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

# Configuring a WordPress testing sandbox

> Set up a safe WordPress testing environment with our easy step-by-step guide!

This article describes how to set up a dedicated WordPress testing environment, also known as a *sandbox*. With a sandbox, you can safely test and experiment with a WordPress installation without affecting your live WordPress site.

## Why use a sandbox?

Suppose you want to try out a new WordPress theme or plugin. You probably do not want to do this on your live production site. (What if a new plugin renders your entire inaccessible? Or the new theme you install looks terrible?) On the other hand, you want to be able to do your testing in an environment that matches the live site as closely as possible.

A sandbox provides an isolated environment where you can do this testing and experimentation without fear of affecting your live site. In the following procedure, we use [ManageWP](https://managewp.com) to create an exact site copy (also known as a *clone* ) that runs on the same server as the live WordPress site.

## Setting up a sandbox

To set up a WordPress sandbox installation using ManageWP, follow these steps:

1. Use cPanel to create a MySQL database and database user for the cloned WordPress site. You will need to provide this information during the cloning process.
   > 📘 Note
   >
   > For information about how to create a MySQL database and user, please see [this article](/docs/managing-mysql-databases).

2. Use cPanel to create an FTP user to use during the cloning process.
   > 📘 Note
   >
   > For information about how to set up an FTP user, please see [this article](/docs/ftp-accounts-and-sessions).

3. Log in to the WordPress site you want to clone, and then install the **ManageWP - Worker** plugin.

4. If you have not already done so, set up a ManageWP account at [https://managewp.com](https://managewp.com).

5. Log in to your ManageWP account, and then add the WordPress site that you want to clone. After you do this, you are ready to begin the cloning process.

6. On the top menu bar of the ManageWP dashboard, click **Backup/Migrate**, and then click **Clone/Migration Wizard**:\
   ![ManageWP - Clone menu](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-managewp-menu-clone.png)

7. In the **Clone/Migration Wizard** dialog box, on the **Select Source** page, select **Existing Website on Your Account**, and then click the name of the site you want to clone:\
   ![ManageWP - Clone - Select Source](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-managewp-clone-select-source.png)

8. Click **Next**. ManageWP creates a snapshot of the existing site, and then **Select Destination** page appears.

9. Select **New Website**. The New Website options appear:\
   ![ManageWP - Clone - Select Destination](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-managewp-clone-select-destination.png)

10. On the **Select Destination** page:

* In the **Website URL** text box, type the URL for the new site.
  > 👍 Tip
  >
  > You can create the cloned site in a subdirectory (for example, *example.com/clone* ) or in a subdomain (for example, *clone.example.com* ). For information about how to set up a subdomain, please see [this article](/docs/subdomains).

* In the **FTP Host** text box, type your hosting.com account's server name.
  > 📘 Note
  >
  > For information about how to determine your account's server name, please see [this article](/docs/determining-your-accounts-server-name).

* In the **FTP Username** text box, type FTP account username that you created in step 2.

* In the **FTP Password** text box, type the FTP account password that you specified in step 2.

* In the **Installation Folder Path** text box, type the destination path where ManageWP will copy the site.
  > 🚧 Important
  >
  > This path is based on the root directory for the FTP account. For example, if the FTP account's root directory is *public\_html*, and the website URL is *example.com/clone*, then the installation folder path is *clone*.

* Under **Advanced Options**, confirm that the **Port** text box value is **21**.

* Select the **Use Passive Mode** check box.

* Click **Test Connection**. You should receive a **Connection Successful** message. If you do not, review the FTP settings and try again.

11. Click **Next.**

12. Specify the database settings:

* Confirm that the **DB Host** text box value is **localhost**.

* In the **DB Name** text box, type the name of the database that you created in step 1.

* In the **DB Username** text box, type the name of the database user that you created in step 1.

* In the **DB Password** text box, type the password for the database that you created in step 1.

13. Click **Next**. The **Other Options** page appears:

* You can optionally create a new administration account for the cloned WordPress site. To do this, specify the new username and password in the text boxes provided.

* To instruct search engines not to index the cloned site, select the **Discourage search engines from indexing this site** check box.

* To add the cloned site to your ManageWP account, select the **Add website to ManageWP** check box.

14. Click **Next**, and then click **Clone**. ManageWP clones the site.

15. When the clone process is complete, click **Visit your new site**. The cloned site, an exact copy of the original site, appears in a new browser tab.

## More information

For more information about the concept of*sandboxing*, please visit [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox\_(software\_development)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbox_\(software_development\)).