Remote Sync: Pull a WordPress Site from One Server to Another (Made Easy)

Overview

Remote Sync lets you migrate or clone a WordPress site from one server to another using a secure API key — without manually exporting databases or copying files. In this 46-second demo, you’ll see how simple it is to connect sites and initiate a sync in just a few clicks.

Remote Sync is a premium feature available only in the WP Staging Pro Developer and Agency license plans. It is designed for site owners, agencies, and developers who need a faster, more intuitive workflow for moving content between WordPress instances.

🎥 Video Walkthrough — 46s Demo


What You’ll See in the Demo

The video shows the Remote Sync workflow end-to-end:

  1. Open Remote Sync — Launch the Remote Sync modal from your WP Staging dashboard.
  2. Paste API key — Use a secure API key generated from the source site.
  3. Confirm destination — Choose where you want to pull the remote site.
  4. Start the sync — WP Staging will transfer files and database content for you.

The UI provides real-time progress feedback so you can see how the sync is progressing.


Detailed Steps

1. Generate and Enter API Key

Remote Sync uses a secure API key to authenticate between two WordPress installations.
From the source site go to WP Staging, Settings, Connection keys and:

  • Copy the key to your clipboard.
  • Return to the destination site.

Paste the key into the input in the Remote Sync modal.


2. Choose Sync Direction

For now You can sync in one direction:

  • Pull from Remote — Bring content from the remote site into your current site.
  • Push to Remote — This will be implemented once we get enough feature requests.

3. Start the Sync

Once the connection key is entered and the destination confirmed:

  • Click the Sync from Remote Site button.
  • WP Staging will copy all selected files and the database automatically.

You’ll see a progress bar and console feedback in the modal. When complete, your site will match the remote source exactly.


What Happens Behind the Scenes

Remote Sync handles:

  • Secure authentication using the API key
  • Encrypted file transfer via REST API endpoints
  • Database export and import automatically
  • Live progress reporting inside the modal UI
  • Real background processing. You can close the browser and it will continue

This simplifies what used to be a manual multi-step process into a single tool.


Who Should Use Remote Sync

Remote Sync is ideal for:

  • Developers deploying updates between dev/staging/production
  • Agencies migrating client sites to new servers
  • Site owners who want a secure, fast migration tool

It’s especially helpful when hosting environments differ or you want to eliminate manual exports.


Requirements

To use Remote Sync:

  • WP Staging Pro with an active Developer or Agency license
  • Both sites must have HTTPS enabled

Tips and Best Practices

  • Always test a sync on a staging or dev environment first.
  • Make sure database sizes are reasonable; very large DBs will take longer.

Troubleshooting

Sync doesn’t start:
Ensure the API key was copied correctly and the remote site is reachable over HTTPS.

Progress stalls:
Check server timeout settings and network conditions. Videos show real-time progress, but slow hosts can delay transfers.


Related Resources

📌 How to migrate a WordPress site to a new host — full guide
https://wp-staging.com/docs/how-to-migrate-your-wordpress-site-to-a-new-host/

Updated on February 9, 2026