You can run the plugin on a staging copy of your store and receive plugin updates there, without giving up one of the sites your plan covers. This article explains which staging addresses are recognised and how to activate one.
How a staging site is recognised
Your license allows up to 3 staging sites in addition to the sites your plan covers. Staging sites use their own allowance, so activating one does not use up a paid site.
That only applies when the staging site’s web address matches one of the patterns below. The match is made from the start of the address, so the shape of the address matters. A staging site on an address outside these patterns is treated as a normal site and uses one of your paid activations.
localhost127.0.0.1*.dev*.local*.test*.staging*.example*.invaliddev.*(for example dev.yourstore.com. A digit is allowed, so dev2.yourstore.com also works)local.*(for example local.yourstore.com)test.*(for example test.yourstore.com)staging.*(for example staging.yourstore.com or staging1.yourstore.com)stage.*(for example stage.yourstore.com)preprod.*(for example preprod.yourstore.com)*staging.wpengine.com(WP Engine)*stg.wpengine.com(WP Engine)*dev.wpengine.com(WP Engine)dev-*.pantheonsite.io(Pantheon)test-*.pantheonsite.io(Pantheon)staging-*.kinsta.com(Kinsta)staging-*.kinsta.cloud(Kinsta)env-*.kinsta.cloud(Kinsta)*.cloudwaysapps.com(Cloudways)*.sg-host.com(SiteGround)*.myftpupload.com(GoDaddy)*.instawp.xyz(InstaWP)*.preload.site*.tempurl.host*-staging.wpdns.site*-staging.onrocket.site*staging.astahosting.com.au*staging.leserviceweb.com*-dev.ksysweb.com*-stg.ksysweb.com*.ngrok.io
If you are a web host that provides staging services and would like your address pattern added to this list, please reach out.
How to activate a staging site
- Open My Account, then Downloads and copy the license key for the plugin you want to use.
- Copy the activation email shown with the key. This is the billing email from the order that bought the license, not your WordPress login email.
- On your staging site, enter the key and the activation email on the plugin license screen, then save.
A confirmation message appears once the staging site is activated.
If your staging address is not recognised
A staging site on an address outside the patterns above is treated as a normal site and uses one of your paid activations. You can activate it anyway and free it again later, or contact us with the address pattern so it can be considered for the list.
How to free up an activation
You can do this yourself and you do not need to contact us.
- Log in and open My Account, then Downloads.
- Find the license for the plugin you are moving. It lists the sites it is currently activated on.
- Click View Sites and remove the site you no longer need.
- Activate the plugin on the new site using the same license key and the same activation email.
Your license key does not change when you move a site, and you do not lose any of your subscription time.
Need help?
If you have a question or run into any issues, we are here to help.
- Premium users: Open a support ticket
- Free users: Visit the Product Feed Pro community forum
