Production → Backup → Local

Turn a live WordPress site into a local development environment in minutes

WP Staging Desktop lets you create local WordPress sites, switch PHP versions, and restore production backups on your computer. No manual Docker setup. No host lock-in.

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Free version included. No account required to start.

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The Problem

The work starts with a live site, not a blank install

Most WordPress work begins with an existing production website. Getting that site onto your machine safely is the slow, error-prone part.

"I need this client website locally"

Exporting databases, copying files, replacing URLs, and fixing environment mismatches eats hours before any real work starts.

Testing directly on production is risky

One bad plugin update or PHP change on a live site can take down a store, a publication, or a client relationship.

Host staging does not help locally

Staging inside the hosting account stays remote, host-dependent, and out of reach for local debugging with your own tools.

Production to Local

Restore a production WordPress site locally

A .wpstg backup is a portable copy of a whole site. WP Staging Desktop turns it into a running local environment, including files and database.

  1. 1

    Create Backup

    Create a portable .wpstg backup on the live site using the free WP Staging plugin

  2. 2

    Open Desktop

    Add a site, choose Restore from backup

  3. 3

    Select .wpstg File

    From disk, or import from a backup URL

  4. 4

    Local Site Is Ready

    Open it in the browser, log in to wp-admin

The restored site runs locally: open it in the browser or jump straight into wp-admin with one-click auto-login

AI-Ready CLI

Give Claude, Codex, and other AI coding agents a real WordPress sandbox

Use WP Staging CLI to create deterministic local WordPress environments that AI agents can inspect, modify, test, and recreate without touching production.

WP Staging CLI turns a WP Staging backup into a fully working local WordPress site. It creates the Docker-based environment, imports the database, restores the files, configures WordPress, and makes the site available locally.

That gives AI coding tools a safe and repeatable workspace for real WordPress projects.

zsh — wpstaging 
# Install WP Staging CLI on macOS, Linux, or WSL
curl -fsSL https://wp-staging.com/install.sh | bash

# Create a local WordPress site from a WP Staging backup URL
wpstaging add mysite.local --from=https://example.com/path/to/backup.wpstg

# Or restore a backup into an existing local site
wpstaging restore mysite.local --from=./backup.wpstg

# Create a blank local WordPress site
wpstaging add mysite.local

# Create a site with specific versions
wpstaging add mysite.local --php=8.4 --wp=6.2.1 --db-prefix=custom_

Now your AI coding agent can work inside a real local WordPress environment instead of guessing from static files.

The Pipeline

  1. Production WordPress Site

    Your live site

  2. WP Staging Backup

    Portable .wpstg file

  3. WP Staging CLI

    Command-line automation

  4. Local WordPress Sandbox

    Docker-based and isolated

  5. AI Coding Agents & Developers

    Claude Code, Codex, Cursor

Deterministic Sandboxes

Create the same local WordPress environment again and again from the same backup source.

Safe AI Experiments

Let AI agents edit plugins, themes, database content, and configuration locally without touching production.

Real WordPress Context

Give AI tools an actual running WordPress site with plugins, themes, uploads, database, PHP version, and WordPress version.

Parallel Agent Workflows

Create multiple local copies for different approaches, agents, or experiments.

Parallel Agent Workflows

Spin up isolated copies of the same site so each agent — or each approach — works without colliding.

zsh — parallel sandboxes 
wpstaging add client-site-claude.local --from=https://example.com/backup.wpstg
wpstaging add client-site-codex.local --from=https://example.com/backup.wpstg
wpstaging add client-site-human.local --from=https://example.com/backup.wpstg

Create a local Docker-based WordPress site in about 60 seconds

See how WP Staging CLI creates a local WordPress staging site from the command line.

Download WP Staging Desktop
Read CLI Documentation

Install WP Staging CLI

WP Staging CLI requires a valid WP Staging Pro Developer or Agency license.

The Workflow

From production website to local development and back

  1. Production Website

    Your live site

  2. WP STAGING Backup

    Portable .wpstg file

  3. WP Staging Desktop

    Restore locally

  4. Local Development

    Develop, test, debug

  5. Pro

    Deploy Changes

    Back to production

Switch PHP and WordPress versions per site to test compatibility

Ready to try it yourself?

Download the free desktop app and restore your first site locally today.

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Free Version

Start free with a complete local WordPress workflow

The free version is a full local development tool, not a trial.

Create local WordPress sites

Spin up clean local WordPress installations without manually configuring Docker.

Switch PHP versions

Test compatibility across PHP versions per local site.

Restore local .wpstg backups

Bring an existing WordPress site to your local machine from a WP STAGING backup file.

Reusable Docker setup

Use Docker-based environments that are easier to understand, reuse, and transfer. The docker-compose files stay accessible.

Works offline

After installation, local site work can continue without relying on a remote service.

All local sites in one place: production copies, restored backups, compatibility tests, and clean installs
Download Free

WP Staging Pro · Remote Workflows

Upgrade when local development becomes a production workflow

Free is for local development. WP Staging Pro unlocks remote workflows between your local environment, production websites, backup URLs, cloud storage, and deployment workflows. The WP Staging Pro plugin is included and delivered automatically with your license.

Connect to production and pull its data

Link a local site to a live WordPress installation via API key, then pull fresh production data into your local environment without manually downloading and importing backups. Works with any live website running the bundled WP Staging Pro plugin.

Import remote backups

Restore directly from a remote backup URL without downloading and moving the file manually.

Push Coming Soon

Deploy local changes to production

Create a backup of your local site and restore it on the production website using the bundled WP Staging Pro plugin. Direct push is coming soon.

Restore from remote backup sources

Use WP Staging Pro backup workflows as reliable remote restore sources for Desktop.

Cloud and remote backup workflows

Use professional backup storage and restore workflows where supported by WP Staging Pro.

Priority support

Get help for professional workflows, migration scenarios, and production-critical issues.

Get WP Staging Pro Compare Free vs Pro

Requires WP Staging Pro

Connect local development to production

WP Staging Desktop becomes a complete production workflow when combined with WP Staging Pro. Pull data from live websites, test changes locally, and push approved updates back to production.

How the connection works

1 Connect the source site with a connection key

Paste the connection key from the source site. The key can be revoked any time.

2 Choose what to sync

Pick media, themes, plugins, and database. Only the selected items are replaced on the target site.

WP Staging Desktop is free. Production synchronization, pull, and push workflows require a WP Staging Pro license.

Connect your local environment to production

WP Staging Desktop stays free. Production workflows are unlocked with a WP Staging Pro license.

Get WP Staging Pro View Pricing

Compare

Free vs Pro

Free is WP Staging Desktop on its own. Pro is Desktop combined with WP Staging Pro for production-connected workflows.

Feature comparison between WP Staging Desktop Free and Pro
Feature Desktop (Free) Desktop + WP Staging Pro
Create local WordPress sites Yes Yes
Switch PHP versions Yes Yes
Docker-based local environments Yes Yes
Restore local .wpstg backup files Yes Yes
Import backup from direct URL — Yes
Create backups from local WordPress site Via included WP Staging plugin Via bundled WP Staging Pro plugin
WP Staging Pro plugin for production sites — Bundled
Connect to a live site via API key and pull its data — Yes
Deploy local changes to production — Via backup restore, direct push coming soon
Cloud backup workflows — Yes
Priority support Community Priority
Agency workflow support Limited Yes
Download Free
Get WP Staging Pro

Use Cases

Built for real WordPress work

Bring a client site to your local machine

Restore the client's production site from a portable backup and start working in minutes, without host access or host-specific staging tools.

Prepare WooCommerce updates safely

Work on a local copy before applying risky updates to a revenue-generating store.

Test PHP compatibility

Switch PHP versions and verify whether plugins, themes, and custom code are ready.

Debug production issues locally

Restore a backup locally and investigate without touching the live website.

Why Not Host Staging?

Host staging keeps you inside the hosting account

Staging tools from hosting providers are convenient, but they stay remote and host-bound. WP Staging Desktop gives you a workflow you own.

Comparison between host staging and WP Staging Desktop
Host Staging WP Staging Desktop
Lives inside hosting account Runs on your machine
Usually remote only Fully local environment
Host-dependent Host-independent
Limited local debugging Full debugging capabilities
Harder to move between hosts Portable backup workflows

Reliability

Built on proven backup technology

WP Staging Desktop uses the same backup and restore engine as the WP Staging plugin, developed and tested for years on production WordPress sites.

2,000+

Automated Tests

Backup and restore paths are covered by an automated test suite.

PHP 7.4–8.4

Version Coverage

Tested against the supported PHP versions WordPress runs on.

~12 hrs

Release Validation

Every release passes a validation process before it ships.

100,000s

WordPress Installations

The backup technology runs on hundreds of thousands of sites.

For Developers

Made for developers who need control

WP Staging Desktop uses Docker under the hood, but removes the repetitive setup work. You get a practical local WordPress environment without giving up portability or control.

Docker-based
Standard containers, with direct access to the docker-compose files.
PHP version switching
Per-site PHP versions, switched from the app.
Reusable environment structure
Environments you can understand, reuse, and transfer.
Backup-based restore workflow
Portable .wpstg files as the transport layer between environments.
Host-independent
Your local development workflow stays the same regardless of where your WordPress site is hosted.
mysite.local — docker-compose.yml 
services:
  wordpress:
    image: wpstaging/wordpress:php8.3
    ports:
      - "443:443"
    volumes:
      - ./wp-content:/var/www/html/wp-content
  db:
    image: mariadb:11
    volumes:
      - ./data/mysql:/var/lib/mysql
Generated per site. Readable, reusable, and yours to edit.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

No. It is a local WordPress development application. It can create local WordPress sites, switch PHP versions, and restore WP STAGING backups into a local Docker-based environment.

Bring WordPress production sites to your local machine

Download Free
Compare Free vs Pro

Available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Free version included.