When you're building a website in WordPress, it's important to be able to preview your work before making it live. WordPress provides a couple of ways to view your draft website:
Using the Preview Button
- Edit a page or post: Open the page or post you want to preview.
- Click the "Preview" button: This button is usually located in the top right corner of the editing screen.
- View your draft: The preview will open in a new tab or window, showing you the page or post as it would appear on your live site.
Using the "View Draft" Link
- Go to Pages or Posts: Navigate to the "Pages" or "Posts" section in your WordPress dashboard.
- Find your draft: Locate the draft you want to preview in the list of pages or posts.
- Click the "View Draft" link: This link is located beneath the title of each draft.
- View your draft: The draft will open in a new tab or window, giving you a full-screen view of your draft.
Viewing a Draft Website with a Plugin
If you need more advanced preview capabilities, you can use a plugin. Some popular plugins include:
- WordPress Editor: This built-in plugin provides a more robust preview experience, including live updates as you make changes.
- Preview My Draft: This plugin lets you preview drafts with different themes and plugins installed, giving you a more accurate representation of how your website will look.
- Draft Preview: This plugin adds a "Preview Draft" button to the WordPress admin bar, allowing you to preview your drafts quickly and easily.
Tips for Previewing Your Website
- Clear your cache: If you're using a caching plugin, clear your cache before previewing your website. This ensures you see the most up-to-date version of your content.
- Check your preview URL: Make sure the preview URL is correct before clicking the "Preview" button.
- Test on different devices: View your drafts on different devices and browsers to ensure they look good across all platforms.
By using these methods, you can easily preview your draft website in WordPress and ensure everything is working as expected before you make it live.