Unlocking WordPress Playground: Master WordPress Directly in Your Browser!

When creating tutorials for our audience, we often require efficient methods to test various features, plugins, and themes in WordPress. After all, providing recommendations without proper testing wouldn’t be beneficial, right?

Introducing WordPress Playground: a user-friendly tool that allows you to explore WordPress directly in your web browser. There’s no complicated setup needed, and importantly, it poses no risk to your current website.

We have found WordPress Playground to be extremely helpful in our testing process, and we’ve uncovered several smart strategies to maximize its features. Whether you’re a beginner in WordPress, looking to safely experiment with new tools, or in need of a quick testing environment, this tool can significantly simplify your experience.

In this guide, we will provide you with all the essential information you need to use WordPress Playground effectively.

What is WordPress Playground?

WordPress Playground is a temporary, in-browser instance of WordPress where you can experiment and deepen your understanding of the content management system.

It functions as a testing environment where you can engage in various WordPress development activities without the need to set up a live site.

Simply visit the WordPress Playground website to get started. You can use WordPress just like you would normally: create new pages, install plugins, explore different themes, and much more.

If you refresh the WordPress Playground page, all your customizations will be lost. However, you can download your WordPress instance and re-upload it to WordPress Playground.

How Does WordPress Playground Function?

WordPress Playground utilizes advanced technologies that allow you to test WordPress without the need for a conventional web server and database setup:

1. WebAssembly binary (Wasm):This technology enables you to run PHP code directly in your web browser, allowing WordPress to operate without a traditional server. It ensures compatibility across all browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari.
2. SQLite database:Instead of using MySQL, WordPress Playground employs a lightweight, file-based database system called SQLite, which operates directly within your browser.
3. Service Worker and Worker Threads APIs:These web technologies facilitate request handling and execute background JavaScript scripts, enabling WordPress Playground to run PHP applications seamlessly in your browser.

These technologies allow developers to seamlessly integrate WordPress Playground with Node.js, Visual Studio Code, command-line applications, and even OpenAI.

With these tools, developers can utilize WordPress Playground as a development environment for testing and staging purposes.

What Are the Limitations of WordPress Playground?

While WordPress Playground offers numerous advantages, it does come with some limitations, such as:

• Customizations in WordPress Playground are temporary.If you choose not to save your changes in the browser, be cautious not to refresh the page accidentally, as this will result in losing your progress.
• It can be susceptible to errors.Based on our experience testing plugins with WordPress Playground, not everything functions perfectly. You may encounter some issues, but you can provide feedback to WordPress to help enhance the platform.
• iFrame issues are frequently encountered.If you embed a WordPress Playground instance on your webpage, you might face challenges, including accidental refreshes and iFrame malfunctions.

Now that you understand what WordPress Playground is, let’s explore how to use it. You can use the quick links below to navigate through our tutorial:

Setting Up WordPress Playground

To access WordPress Playground, simply visit this URL in your web browser: https://playground.wordpress.net

After navigating to the website, please wait a few moments for the Playground to initialize. You will then see the front end of the site displayed with a default WordPress theme.

If you’re using WordPress Playground for testing purposes, you may want to adjust the environment to match the WordPress software of your actual website.

To do this, click the gear icon labeled ‘Settings’ located in the top right corner.

The first step is to choose a WordPress version for the Playground. You can select the version you are currently using or the one you intend to use for your WordPress site.

WordPress offers a ‘WordPress Nightly’ version, which is the latest development build that showcases the most recent updates from the WordPress development team.

This version is ideal for plugin or theme developers who need to test their creations for compatibility with upcoming WordPress updates.

The next step is to configure the PHP version.

We suggest setting it to match the PHP version currently used by your website, noting that PHP versions older than 7.0 may not be available here.

In WordPress Playground, you can also select the language for your admin interface.

There are many languages available, but for demonstration purposes, we will select ‘English (United States)’.

Below this option, you can enable the ‘Allow network access’ and ‘Create a multisite network’ features.

We recommend enabling the network access feature, as it allows you to install WordPress themes and plugins directly within the environment, eliminating the need for manual setup.

If you’re interested in creating a test WordPress multisite network, we recommend activating the second option.

Once you’ve made your selections, simply click ‘Apply Settings & Reset Playground.’

To access the admin area, hover over the site title menu and select ‘Dashboard.’

Alternatively, you can access the Full Site Editor by selecting ‘Edit site.’

The initial setup of WordPress Playground is now finished, but let’s delve into some additional settings that can enhance your overall experience.

How to Utilize WordPress Playground Blueprints

In WordPress, a blueprint is a straightforward JSON file that allows you to quickly and easily establish a customized WordPress environment. This includes configurations such as the version of WordPress and PHP to use, the plugins and themes to install, and even the design elements you want in your WordPress site.

This is an excellent choice if you often create test environments and need a quick setup. It’s also useful for sharing specific WordPress configurations with others.

To access the blueprints, click on the small square icon located in the top left corner.

Next, go to the ‘Blueprints Gallery’ tab.

In this section, you’ll find public blueprints shared by other users, offering a variety of options. You can select the ‘Create Block Theme’ option to design a custom block theme using the Create Block Theme plugin, or try ‘Stylish Press’ to set up a demo WooCommerce website.

We particularly appreciate Stylish Press because it is extremely helpful for testing WooCommerce plugins and themes for our tutorials.

To utilize any blueprint, simply click the ‘Preview’ button to load it in your WordPress Playground.

You can also create a blueprint from your own WordPress Playground instance.

Just switch to the ‘Temporary Playground’ tab, click the three-dot menu next to ‘Homepage,’ and select ‘View Blueprint.’

This will present your instance as a blueprint .json file.

If you want to download the blueprint file to your computer, just click the floppy disk ‘Save’ icon.

Saving your blueprint is helpful for future reference, or you can share it in the blueprints gallery by following the Contribution Guidelines.

To load a saved blueprint, click the open folder icon next to the floppy disk button.

Simply choose your blueprint.json file, and WordPress will automatically configure your environment based on that setup.

How to Install Themes and Plugins in WordPress Playground

There are several methods to install WordPress plugins and themes in WordPress Playground. If you enabled the network access feature during setup, you can install them directly from the WordPress dashboard, just like on a standard WordPress site.

For detailed instructions on the standard installation process, check out our comprehensive guides:

• A Step-by-Step Guide to Installing a WordPress Plugin for Beginners
• Beginner’s Guide to Installing a WordPress Theme

If you haven’t enabled network access or are installing premium WordPress plugins or themes, you’ll need to use the manual installation method.

Start by downloading the theme or plugin file. For free options, visit WordPress.org, locate your desired plugin or theme, and click the ‘Download’ button to save a zip file to your computer.

For plugins, navigate to the dashboard of the WordPress Playground and go toPlugins » Add New Plugin.

Next, click the ‘Upload Plugin’ button, select ‘Choose File’ to upload the plugin zip file you previously downloaded, and then click ‘Install Now.’

When you first use the Playground, WordPress will automatically have a default theme installed.

However, if you wish to use a different free or premium WordPress theme, you can download it from your chosen source. Then, in the Playground, go toAppearance » Themes and click ‘Add New Theme.’

On the following screen, click the ‘Upload Theme’ button.

Then, select the theme file you downloaded earlier and click ‘Install Now.’

One effective way to install themes and plugins is by utilizing the Query API in WordPress Playground. This approach involves adding specific query parameters to the WordPress Playground URL.

For instance, if you wish to install and test the free version of AIOSEO in WordPress Playground, start by visiting AIOSEO’s page on WordPress.org. Then, make a note of the URL slug for AIOSEO.

Next, open a new browser tab and enter the WordPress Playground URL along with AIOSEO’s slug, formatted like this:

https://playground.wordpress.net/?plugin=all-in-one-seo-pack

After you press the ‘Enter’ key, WordPress Playground will automatically set up a new environment with the AIOSEO plugin pre-installed.

If you want to install a theme instead, simply replace the plugin parameter with theme, formatted like this:

https://playground.wordpress.net/?theme=neve

You can also combine multiple query parameters to install several plugins or themes alongside the WordPress core. Just ensure that you separate each parameter with the ampersand & symbol.

Here’s how the URL will appear if you are installing both the AIOSEO and MonsterInsights plugins along with the Neve theme:

https://playground.wordpress.net/?theme=neve&plugin=all-in-one-seo-pack&plugin=google-analytics-for-wordpress

If you use Chrome, you can enhance your experience by installing the Open in WordPress Playground extension. This will add a ‘Playground’ button whenever you visit a plugin or theme page on WordPress.org.

By clicking this button, you can open a new WordPress Playground environment with the selected plugin or theme already installed, making it easier than ever to get started.

How to Save Your WordPress Playground Session in Your Browser

Imagine you’ve created a complete waitlist landing page or even a full website using WordPress Playground. It would be unfortunate to simply close the tab and lose all your hard work.

Fortunately, WordPress Playground offers the option to save your session in your browser. To do this, click on the small square icon located in the top left corner.

Ensure that you’re on the ‘Temporary Playground’ tab.

Next, click the ‘Save’ button and select ‘Save in this browser.’

Now, wait for WordPress to save your playground session in your browser. Based on our experience, this process may take a few minutes.

After completing the setup, you’ll notice a new section labeled ‘Saved Playgrounds.’ WordPress will automatically generate a creative name for your playground, such as ‘Sunny Paradise’ or ‘Tranquil Forest.’

You can still adjust the environment settings here, similar to the previous section. However, your options are limited to modifying the PHP version and network access configurations.

Once you’ve made any adjustments, click ‘Save & Reload’ to refresh the instance.

Now, WordPress will retain every change you make to the Playground instance, even if you close the browser tab.

WordPress also provides an option to ‘Save in a local directory.’ Simply click the same ‘Save’ button from before and choose ‘Save in a local directory.’

This feature downloads all the Playground files in an unzipped format, just like a standard WordPress installation. You’ll receive the usual WordPress directories such as wp-content, wp-admin, and more.

We recommend utilizing this option if you plan to upload these files to a staging environment or a blank website on a hosting platform.

This is especially beneficial when you want to develop in WordPress Playground first, and then transition to working outside of the Playground environment.

How to Download or Restore a WordPress Playground Site

Saving your playground directly in the browser is great for quick access, and using unzipped files is effective for live sites, but sometimes you need a solution that strikes a balance.

Downloading your WordPress Playground as a zip file provides a convenient backup that is easy to store and share. You can also restore it to any instance of WordPress Playground.

To begin, click the small square icon located in the top left corner.

Ensure you are on the ‘Temporary Playground’ tab or within a saved playground. Then, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner next to the ‘Homepage’ button.

Select ‘Download as .zip’ and your browser will begin downloading the file to your computer.

Your browser will initiate the download of the file to your computer.

To restore your downloaded playground, click on the three-dot menu above ‘Temporary Playground’ and choose ‘Import from .zip.’

A popup will appear prompting you to select your exported file.

Choose the file and click ‘Import.’

If the file is valid, you will receive a success message, and the Playground will refresh with your restored configuration.

Simply click ‘OK’ to close the popup and begin working with your restored site.

A great feature of WordPress Playground’s zip exports is their compatibility with Studio by WordPress.com, which serves as a local development tool for WordPress.com. This allows you to work on your site in a fully functional local environment.

To get started, visit the Studio by WordPress.com website and select either ‘Download for Windows’ or ‘Download for Mac,’ based on your operating system.

Open the file you just downloaded to initiate the installation process.

A popup window will appear, displaying the progress of the installation.

Once the installation is complete, you can proceed to create your first site.

Simply drag your WordPress Playground zip file into the ‘Import a backup’ section. You can assign any name to your site that makes it easy for you to identify.

After the import, your local WordPress site dashboard will be visible.

To begin working on your site, click the ‘Start’ button located in the top right corner. This action activates your local website on your computer.

Wait for the ‘Start’ button to change to ‘Running,’ then click the ‘WP Admin’ link in the top left corner.

This will take you to your local WordPress admin page, where you can continue developing your site.

How to Import/Export WordPress Playground to GitHub

If you have a GitHub account, you can easily export and import your site using WordPress Playground. GitHub is an excellent platform for tracking website changes, backing up files, and collaborating with others.

Begin by clicking the small square icon located in the top left corner.

To export your site from WordPress Playground to GitHub, click the three-dot menu next to the ‘Homepage’ button.

Next, select ‘Export to GitHub.’

In the following popup, WordPress will prompt you to save a backup of your website to your computer. After doing so, check the box that says ‘I exported my Playground as zip.’

Then, click the ‘Connect your GitHub account’ button.

You will need to confirm that you are allowing WordPress Playground to access your repositories.

Simply click ‘Authorize adamziel’ to proceed.

At this point, choose the types of files you want to export: plugins, themes, the wp-content directory, or specific paths.

If you wish to export all your plugins, themes, media files, widgets, menus, and fonts, select the last option.

You will also need to provide the URL of the public GitHub repository where you want to export your site.

Finally, click the ‘Next step’ button.

After completing the previous steps, decide whether to create a new pull request or update an existing one. For this demonstration, we will select the first option.

Next, provide the path in the repository where you want the changes to be committed.

You will also need to add a commit message to describe the changes made using the WordPress Playground.

Once everything is set, click on ‘Create Pull Request.’

If the export is successful, WordPress will display a popup with a link to the new pull request.

Simply click the link to view it in action.

To import a site from GitHub into WordPress Playground, click the three-dot menu located above ‘Temporary Playground.’

Then, choose ‘Import from GitHub.’

If you are starting a brand new WordPress Playground environment, you may need to go through the GitHub Playground authorization process again.

After that, enter the GitHub repository or path URL you wish to import from.

Next, specify which files you are importing: themes, plugins, or the entirewp-contentdirectory.

You can re-enter the repository path you are importing from if necessary. If not, WordPress will automatically fill in this field if it recognizes the import path.

Once you have completed the setup, simply click the ‘Import’ button.

If the import is successful, a confirmation message will appear.

Click ‘OK’ to dismiss the message.

With WordPress Playground and GitHub, you can also preview an existing GitHub pull request from the WordPress project. This allows you to review and test the latest enhancements and features being developed for WordPress.

Please note that, as of this writing, this feature is limited to previewing pull requests from the WordPress Develop or Gutenberg repositories.

To preview a pull request, click on the three-dot menu button and choose ‘Preview a WordPress PR’ or ‘Preview a Gutenberg PR.’

Next, enter the URL or ID of the pull request in the designated field.

Then, click ‘Go.’

How to Integrate WordPress Playground into Your Website

If you’re creating a WordPress tutorial, you will probably want to include screenshots from the WordPress dashboard to help users follow your instructions. However, sometimes screenshots may not effectively convey the actions you are describing.

WordPress Playground is a valuable tool that enhances your content. By embedding it in your pages or posts, you provide readers with an engaging and interactive experience, allowing them to follow your instructions directly.

Begin by accessing the Gutenberg block editor for your desired page or post. Click the ‘+’ button to add a new block, then choose the ‘Custom HTML’ option.

Next, copy the following code and paste it into the HTML block:

You can also enhance this URL by adding additional query parameters, as previously demonstrated.

Once you’re done, click ‘Save’ or ‘Publish’ to make your changes live.

The appearance of the WordPress Playground may vary based on your theme.

In our example, it didn’t align well with the surrounding blocks, and the iframe was too small for effective interaction.

To resolve this issue, you can use the following code instead:

In this section, the iFrame tag is enclosed withindivelements to ensure that the Playground embed adheres to the padding and margin settings of its container.

We also included thestyleattribute to adjust the iFrame’s width to 100% of its container and set the height to 500 pixels.

Here’s how it appears on the front end:

How to Report an Issue in WordPress Playground

If you encounter any problems in WordPress Playground, you can report them to the WordPress team for resolution.

To do this, click on the small square icon located in the top left corner.

Next, click on the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the page.

Then, select the ‘Report error’ option.

A popup will appear where you can explain how the error occurred. Please include the URL of your WordPress Playground environment so the team can understand the issue.

Once you’ve filled out the information, click ‘Report error.’

Additionally, WordPress Playground allows you to view the error logs for your environment.

You can access this by going to the ‘Logs’ section in the ‘Temporary Playground’ tab or in one of your saved playgrounds.

Common Questions About WordPress Playground

Let’s address some common questions regarding WordPress Playground.

Is it possible to use WordPress in a web browser?

Absolutely! WordPress Playground allows you to use WordPress directly in your web browser, enabling you to create websites and experiment with themes and plugins before deploying them to your live site.

Can I add custom themes and plugins in WordPress Playground?

Yes, you can add and modify themes or plugins in WordPress Playground to test their functionality in the admin area and check compatibility with specific versions of WordPress.

Is it possible to upload a website created with WordPress Playground to my hosting account?

Yes, you can export your website from WordPress Playground and import it into your WordPress hosting account. Simply save your WordPress Playground files to a local folder and then upload them to an empty site on your hosting account.

How can I run WordPress plugins and themes on my local machine?

To run WordPress plugins and themes in a local development environment, you first need to set up a local WordPress site. You can refer to our tutorial on how to create a local WordPress site for detailed instructions.

This article aims to help you understand WordPress Playground and how to utilize it directly in your browser. Additionally, you might find our article on the top drag-and-drop WordPress page builders and our guide on incorporating dynamic content in WordPress useful.

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