> ## 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.

# Website cloning with Softaculous

> Learn to clone a Softaculous installation for testing and development before updating your main site.

This article describes how to use Softaculous to clone a website. Cloning enables you to create an exact copy of an existing Softaculous installation. You can then use the cloned site to safely develop and test changes before you apply them to the primary installation.

## Cloning a site

The following procedure uses a WordPress installation as an example of how to clone a site. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Log in to cPanel.
   > 📘 Note
   >
   > If you do not know how to log in to your cPanel account, please see [this article](/docs/accessing-cpanel).

2. On the **Tools** page, in the **Softaculous Apps Installer** section, click **Softaculous Apps Installer** (or any of the icons under **Scripts** or **Categories**).

3. Click the **All Installations** icon:\
   ![](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-softaculous-allinstallations.png)

4. Locate the installation (such as WordPress) that you want to clone, and then click the **Clone** (![](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-softaculous-clone-icon.gif)) icon.

5. The **Cloning** page appears:

* In the **Choose Protocol** list box, select the protocol.
  > 📘 Note
  >
  > If you have an SSL certificate installed on your site, select **https\://** or **https\://www** . If you do not have an SSL certificate installed on your site, select **http\://** or **http\://www** .

* In the **Choose Domain** list box, select the domain for installation, or accept the default value.

* In the **In Directory** text box, type the destination directory for the clone. For example, type `wp-clone`.

* In the **Database Name** text box, type the name of the database to create for the application, or accept the default value.![](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-softaculous-clone-details-page.png)

6. Click **Clone Installation**:\
   ![](https://static.hosting.com/kb/kb-softaculous-clone-installation-button.png)

Softaculous clones the site.

<Note>
  * The time required to clone a site depends on the size of the source installation.

  * The username and password for the cloned site are the same as for the source installation.
</Note>

## Related articles

* [Website staging with Softaculous](/docs/website-staging-with-softaculous)

* [How to manage your applications in Softaculous](/docs/manage-your-applications)