Frequently asked questions

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Can I edit Webstudio websites without using the GUI?

Currently, Webstudio's CLI export generates compiled output that isn't easily readable or editable due to lack of component separation. While you can export static sites and publish them outside of Webstudio Cloud, the code isn't optimized for manual editing. For AI-powered website generation and editing, Webstudio is developing a separate tool called Inception (webstudio.is/inception) for design exploration, while maintaining Webstudio as a precision tool for professional development.

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Can I remove or delete the default .wstd.io domain?

You don't need to delete the default .wstd.io domain. Think of it as a 'staging server' where you can deploy and test without your site going live and without being indexed by search engines. These domains will always exist, you don't need to publish to them, and they won't be indexed by search engines.

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Can I self-host Webstudio using Docker?

Yes, Webstudio can be self-hosted using Docker. However, the documentation for Docker setup is currently limited. You can find some guidance in the contributing docs for developers section. Note that some features like email sending are cloud-only, so you'll need to implement your own backend solutions for features like webhook forms when self-hosting.

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How do I hide my Webstudio hosted site (.wstd.io) from search engines and analytics?

The default .wstd.io domains are not indexed by search engines as they're meant to be development domains. If you want extra protection, you can check 'exclude from search' in all page settings. For additional security, you can add robots.txt file or meta tags like <meta name="robots" content="noindex,nofollow,noarchive">. If using Cloudflare, you can also add password protection. You don't need to delete the project - think of the .wstd.io domain as a staging server where you can test without affecting your live site.

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How do I migrate a self-hosted Webstudio instance to a new version?

To migrate a self-hosted Webstudio instance:

  1. Run 'pnpm migrations migrate' to update the database schema
  2. Ensure your Docker volumes are properly mapped to preserve data
  3. Check that the old volumes are still in use with 'docker cli' commands rather than relying on GUI interfaces

Always verify your volume mappings before and after updates to prevent data loss.

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How do I migrate or update a self-hosted Webstudio instance?

To migrate or update a self-hosted Webstudio instance, run the migrations command: pnpm migrations migrate. This should handle database migrations and updates when moving to a new version. When updating Docker containers, the system should continue using existing volumes and data.

If you encounter issues where it appears that old volumes aren't being used, check with Docker CLI commands rather than relying on GUI tools, as the command line often provides more accurate information about volume usage. Always backup your data before performing migrations, and test the migration process in a development environment first.

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How do I migrate to a newer version of self-hosted Webstudio?

For self-hosted builder migrations, run 'pnpm migrations migrate' to update the database schema. Docker volumes should persist between updates, so your data should remain intact when updating to newer versions.

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How do I prevent search engines from indexing my Webstudio hosted site?

The default .wstd.io domains are not indexed by search engines as they're meant to be development domains. If you want extra protection, you can check 'exclude from search' in all page settings. For additional security, you can add robots.txt file or meta tags like <meta name="robots" content="noindex,nofollow,noarchive">. If using Cloudflare, you can also add password protection.

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How do I set up Webstudio locally and handle export/publishing issues?

When setting up Webstudio locally, if you encounter issues with TRPC tokens needed for the publishing flow and static build export, you can bypass this by using the Webstudio CLI directly instead of going through the internal publishing flow. The CLI provides a more straightforward way to export your projects without dealing with internal authentication tokens.

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What should I do if Webstudio appears to be down?

If Webstudio appears to be down or you can't open projects, first try refreshing the page. If the issue persists, it may be due to a deployment issue which the team typically resolves quickly. You can check the Discord community for status updates or report the issue. Webstudio has fast response times for service interruptions.

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Why can't I publish after connecting my domain?

If your domain shows as 'Active, but not published' and the publish button is grayed out, you likely need to add the required 'Built with Webstudio' badge to your site. On the free plan, you can use one custom domain but must include this badge on your website.

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Why can't I publish my custom domain even though it shows 'Active'?

If your domain shows 'Active' but the publish button is greyed out, you likely need to add the required 'Built with Webstudio' badge to your site. For free accounts, this badge is mandatory when using custom domains. Add the badge component to your site, and the publish button should become available. Pro accounts can remove this badge requirement.

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Why can't I publish my custom domain when it shows 'Active, but not published'?

When your custom domain shows 'Active, but not published' with a grayed-out publish button, it's usually because you haven't added the required 'Built with Webstudio' badge to your website. In the free version, you can use one custom domain, but it must include the Webstudio badge. You need to manually add this badge component to your site before you can publish to a custom domain.

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Why does Webstudio automatically add 'www' to my bare domain?

Your DNS provider likely lacks CNAME flattening at the apex. Adding 'www' ensures reliable CNAME mapping without breaking other records (email, etc.). To use the root cleanly, switch nameservers to a provider (e.g. Cloudflare) that supports flattening.

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Why does my domain setup require 'www' instead of root domain?

Root domain setup is non-standard and broken with some providers like Namecheap. It can break other services connected to your domain (like email). The solution is to use CNAME flattening by migrating your domain to Cloudflare nameservers, which properly supports root domain hosting and gives you additional options and protection.

#
Why does Webstudio automatically add 'www' to my bare domain?

Your DNS provider likely lacks CNAME flattening at the apex. Adding 'www' ensures reliable CNAME mapping without breaking other records (email, etc.). To use the root cleanly, switch nameservers to a provider (e.g. Cloudflare) that supports flattening.

#
Why does my domain setup require 'www' instead of root domain?

Root domain setup is non-standard and broken with some providers like Namecheap. It can break other services connected to your domain (like email). The solution is to use CNAME flattening by migrating your domain to Cloudflare nameservers, which properly supports root domain hosting and gives you additional options and protection.

#
Why does Webstudio automatically add 'www' to my bare domain?

Your DNS provider likely lacks CNAME flattening at the apex. Adding 'www' ensures reliable CNAME mapping without breaking other records (email, etc.). To use the root cleanly, switch nameservers to a provider (e.g. Cloudflare) that supports flattening.

#
Why does my domain setup require 'www' instead of root domain?

Root domain setup is non-standard and broken with some providers like Namecheap. It can break other services connected to your domain (like email). The solution is to use CNAME flattening by migrating your domain to Cloudflare nameservers, which properly supports root domain hosting and gives you additional options and protection.

#
Why does Webstudio automatically add 'www' to my bare domain?

Your DNS provider likely lacks CNAME flattening at the apex. Adding 'www' ensures reliable CNAME mapping without breaking other records (email, etc.). To use the root cleanly, switch nameservers to a provider (e.g. Cloudflare) that supports flattening.

#
Why does my domain setup require 'www' instead of root domain?

Root domain setup is non-standard and broken with some providers like Namecheap. It can break other services connected to your domain (like email). The solution is to use CNAME flattening by migrating your domain to Cloudflare nameservers, which properly supports root domain hosting and gives you additional options and protection.

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Will Webstudio support multi-tenancy or team workspaces?

Team workspaces with access control are planned but no timeframe is confirmed. The concept involves one builder instance with teams that have access to specific projects (Team A sees Site A, Team B sees Site B). For self-hosted deployments, this will likely be an enterprise feature, not open source. In the cloud, Webstudio plans to offer a team plan for this functionality.

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