

If your new site is on a different domain, you need to update the site address. In phpMyAdmin, open your database and go to the wp_options table. Find the rows for siteurl and home. Change both values to match your new domain name.

• STEP 7: TEST THE CLONED SITE

Now, visit your new site in a browser. Check the homepage, menus, blog posts, and contact forms. Log in to the WordPress dashboard to ensure everything works correctly. If you find broken links or images, fix any old URLs by double-checking your settings.

Post-Cloning Steps

Once you make a duplicate WordPress site, there are a few final steps to ensure everything works just right. These steps clean up any issues and make your new site run smoothly.

Update Permalinks

Log in to the WordPress dashboard of your cloned site. Go to Settings → Permalinks, then click the Save Changes button – no need to change any settings.

This refreshes the permalink structure and helps fix any broken links or pages showing 404 errors.

TIP: If you notice permalinks are not working, you may refer to the WordPress Permalinks Not Working: 3 Easy Ways to Fix Them tutorial to fix it.

Replace Old URLs 

If you moved your site to a new domain, some links may still point to your old one. To fix this, install a plugin like Better Search Replace. This tool helps you quickly find and replace old URLs inside your database.

Just search for your old site address (oldsite.com) and replace it with your new one (newsite.com). Run it carefully and always back up your database before making changes.

Test Functionalities 

Finally, take time to check your entire website. Click through pages and test your WordPress themes, plugins, menus, and widgets. Ensure images load correctly and your contact forms, pop-ups, or shopping carts work as expected. This step ensures your site is working correctly and is ready for visitors.

Doing these post-cloning steps is essential. They help fix hidden issues and ensure your new site is as good as the original.

Troubleshoot Common Issues

After you clone a WordPress site, a few things may not work correctly. Don’t worry: most issues are easy to fix if you know where to look.

One common problem is a database connection error. If your new site shows a message like Error establishing a database connection, it usually means something is wrong with the login details in your wp-config.php file. Open that file and double-check the database name, username, and password. Ensure they match the new database you created during the cloning process.

Another issue you may find is broken links or missing images. This can happen if your site still points to the old domain. To fix this, ensure you replace the old URLs in your database. Ensure every link and image points to the new domain so everything loads correctly.

You may also notice that some pages show a 404 error even though the content is there. This is usually a permalink problem. To fix this, update permalinks as described in Post-Cloning Steps.

These issues are common and easy to solve. With a few quick checks and updates, your cloned site will run like the original.

FAQS

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– A Clear Guide To Migrate WordPress Sites Seamlessly

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