Data Transfer: How to Sync Site & Push changes via Data Sync
Overview
BionicWP's Data Sync feature allows you to easily transfer content, files, and database changes between any two WordPress sites on your account, whether you are pushing from a staging environment to production, pulling from live to staging, or syncing between any two sites you manage.
With Data Sync, you are in full control. You can choose to transfer everything at once or selectively sync only the components you need such as just your plugins, a single theme, your media uploads, or only the database. This eliminates the risk of accidentally overwriting parts of your site you didn't intend to change.
This guide covers everything you need to know to safely use the Data Sync feature inside your BionicWP Dashboard.
How It Works
The Data Sync feature uses an automated backup-and-restore process under the hood to move data between your sites safely and reliably. Here is what happens behind the scenes when you initiate a sync:
On-Demand Backup Created
Before any data is moved, BionicWP automatically creates a full on-demand backup of both the source site and the destination site. This ensures you can always roll back if something unexpected happens.
Data Packaged from Source Site
The selected files and/or database from your source site are packaged into a secure backup snapshot ready for transfer.
Data Restored to Destination Site
The packaged data is restored to the destination site, overwriting only the components you selected. The rest of the destination site remains untouched.
Database Restore Message
Once the process gets started, you will see a confirmation message at your BionicWP site dashboard. The entire process can take several minutes to hours depending on site size.
Important: Because this process creates new backups for both source and destination sites before starting, it can take a few minutes to complete. We recommend initiating a Data Sync during your site's lowest traffic period.
What You Can Sync — Selective Folder Options
When configuring your Data Sync, you can choose between a full site transfer or a granular, component-by-component sync. The following options are available:
Sync Option | What Gets Transferred |
Theme Files & Directories | Transfers all files and folders associated with your WordPress themes, including your active theme and any installed child or parent themes. Ideal when you've made design or template changes on staging. |
Plugin Files & Directories | Transfers all plugin files and folders installed in your WordPress site. Use this when you've added, removed, or updated plugins on staging that need to go live. |
Media Uploads Directory | Transfers the contents of your wp-uploads folder — images, PDFs, videos, and other media files. Note: for uploaded media to appear correctly in the WordPress Media Library, a Database Sync is also recommended alongside this option. |
WP-Content Files & Directories | Transfers all files and folders inside wp-content, excluding themes, plugins, and uploads (those are covered by their own options above). |
Web Root Files & Directories | Transfers files and directories in your site's web root, excluding the wp-content folder. This covers files like wp-config.php (handled safely), and any custom root-level files you may have added. |
Database Only | Overwrites the entire database on the destination site with the database from the source site. This includes posts, pages, settings, user data, plugin settings, and all WordPress content. Use with caution — see the warnings section below. |
Exclude robots.txt | The robots txt file will be excluded from Web root files updating |
Full Site (All of the Above) | Transfers all files, folders, and the complete database in one operation. Equivalent to a full site clone from source to destination. |
Before You Begin — Important Preparation Steps
Taking a few minutes to prepare before initiating a Data Sync will prevent issues and protect your data. Please review the following before starting.
Stop Active Editing on Both Sites
Coordinate with all team members or collaborators to pause any editing activity on both the source and destination sites before initiating the sync. Any changes made to the destination site after the sync begins may be overwritten.
⚠️ Warning — WooCommerce & eCommerce Sites We strongly advise against syncing a database to a live WooCommerce or eCommerce site without careful planning.
If your live store has received new orders, customer registrations, or product changes after your staging site was last created, those records will be permanently overwritten when the staging database is pushed live.
For WooCommerce sites, consider syncing only theme files and plugin files, and manually migrating database changes where possible. |
Check Your On-Demand Backup Slots
Data Sync requires available on-demand backup slots on your account for both the source and destination sites. Before starting, confirm you have free slots available. If all slots are occupied, you will be prompted to delete an older on-demand backup to free up space. You can manage your backups from the Backups tab on any site.
Note on robots.txt Behavior
If a custom robots.txt file exists on your source site, it will be carried over to the destination site as part of the sync. If you are syncing from staging to live, review the robots.txt file on the destination site afterward to ensure it is not set to block search engines. BionicWP will automatically adjust the default robots.txt if the WordPress Environment setting is updated during the sync.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these steps to initiate a Data Sync between two of your BionicWP-hosted WordPress sites.
Step 1: Log into the BionicWP Dashboard
Navigate to my.bionicwp.com and sign in with your credentials.
Step 2: Click on "Sites" in the Left Navigation
From the main dashboard sidebar, click on Sites to see a full list of all WordPress sites on your account.
Step 3: Select the Source Site
The source site is the site you want to push or copy data FROM — typically your staging site (when going staging → live) or your live site (when going live → staging).
• Click on the name of your source site to open its site dashboard.
• This will take you to the site overview screen.
Step 4: Navigate to the Backups Tab
Inside the site's dashboard, locate and click on the Backups tab in the site navigation menu. This tab contains all backup and data management options for the site.
Step 5: Scroll to the Data Sync Section
Within the Backups tab, scroll down the page until you find the Data Sync section. This is where you will configure and initiate your sync.
Step 6: Select the Destination Site
Click the destination site selector and choose the site you want to push or sync data TO. This is typically your live production site (when pushing from staging) or your staging site (when pulling from live).
Step 7: Choose What to Sync
This is the most important step. You will be presented with two options:
• Full Site Copy—Transfers everything: all files, all folders, and the complete database. Equivalent to overwriting the destination site entirely with the source site.
• Specific Files and Folders—Here's where you hand-pick exactly what gets transferred using checkboxes. You can select any combination of the following:
◦ Theme Files & Directories
◦ Plugin Files & Directories
◦ Media Uploads Directory
◦ WP-Content Files & Directories
◦ Web Root Files & Directories
◦ Database
Select the checkboxes for only the components you wish to transfer. If you only want to push theme changes, check Theme Files only. If you only need to update the database, check Database only, and so on.
Step 8: Configure Advanced Options
Before confirming the transfer, review the following optional settings:
Option | What It Does |
Skip HTTP Status Check | Skips the HTTP health check on the destination site before starting. Useful if your destination site is currently offline or in a non-standard state. Off by default — leave this off unless advised otherwise. |
Skip Maintenance Mode | By default, BionicWP will put the destination site into maintenance mode during the sync to prevent visitors from seeing a partially updated site. Enable this option only if you want the site to remain accessible during the transfer. |
WordPress Environment Type | Set the WordPress environment type (Production, Staging, Development) for the destination site after the sync. Selecting Default keeps the destination site's current environment setting unchanged. |
Step 9: Confirm and Start the Transfer
Once you have reviewed all your selections, click the Start Syncing Data button to begin the Data Sync.
🔴 Danger — This Action Overwrites the Destination Site Clicking Start Transfer & Overwrite will permanently overwrite the selected components on the destination site with data from the source site.
BionicWP automatically creates on-demand backups of both sites before starting, so you can restore either site if needed. However, please double-check your source and destination site selections before confirming. |
Step 10: Wait for Completion
The sync process will begin immediately. The time it takes depends on the size of your site and how many components are being transferred. The process involves the backups to be taken first, once the backups are generated, you'll then see the restoration sequence on the site details page, which when completed will mark the data sync as complete.
After the Sync: Post-Transfer Checklist
After a successful Data Sync, we recommend completing the following checks on the destination site:
1. Visit the destination site in your browser and confirm it loads correctly with the expected content and design.
2. If you synced the database, log into WordPress admin and verify that posts, pages, settings, and other content appear as expected.
3. If you synced media uploads, navigate to Media in WordPress admin and confirm your files are visible in the Media Library.
4. If you synced plugins, go to Plugins in WordPress admin and confirm all expected plugins are present and activated.
5. Review your wp-config.php and site URL settings to ensure they reflect the correct domain for the destination site.
6. If you use Yoast SEO, reset the Yoast indexables after a database sync to regenerate SEO data correctly.
7. Check your robots.txt file to confirm the destination site is either allowing or blocking search engines as intended.
8. Flush the site cache from the BionicWP Dashboard or from your caching plugin to ensure visitors see the latest version of the site.
Common Use Cases
Pushing a Staging Site to Production
This is the most common use case. You have built or updated your site on staging, tested everything, and are ready to go live.
• Source Site: Your staging site
• Destination Site: Your live production site
• Recommended Sync: Theme Files + Plugin Files + Media Uploads + Database (full transfer)
• Caution: Pause any activity on the live site before starting and notify your team.
Refreshing Staging with Live Site Data
You want to pull the latest content and database from your live site into staging so you can test against real, current data.
• Source Site: Your live production site
• Destination Site: Your staging site
• Recommended Sync: Full site or Database + Media Uploads
• Safe to run without downtime concerns since staging is not public-facing.
Deploying Only Theme or Design Changes
You made front-end or design changes to your theme on staging and want to push only those changes, leaving your live content and database untouched.
• Source Site: Your staging site
• Destination Site: Your live production site
• Recommended Sync: Theme Files only
• This is the safest sync option — no database is touched.
Deploying Plugin Updates
You've tested plugin updates on staging and are ready to push those updated plugin files to live.
• Source Site: Your staging site
• Destination Site: Your live production site
• Recommended Sync: Plugin Files only
Known Limitations
ℹ️ Specific Database Table Syncing Is Not Yet Supported Currently, the Data Sync feature does not support syncing individual database tables — for example, syncing only the wp_posts table or wp_options table independently. When the Database sync option is selected, it performs a full database overwrite on the destination site. |
Collaborator Access
If you have added a Collaborator to your BionicWP account, they can use the Data Sync feature provided they have been granted the appropriate permission level for both the source and the destination site. Specifically, Collaborators must have Restore Site access on both sites to initiate a Data Sync.
If a Collaborator is unable to see or use the Data Sync option, please review their permission settings in your account.
Need Help?
If you run into any issues with Data Sync or have questions about your specific use case, our support team is here to help.
• Email us at support@bionicwp.com
• Visit our full Knowledge Base at help.bionicwp.com