Title: 2nd wordpress installation for testing Last modified: August 19, 2016 --- # 2nd wordpress installation for testing * [caladd](https://wordpress.org/support/users/caladd/) * (@caladd) * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/) * i’m new to wordpress, and i’m not sure exactly what to look for to get this answer * i am helping someone update their wordpress site, but as i make changes, i do not want them to immediately appear on their live site. how do i move a copy of their entire site to a test folder, make changes there for them to see (remotely from me), then later on shift all those changes back to the main site Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total) * Thread Starter [caladd](https://wordpress.org/support/users/caladd/) * (@caladd) * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/#post-1695437) * i’ve read how to _move_ an installation, but i’m not sure how that will work for what i need. i’m going to be on the same server * example [http://www.restaurant.com](http://www.restaurant.com) is the live site and i want their changes to show up on [http://www.restaurant.com/test](http://www.restaurant.com/test) * when they are happy with test, i want to move it back to the live site root folder * Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/) * (@ipstenu) * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/#post-1695516) * Really … you don’t need to move or copy even. I’m assuming you’re trying to make a new theme, right? Or is it a whole thing, with new posts etc? * If all you’re doing is themes, you can make a new WP install in /test/ and copy the theme over to show them. * Thread Starter [caladd](https://wordpress.org/support/users/caladd/) * (@caladd) * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/#post-1695543) * Keeping the existing theme and structure * Changing colors, text, image sizes, etc * Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/) * (@ipstenu) * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/#post-1695581) * Oh yeah, don’t even bother copying or moving. Just make a second install of WP OR turn your install into MultiSite and make a subfolder site called ‘test’ and use that for your … test 🙂 * [http://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network](http://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network) * Also grab this sample content so you can see how it looks with real data: [http://wpcandy.com/made/the-sample-post-collection](http://wpcandy.com/made/the-sample-post-collection) * Thread Starter [caladd](https://wordpress.org/support/users/caladd/) * (@caladd) * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/#post-1695703) * will this solve my problem of essentially needing the exact same website/wordpress in the test folder? * i am not changing enough to reinstall from scratch… just a few visual elements and text * Moderator [Ipstenu (Mika Epstein)](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ipstenu/) * (@ipstenu) * 🏳️‍🌈 Advisor and Activist * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/#post-1695704) * Yeah. You can even use a plugin like [http://wpebooks.com/replicator/](http://wpebooks.com/replicator/) to copy the existing site setup so you have a more accurate dupe. * Thread Starter [caladd](https://wordpress.org/support/users/caladd/) * (@caladd) * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/#post-1695716) * ok, i tried making a new install and editing the theme on the original site * [http://www.themidtowngrille.com/](http://www.themidtowngrille.com/) * i lose everything when installing to test * [http://www.themidtowngrille.com/](http://www.themidtowngrille.com/) * i’m trying to edit and add new pages… but it’s all turning into a big mess. i dont understand all the php/coding stuff at all. * is there no free application to exactly reproduce a wordpress site into another folder? i would hate to pay for a replicator and have it not work as well * i’m so lost and i want to headbutt something * Thread Starter [caladd](https://wordpress.org/support/users/caladd/) * (@caladd) * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/#post-1695717) * i dont want a more accurate dupe * i want a carbon copy of [http://www.themidtowngrille.com/](http://www.themidtowngrille.com/) * i can edit CSS, random gif files, etc to change the look how they want. and i can update text. but when i try this from a fresh install, you see the mess and lack of structure i come up with * Thread Starter [caladd](https://wordpress.org/support/users/caladd/) * (@caladd) * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/#post-1695718) * i have tried exporting/importing the pages as well now and still the structure is messed up… is this even a wordpress issue at this point? (for example my links to different parts of the page just do not appear in the bar under the header on the /test site) * Thread Starter [caladd](https://wordpress.org/support/users/caladd/) * (@caladd) * [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/#post-1695757) * i had to ask the help of a third party web designer. he has to start from scratch. i still dont know what is wrong Viewing 10 replies - 1 through 10 (of 10 total) The topic ‘2nd wordpress installation for testing’ is closed to new replies. ## Tags * [second installation](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/second-installation/) * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/) * 10 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [caladd](https://wordpress.org/support/users/caladd/) * Last activity: [15 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/2nd-wordpress-installation-for-testing/#post-1695757) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics