Temporary previews can fail because applications expect the final domain, SSL is not valid for the preview hostname, or rewrite rules force the production URL.
Common symptoms
- The preview link redirects to the live site
- Assets are broken on the temporary URL
- Login sessions fail during preview testing
Troubleshooting steps
- Use a hosts file override when possible to test the actual domain on the new server before switching DNS.
- Avoid making permanent application URL changes solely for a temporary preview unless the vendor recommends it.
- Expect SSL warnings on temporary hostnames if the certificate only covers the production domain.
- Disable strict canonical redirects temporarily only if required for short-term validation.
- After DNS goes live, restore normal canonical settings and clear caches.
Additional notes
- Hosts file testing is often more reliable than temporary URLs for CMS platforms.
- Preview links are useful for static validation but less reliable for applications with absolute URLs.
When to contact support
Contact support if you need help identifying the safest way to preview before cutover.