WordPress Playground web instance

https://playground.wordpress.net/ runs WordPress in your browser without a server. The page opens a Playground, shows the WordPress site, and keeps the site tools in the Dock.

The Dock has an address field, a save status, layout controls, and destinations for creating, storing, inspecting, and exporting Playgrounds.

Customize Playground

The Dock includes these destinations:

• New: Start from the Blueprint gallery, a public Blueprint URL, a new Blueprint, a pull request preview, a GitHub repository, or an imported .zip file.
• Playgrounds: Switch between recent and saved Playgrounds.
• Blueprint: View, edit, export, and run the current Blueprint.
• Site Settings: Configure WordPress version, PHP version, language, networking, and multisite.
• Database: Inspect or download the SQLite database and open database tools.
• Files: Browse and edit files in the WordPress filesystem.
• Logs: Inspect PHP errors, warnings, and notices.
• Export: Download a .zip, copy the original setup link, or export selected files to a GitHub pull request.

Navigate inside WordPress

Use the Dock address field to open a path inside the current WordPress site. For example, enter /wp-admin/ to open the dashboard or /wp-admin/plugins.php to open the Plugins screen. Refresh page reloads the current WordPress path. You can also use the Query Params API to open Playground with a specific setup, such as a WordPress version, PHP version, plugin, theme, or Blueprint.

Understand the save status

The status next to the address field tells you how the current Playground is stored:

• Autosaved means the Playground is stored in this browser and can be recovered from Your Playgrounds. Playground keeps up to five recent autosaves.
• Saved means the Playground was stored permanently in browser storage or saved to a local directory.
• Unsaved means the Playground has not been saved. Temporary Playgrounds, including ?storage=temp, are lost when the tab is closed or refreshed.

Click Autosaved or Unsaved to open Store permanently.

Store permanently can keep an autosaved Playground in browser storage so autosave pruning no longer removes it. In browsers that support the File System Access API, it can also save the Playground to a local directory. Browser storage still belongs to the browser. The browser may remove stored data when storage pressure or privacy settings require it. Export a ZIP when you need a portable backup.

Start a Playground

Open New Playground from the Dock by clicking New. The pane contains Blueprint gallery, From a URL, Write a Blueprint, Preview a PR, From GitHub, and Import zip.

The Blueprint gallery starts with Vanilla WordPress, which creates a clean WordPress install. From a URL opens a public Blueprint URL. Write a Blueprint opens an editor for a new Blueprint. Import zip restores a ZIP exported from Playground.

Return to recent and saved Playgrounds

Open Your Playgrounds from the Dock by clicking Playgrounds. It lists the current Playground, recent autosaves, and Playgrounds you saved permanently.

Autosaved Playgrounds are recovery points. Playground retains up to five recent autosaves. Use Store permanently to keep one as a saved Playground.

Change site settings

Open Site Settings to change runtime and WordPress setup options.

PHP version and networking can be applied to an existing stored Playground. WordPress version, language, and multisite change the WordPress installation itself, so they require a fresh Playground. Running an edited Blueprint keeps stored and autosaved Playgrounds. It discards a temporary Playground because the new run starts from a fresh setup.

Inspect the current Blueprint

Open Blueprint to view and edit the Blueprint for the current Playground.

The editor can run the edited Blueprint in a new Playground. For a stored or autosaved Playground, the original Playground remains available in Your Playgrounds.

Inspect files, database, and logs

Open Files to browse and edit the current Playground files.

Open Database to use database tools or download the SQLite database.

Open Logs to inspect PHP errors, warnings, and notices.

Export and share

Open Export to download or share the current Playground.

Download as .zip exports the current files, database, plugins, themes, uploads, and edits. The ZIP can be restored later with New → Import zip. Copy original setup link copies a link that recreates only the original setup. It does not include edits made after the Playground started. Export to GitHub can create a pull request with selected files from the current Playground.

Change the Dock layout

The Dock can be shown as a floating panel or full-width bar. Use Full width to switch layouts.

Floating	Full width

Use Hide tools to collapse the Dock to its address field and save status. Use Show tools to reopen the tool row.

You can drag the floating Dock on desktop. Drag it past the left or right edge to fold it into a corner launcher, then click the launcher to restore the Dock.

On narrow screens, the Dock uses a full-width mobile layout.