How to Clone or Copy an Instance in Your Apex Managed Panel

Cloning an instance lets you create an exact duplicate of an existing WordPress site — files, database, plugins, and all. This is useful for staging environments, new projects, or safe troubleshooting.

Why You Might Clone an Instance #

• Staging environments — Test plugin updates, theme changes, or new features without touching your live site.
• Starting a new project from a template — Save time by cloning a solid starting setup.
• Troubleshooting safely — Diagnose an issue on a copy without risking changes to the live version.

Step-by-Step: Cloning an Instance #

1. Log in to my.apexmanagedhosting.com and open Your Apex Managed Panel.
2. From the list of instances, find the site you want to clone.
3. Click the options menu (three dots or a gear icon) next to the instance.
4. Select Clone Instance (sometimes labeled Copy Instance).
5. Give the new cloned instance a name that distinguishes it from the original — for example, adding “-staging” to the end.
6. Choose whether the clone should use a temporary Apex-provided domain or a custom domain/subdomain you own.
7. Click Create Clone to begin the process.

What Happens During Cloning #

1. All website files, including themes, plugins, and uploads, are copied from the original.
2. The database is duplicated, preserving all posts, pages, products, and settings.
3. A new instance is provisioned with its own environment.
4. An SSL certificate is issued for the new domain once it’s confirmed and pointed correctly.

Cloning typically completes within several minutes to about half an hour for larger sites.

Working with Your Cloned Instance #

1. Once cloning finishes, access the clone through its assigned domain or temporary URL.
2. Log in to WordPress using the same credentials as the original site.
3. Make your changes freely — none of this affects your live site.
4. When ready to bring changes live, manually recreate them on the production instance, or contact our support team.

Managing Multiple Instances #

Each instance, including clones, may count toward your plan’s website limit. Check your plan details at my.apexmanagedhosting.com if unsure.

Need Help? #

If you need further assistance, contact our support team at [email protected] or start a live chat from any page on apexmanagedhosting.com.