> Portal Navigation: > > - Append `.md` to any URL under `https://dev.wix.com/docs/` to get its markdown version. > - Pages are either content pages (article or reference text) or menu pages (a list of links to child pages). > - To get a menu page, truncate any URL to a parent path and append `.md` (e.g. `https://dev.wix.com/docs/sdk.md`, `https://dev.wix.com/docs/sdk/core-modules.md`). > - Top-level index of all portals: https://dev.wix.com/docs/llms.txt > - Full concatenated docs: https://dev.wix.com/docs/llms-full.txt ## Resource: Work with Development Sites ## Article: Work with Development Sites ## Article Link: https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/development-sites/work-with-development-sites.md ## Article Content: # Work with Development Sites You can create and manage [development sites](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/development-sites/about-development-sites.md) from within an app you're building, regardless of the [development framework](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/get-started/overview/wix-s-development-frameworks.md) you use. In this article, you'll learn how to: - [Create a development site](#create-a-development-site). - [Install your app on a development site](#install-your-app-on-a-development-site). - [Switch your Wix CLI project's development site](#switch-your-wix-cli-projects-development-site). - [Remove a development site](#remove-a-development-site). ## Create a development site You can create a development site in the app dashboard or with the Wix CLI. For the editors and templates you can choose from, see [Available editors and templates](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/development-sites/about-development-sites.md#available-editors-and-templates). ::::tabs :::App-dashboard To create a development site in the app dashboard: 1. Open your app on the [Custom Apps page](https://manage.wix.com/account/custom-apps). 1. Click **Test App** and select **Test on dev site**. 1. If you build the app with the Wix CLI or Wix Blocks, a prompt offers to test through your framework's tooling instead. To continue in the app dashboard, click **test from here**. 1. In the **Select a development site** window, click **+ Create Dev Site**. 1. Choose a site editor and click **Continue**. 1. Select a template and click **Continue**. 1. In the **Development site name** field, enter a name and click **Create Dev Site**. Wix adds the new development site to your account. Your app isn't installed on it yet, so continue with [Install your app on a development site](#install-your-app-on-a-development-site). ::: :::Wix-CLI To create a development site with the Wix CLI: 1. Open a terminal and navigate to your project directory. 1. Run the [`wix dev`](https://dev.wix.com/docs/wix-cli/command-reference/project-commands/dev.md) command. > **Note:** When the interactive prompt isn't available, such as in a CI job or an AI agent session, use the [`wix dev-site`](https://dev.wix.com/docs/wix-cli/command-reference/project-commands/app-only/dev-site.md) command instead of the `wix dev` command. 1. If your project already has a development site, press `C` to open the **Select development site** prompt. Otherwise, the CLI opens it for you. 1. Select **Create a new development site** for a Wix Editor site, or **Create a new Harmony Development Site** for a Wix Harmony site. > **Note:** Creating a Wix Studio development site is only available in the app dashboard. The CLI creates the site, then prompts you to [install your app on it](#install-your-app-on-a-development-site). Your project doesn't use the new site until the installation succeeds, but the site remains in your account whether you finish installing or not. ::: :::: > **Note:** If you've reached the maximum number of development sites, you can't create a new one. To create another, first [remove a development site you no longer need](#remove-a-development-site). ## Install your app on a development site If you don't have a development site yet, [create one](#create-a-development-site) first. You can install your app on any development site in your account, including one you just created. ::::tabs :::App-dashboard To install your app in the app dashboard: 1. Open your app on the [Custom Apps page](https://manage.wix.com/account/custom-apps). 1. Click **Test App** and select **Test on dev site**. 1. If you build the app with the Wix CLI or Wix Blocks, a prompt offers to test through your framework's tooling instead. To continue in the app dashboard, click **test from here**. 1. In the **Select a development site** window, select the site. 1. Click **Test App**. Wix installs your app and opens the site in a new tab. ::: :::Wix-CLI The CLI doesn't install your app itself. You install it in your browser when the CLI prompts you. To install your app with the Wix CLI: 1. [Create a development site](#create-a-development-site), or [switch your project to one](#switch-your-wix-cli-projects-development-site) your app isn't installed on. The CLI prompts you to install your app. 1. Press `Enter` to open the installation page in your browser. 1. Review the permissions your app requests and click **Agree & Add**. 1. When the browser confirms your app was added, close the tab and return to the terminal. Once your app is installed, the CLI displays the current development site and links to open the preview on the site, the editor, or the dashboard. Open the site through those links to see your local project. Opening it any other way, such as from your sites list, loads the installed version instead. If you restart `wix dev`, reload the page. For what the preview reflects, see [How a development site reflects unreleased changes](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/development-sites/about-development-sites.md#how-a-development-site-reflects-unreleased-changes). ::: :::: You can install your app on several development sites and test on any of them, for example to compare a different editor or template on each. ## Switch your Wix CLI project's development site Your project keeps using the same development site until you change it. > **Note:** The CLI saves your selection in your project's `.wix/app.config.json` file, which Git ignores. Each collaborator on your project therefore selects their own development site. To switch while your local development environment is running: 1. Press `C` to open the **Select development site** prompt. 1. Select **Select an existing site** and choose a site from the list, or [create a new development site](#create-a-development-site). 1. If your app isn't installed on the site you chose, [install your app](#install-your-app-on-a-development-site) on it. The switch takes effect only once the installation succeeds. > **Note:** To cancel the switch, press `esc`. Your project keeps the development site it was already using, even if you've chosen a different one. To switch without the interactive prompt, such as in a CI job, an AI agent session, or when `wix dev` isn't running: 1. Run [`wix dev-site list`](https://dev.wix.com/docs/wix-cli/command-reference/project-commands/app-only/dev-site.md) to find the site's ID. 1. Run `wix dev-site select `.
__Caution:__ Both the prompt and `wix dev-site list` include every site in your account, not only development sites. A regular site doesn't become a development site by being selected, so it only gets Premium and Wix Payments capabilities if it already has a paid Premium plan.
## Remove a development site Removing a development site is only available in the app dashboard, so use the dashboard even when you build with the Wix CLI. To remove one or more development sites: 1. Open an app on the [Custom Apps page](https://manage.wix.com/account/custom-apps). 1. Click **Test App** and select **Test on dev site**. 1. If the app was built with the Wix CLI or Wix Blocks, a prompt offers to test through your framework's tooling instead. To continue in the app dashboard, click **test from here**. 1. In the **Select a development site** window, click **Remove dev sites**. 1. Select the sites to remove and click **Remove**. 1. In the confirmation dialog, click **Remove**. > **Note:** Removing the development site a Wix CLI project uses leaves that project without one. The next time you run [`wix dev`](https://dev.wix.com/docs/wix-cli/command-reference/project-commands/dev.md), it prompts you to create or select a development site, as it did the first time.