Staging environments on Kinsta
How to create, use, and push a staging environment on Kinsta, including selective push options for files and database.
Every site on Kinsta can have its own free staging environment — a separate copy where changes can be tested before going live. Kinsta's staging includes a useful option to selectively push only files, only the database, or both, and even specific files, folders, or database tables.
Quick summary
Every Kinsta site can have a free standard staging environment. We use it to test changes safely before they reach your live site. Once changes are verified, we push from staging to live. Kinsta lets us choose exactly what gets pushed — files, database, or both — which reduces risk.
What staging is on Kinsta
Kinsta's staging environment is:
- A full copy of your live site — when created as a clone of live: same theme, plugins, content, and settings at the time it was created.
- Hidden from search engines — Kinsta tells search engines not to index staging URLs.
- Open to anyone with the link, unless you add a password — you can turn on password protection under Tools so only people with the password can view it.
- On a separate URL — in the format
stg-sitename-environmentname.kinsta.cloud.
Creating a staging environment
Log in to MyKinsta and open your site from Sites.
Click the environment selector (it shows Live) and choose Create new environment.
Choose Standard environment and click Continue. Then choose Clone an existing environment, give the environment a name (3 to 12 characters), pick Live as the environment to clone, and click Continue again. Kinsta will copy your live site's files and database.
Wait for the copy to complete. This usually takes a few minutes.
Note the staging URL. Switch to the staging environment and open its Domains page to find it.
Pushing staging to live
After testing on staging:
Open the staging environment in MyKinsta for your site.
Click Push Environment and choose to push to your live environment.
Choose what to push. Kinsta gives you these options:
- Files — all files and folders (themes, plugins, and uploads), or only the ones you pick. The live database stays intact.
- Database — all database tables, or only the ones you pick. Live files stay intact.
- Files and database — a full push (most common for major changes).
Whatever you choose, Kinsta also pushes the environment's settings, such as redirects and PHP settings, and these overwrite the live site's settings.
Confirm the push. Type the site name and click Push to environment. Kinsta takes a backup of the live site first, so the push can be rolled back.
Verify the live site. Open your website in a fresh browser tab and check everything looks correct.
Full pushes overwrite the live site completely
Whenever you push the database from staging to live (on its own or with files), every change made to the live site's database since staging was created is lost: new posts, comments, orders, and sign-ups. Coordinate with us before a database or full push to avoid overwriting new content.
Selective push: when to use each option
| Push type | Use when |
|---|---|
| Files only | You changed theme or plugin code, but content was added to the live site since staging was created |
| Database only | You updated content or settings on staging, and the code on live is already up to date (anything added to the live database since staging was created will be lost) |
| Files and database | You did a full rebuild on staging and want to completely replace the live site |
Refreshing staging from live
To update staging with the latest live site content:
Open your live environment in MyKinsta.
Click Push Environment and choose your staging environment as the destination.
Choose what to push and confirm. Whatever you push overwrites the staging content.
Common questions
Is staging included on all Kinsta plans?
Yes. Each site can have one free standard staging environment. Some custom plans limit how many staging environments you can add.
Can I add more staging environments?
Yes. Kinsta sells premium staging environments as a paid add-on, up to five per site. Only the company owner or a company administrator can add one.
Can I give a client access to staging?
Yes. Share the staging URL, and the password if you've turned on password protection, with whoever needs to review work in progress. The URL is on the staging environment's Domains page in MyKinsta.
Related guides
- What is a staging site?
- The MyKinsta dashboard explained
- Backups on Kinsta
- Staging sites on Flywheel
- Staging on WP Engine
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