# Clone a WordPress site with WP Toolkit
Source: https://docs.webgee.com/en/hosting/wordpress/how-to-clone-a-wordpress-website-between-cpanel-accounts-using-wp-toolkit



















WP Toolkit clones a WordPress installation — files and database — to another
domain or another cPanel account on the same server. Applies to reseller
accounts with WHM access.

Unlike Softaculous, it handles
[Multisite networks](/en/hosting/wordpress/resolving-mysql-error-during-wordpress-cloning-in-softaculous).

## Before you start [#before-you-start]

Two things must be in place: the source site must be known to WP Toolkit, and
the destination must already exist.

### 1. Make sure WP Toolkit knows about the source [#1-make-sure-wp-toolkit-knows-about-the-source]

Open the cPanel account holding the site and go to **WP Toolkit**. If the site
is not listed, select **Scan** to detect installations on the account.

<img alt="Scanning for WordPress installations in WP Toolkit" src="__img0" />

Once detected, it appears on the WP Toolkit dashboard.

<img alt="The site listed on the WP Toolkit dashboard" src="__img1" />

### 2. Create the destination [#2-create-the-destination]

Either create a new cPanel account, or add an addon domain or subdomain to an
existing one.

<Callout type="warn">
  The destination must be empty. Cloning onto a domain that already has a site
  overwrites it. If you are replacing an existing site, back it up first — see
  [Download a backup of your account](/en/backups/how-to-generate-download-a-website-backup).
</Callout>

## Clone the site [#clone-the-site]

1. In WHM, open **WP Toolkit** — the quickest route is the search box in the
   left sidebar.

   <img alt="Finding WP Toolkit in WHM" src="__img2" />

   This lists every WordPress site owned by your sub-users. Use the search box
   top right on a busy server.

2. Find the site and select **Clone**.

   <img alt="The Clone button on a listed site" src="__img3" />

3. Select **Use existing domain** and choose the destination.

   <img alt="Choosing the destination domain" src="__img4" />

4. **Leave the path blank.** Anything entered here installs the clone into a
   subdirectory of the destination, which is rarely what you want. The default
   database name is fine.

5. Select **Start**.

## While it runs [#while-it-runs]

A progress bar appears at the foot of the window.

<img alt="The clone progress bar" src="__img5" />

You can close the window — the clone continues in the background.

<img alt="The completion notice" src="__img6" />

If you closed it, a small notification in the bottom-right corner tracks
progress.

<img alt="The background progress notification" src="__img7" />

## Verify [#verify]

WP Toolkit rewrites the site URL in the database as part of the clone, but check
it rather than assume:

* The clone loads on the **new** domain without redirecting to the old one.
* Images load — broken images mean URLs in the database still point at the
  source.
* Log in to `wp-admin` on the clone. Credentials are copied from the source.
* **Settings** → **General** shows the new domain in both WordPress Address and
  Site Address.

<Callout type="info">
  The clone is a complete copy, including plugins, users and content. If it is
  intended as a staging site, prevent search engines indexing it: **Settings** →
  **Reading** → **Discourage search engines from indexing this site**.
</Callout>

## Related [#related]

* [Fix MySQL errors when cloning in Softaculous](/en/hosting/wordpress/resolving-mysql-error-during-wordpress-cloning-in-softaculous)
* [Migrate WordPress with Installatron](/en/hosting/wordpress/how-to-migrate-a-wordpress-website-using-installatron)
* [Create a staging site with Softaculous](/en/hosting/wordpress/how-to-create-a-wordpress-staging-site-with-softaculous)