How to Clone a WordPress Site with or Without a Plugin: Step-by-Step Guide

Cloning a WordPress site can be a game-changer for agencies looking to save time and effort when replicating client websites, testing new features, or migrating content. Whether you need to duplicate a WordPress site for a fresh install, set up a staging environment, or migrate to a new host, knowing how to clone a WordPress site is essential. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of how to clone a WordPress site, with or without a plugin, making it easy for agencies to handle site duplications efficiently.

What Is Cloning a Website?

Cloning a website means creating a replica of an existing site, including its content, design, settings, and functionality. For agencies, cloning a WordPress site can be extremely beneficial. Whether you want to replicate a client’s website for staging purposes, back up a site before making major changes, or move the site to a new host, WordPress site cloning offers a hassle-free solution. 

Cloning a site ensures that every detail of the original website, including themes, plugins, and configurations, is preserved when replicated.

Unlike copying a site, which might only transfer specific parts of a site, cloning a WordPress site creates a complete duplicate, allowing you to work with the replica without any loss of data or structure.

Differences Between Cloning and Copying a WordPress Site

Aspect	Cloning a WordPress Site	Copying a WordPress Site
Purpose	Creates a replica of the entire site, preserving all data, design, and functionality.	Copies only specific parts of the website, such as content or images, without maintaining the full structure or functionality.
Content Transfer	All content, themes, plugins, widgets, and settings are included in the cloned version.	Only selected content (like posts, pages, or media) is transferred; other site elements may be missed.
Database	The entire WordPress database is replicated, keeping all settings, customizations, and site configurations intact.	Database elements are not necessarily copied, so settings and configurations may not be included in the copy.
Use Cases	Perfect for site migration, creating staging environments, or creating multiple instances of a site for testing.	Suitable for simple content backup or transferring basic elements to a new site without a need for full replication.
Method	Typically done using cloning tools or plugins that automate the process.	Can be done manually or with basic backup tools, but may require more manual effort.
Risk of Errors	Cloning usually eliminates errors as it ensures an exact match of the site.	Copying might result in missing files or broken links due to incomplete transfers.
Time and Effort	A quicker process as all site elements are transferred at once.	May require more effort to manually copy and transfer each element.
Site Integrity	Ensures the cloned site functions exactly like the original, without any loss of data.	The copied site might not work as expected due to missing configurations or settings.

When to Clone a WordPress Site

Cloning a WordPress site is a valuable strategy for agencies, offering solutions in various situations. Here are the most common scenarios when cloning is essential:

• Creating a Staging Environment: Clone the site to test new features or updates without affecting the live version, ensuring safe experimentation.
  
• Site Migration: Clone the entire site when migrating to a new hosting provider or domain, ensuring a smooth transition with all files intact.
  
• Backing Up Before Major Changes: Clone the site as a backup before making significant changes, protecting the original version in case of issues.
  
• Replicating for Multiple Clients: Easily replicate a successful website design for different clients, saving time while maintaining consistency.
  
• Testing Customizations: Clone the site to test new themes, plugins, or design changes without impacting the live website.
  
• Troubleshooting Issues: Clone the site to safely test fixes or troubleshoot problems without disrupting the live site.
  
• Testing Backup Procedures: Clone the site to test backup and restore processes, ensuring you can recover quickly if needed.
  

WordPress site cloning provides agencies with a reliable way to manage site changes, backups, and migrations while reducing risk and improving workflow efficiency.

How To Clone a WordPress Site

Agencies have two main methods to clone a WordPress site: manual and automated. Both methods have their pros and cons, depending on the complexity of the task and the desired outcome.

Manual Method: The manual method involves duplicating the WordPress site by manually copying the database, files, and configurations. This process requires technical expertise and is more time-consuming, but it gives agencies complete control over the cloning process.

Automated Method: The automated method uses plugins or specialized tools to clone the site quickly and easily. These tools handle the technical aspects for you, making the process faster and simpler, but may have limitations in customization.

Differences Between Manual and Automated Cloning Methods

Here is how both these methods of cloning a WordPress site are different from each other. 

Aspect	Manual Cloning	Automated Cloning
Process	Involves manually copying files and the database.	Uses plugins or tools to automatically clone the site.
Time Required	Time-consuming, and requires careful attention to detail.	Faster and simpler, ideal for quick cloning.
Technical Skills	Requires technical knowledge of WordPress files and databases.	Does not require much technical knowledge.
Customization	High level of control and customization.	Limited customization options depending on the tool.
Risk of Errors	Higher risk of errors if not done correctly.	Lower risk as the plugin handles most of the process.
Tools Required	No tools required, just access to hosting and database.	Requires a cloning plugin or tool (e.g., Duplicator, All-in-One WP Migration).
Flexibility	Highly flexible, can be tailored to specific needs.	Less flexible due to the limitations of the tool.
Use Case	Best for experienced developers or custom projects.	Best for quick cloning with minimal technical effort.

Each site cloning method offers advantages based on the project’s needs, allowing agencies to choose the best option for cloning a WordPress site efficiently and accurately.

How to Clone a WordPress Site Manually

Cloning a WordPress site manually gives you full control over the process, allowing you to replicate a site with precision. While it requires more time and technical knowledge compared to automated methods, this approach is ideal for agencies handling custom projects or when fine-tuned control is needed.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for cloning a WordPress site manually:

Step 1: Backup the Original Site

Before starting the cloning process, it’s crucial to back up both the files and database of the original WordPress site to ensure nothing gets lost during the process.

1. Backup WordPress Files
   
   • Access your website’s file manager through your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel) or use an FTP client like FileZilla.
   • Download the entire wp-content folder, which contains your themes, plugins, and media files.
   • Download all the files in the root directory, including WordPress core files, such as wp-config.php, .htaccess, etc.
2. Backup the Database
   
   • Log into phpMyAdmin through your hosting control panel.
   • Select the database that is associated with your WordPress site.
   • Click on Export at the top of the page. Choose the Quick export method and SQL format, then click Go to download the database file.

Step 2: Set Up the New Environment

To clone the site, you need to set up the new environment (either a staging site or a new domain/server).

1. Create a New Database
   
   • In your hosting control panel, go to phpMyAdmin and create a new database for the cloned site.
   • Create a new MySQL user and assign it to the new database with all privileges.
2. Upload Files to the New Location
   
   • Use your FTP client or File Manager to upload the wp-content folder and all root files you backed up to the new location (e.g., new domain or subdirectory).

Step 3: Import the Database

Now, import the original site’s database into the new environment.

1. Import the Database
   • Go to phpMyAdmin on the new server and select the newly created database.
   • Click on Import, choose the SQL file that you downloaded in Step 1, and click Go to import the database into the new database.

Step 4: Update the wp-config.php File

The wp-config.php file needs to be updated to connect your WordPress installation to the new database.

1. Edit wp-config.php
   
   • Open the wp-config.php file in the root directory of the cloned site.
   • Change the following lines to reflect the new database information:

define('DB_NAME', 'new_database_name');
define('DB_USER', 'new_database_user');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'new_database_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

2.  Save the file and upload it to the new location if you’re editing it locally.
   

Step 5: Update Site URLs

The WordPress site still has references to the old site URL in the database. To ensure the cloned site works properly, these URLs need to be updated.

1. Update Site URL in the Database
   
   • Access phpMyAdmin for the cloned site’s database.
   • Go to the wp_options table and update the following fields:
     • siteurl (the URL of your site)
     • home (the URL of your site)
   • Replace the old site URL with the new one (e.g., change oldsite.com to newsite.com).
2. Update URLs in Other Database Tables
   Some URLs may be hardcoded in posts or widgets. Use a plugin like Search and Replace or run SQL queries to replace old URLs with new ones in other database tables, such as wp_posts and wp_postmeta.
   

Step 6: Test the Cloned Site

Once the cloning process is complete, check your new site thoroughly to make sure everything is working as expected.

1. Check Pages and Posts
   Verify that all pages, posts, images, and media files have been successfully copied.
   
2. Check Permalinks
   Go to the WordPress dashboard on the cloned site, and navigate to Settings > Permalinks. Click Save Changes to flush rewrite rules and ensure URLs are correct.
   
3. Check Plugins and Themes
   Make sure all installed plugins and themes are activated and working properly on the cloned site.
   

Step 7: Update Your DNS (If Applicable)

If you’re cloning a WordPress site to a new domain, update the DNS settings to point to the new server. This ensures that visitors will be directed to the cloned site.

1. Update DNS Records
   Update the A record or CNAME record to point to the IP address of the new server or hosting provider.

How to Clone a WordPress Site Automatically

If you’re looking for an easy way to clone a WordPress site then using plugins or specialized tools is the best way.  This is the automatic site cloning method that handles much of the technical work for you. 

Below is a step-by-step guide for cloning a WordPress site automatically. 

Step 1: Choose a WordPressCloning Plugin

Several WordPress plugins make cloning a site quick and easy. For this guide, we’ll use Duplicator, a widely used plugin for cloning and migrating WordPress sites.

• In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
• Search for Duplicator in the search bar.

• Click Install Now, then click Activate.

Step 2: Create a Package

After installing and activating the plugin, you can begin the cloning process by creating a package for your site. Here is how you can do it. 

• In the WordPress dashboard, click on Duplicator >Backups.
• Click on the Create New button at the top of the page.

You will be taken to a wizard that walks you through the process. Duplicator will automatically select all the files and the database needed to clone your WordPress site.

• Click Next to proceed.

• The plugin will perform a system scan to check if everything is in order.

• If no errors are found, click Build to create the clone package. If there are any errors, follow the plugin’s suggestions to resolve them before proceeding.

Once the package is built, you will see two downloadable files: Installer File (a PHP file used to install the clone) and Archive File (a .zip file containing your WordPress site files and database)

• Click on the Download Both Files buttons to download both files to your computer.

Step 3: Upload the Package to the New Location

Now that you have the package files, you need to upload them to the new location where you want to clone the site (e.g., a new server, domain, or subdirectory).

If your site is hosted on a local server, you’ll need to create a new folder within your local server’s root directory, where all your websites are stored. For instance, if you’re using **MAMP**, the folder will be located at **/Applications/MAMP/htdocs/**. If you’re using **WAMP**, it will be found at **C:\wamp\www**. 

Once you’ve created the folder for your cloned website, open it and copy both the archive file and the installer into this new directory.

To clone your website to a different WordPress hosting platform, start by creating an empty website. You can then upload the necessary files using the hosting provider’s file manager. 

You can use FTP (FileZilla) or the file manager in your hosting control panel to upload the installer.php and archive.zip files to the root directory of your new site or server.

You also need to create a new MySQL database and a user with full privileges, just like you would in the manual cloning method.

Step 4: Run the Installer

After uploading the package files, you can run the Duplicator installer to automatically set up the cloned site.

• Open a browser and navigate to the installer file you uploaded. This will be something like http://newsite.com/installer.php.
• Enter the new database details (database name, user, and password) that you set up earlier. 
• Click on Test Database to ensure that the connection is successful. Once verified, click Next.
• Duplicator will now extract the archive.zip file, which contains all of your site’s files and database.

Step 5: Update Site URL and Database Details

Once the extraction is complete, you will need to update the site URL and other configurations.

• Duplicator will automatically detect and replace old URLs with new ones in the database. Verify that the correct site URL is displayed.
• After the site URL has been updated, click Next to finish the installation process.
• Duplicator will update your database, set the proper file paths, and configure the cloned site.

Conclusion

Cloning a WordPress site is an essential skill for agencies, whether you’re migrating to a new server, creating a staging site, or duplicating an existing site for client projects. Both manual and automated methods offer unique benefits, depending on your level of expertise and the time available. 

The manual method provides more control, while automated plugins like Duplicator streamline the process, making it quick and easy. By following the steps outlined in this guide, agencies can confidently clone WordPress sites with minimal risk, ensuring smooth transitions and backups.

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