Summarize this article with:
Your website looks great. But you’re not ready to go live yet.
Maybe you need client approval. Or team feedback. Or you just want a second opinion before connecting your domain.
Learning how to share a Wix website without publishing solves this problem. You can send a private preview link, grant collaborator access, or create a fully functional test site.
All while keeping your work invisible to search engines.
This guide covers four methods to share your unpublished Wix site: Preview Mode, Test Sites, Collaborator Access, and the Get Feedback tool.
Each takes less than five minutes to set up.
How to Share a Wix Website Without Publishing
Sharing a Wix website without publishing is the process of granting preview access to an unpublished site using Wix’s built-in sharing features.
The site stays off search engines. Your domain remains unconnected. But reviewers can still click through every page.
This guide covers 4 methods: Preview Mode, Test Sites, Collaborator Access, and the Get Feedback tool.
Time needed: 2-5 minutes per method. Skill level: beginner.
How big is Wix in the website builder market?
Discover the latest Wix statistics: market share, user growth, revenue, and trends shaping one of the most popular website platforms.
See the Data →Prerequisites
Before you share your draft website, confirm you have:
- Wix account (free or premium plan)
- A website saved in the Wix Editor
- Access to your Wix Dashboard
- Email addresses of reviewers (for collaborator method only)
No coding required. No third-party tools needed.
If you’re still setting up your site, learn how to create a Wix website first.
Step 1: How Do You Access the Wix Editor Preview Mode?
Click the Preview button in the top right corner of the Wix Editor to open a live preview in a new browser tab.
This preview URL shows exactly what visitors will see. All interactive elements work: links, forms, buttons.
Where to Find It
Open your site in the Wix Editor. Look at the top right corner. Click “Preview.”
A new tab opens with your site preview.
The Limitation
Wix does not let you share this preview link directly with others.
You’d need to share your screen or sit together. For remote sharing, use Test Sites instead.
Step 2: Where Do You Find the Test Site Feature in Wix?
The Test Sites feature creates a fully functional mirror of your website with a unique shareable URL.
Everything works: clickable links, functional forms, all interactive elements. And it stays invisible to search engines.
How to Create a Test Site
- Go to your Wix Dashboard
- Click “Site Actions” in the top menu
- Select “Create Test Site”
- Copy the generated URL
The URL includes a site revision suffix that looks like “?siteRevision=XXX” where XXX is the revision number.
Why Test Sites Work Best
Recipients see a complete working website. No Wix account required on their end.
Perfect for client feedback, team reviews, or mobile optimization testing.
Step 3: How Do You Add Collaborators to Your Wix Site?
The Collaborator Access feature lets you invite specific people to view or edit your unpublished site through the Wix Dashboard.
Each collaborator needs an email invitation. You control exactly what they can do.
Steps to Invite People
- Open your Wix Dashboard
- Navigate to Settings > Roles and Permissions
- Click “Invite People”
- Enter the collaborator’s email address
- Select their permission level
- Send the invitation
The recipient gets an email with site access instructions.
When to Use This Method
Best for ongoing team collaboration or when someone needs edit access.
For view-only client previews, Test Sites work better since they don’t require account setup.
Step 4: What Permissions Should You Assign to Each Collaborator?
Wix offers three contributor roles with different permission levels. Choose based on what each person needs to do.
Available Roles
- Admin – Full control over site settings, design, and publishing
- Website Editor – Can edit content and design; cannot publish or change settings
- Blog Writer – Can only create and edit blog posts
Most preview requests need Website Editor at most. Admin access is rarely necessary for feedback.
Permission Best Practices
Give the minimum access needed. You can always upgrade permissions later.
For view-only feedback, skip collaborator access entirely and use Test Sites instead.
Step 5: How Do You Use the Get Feedback Tool in Wix?
The Get Feedback tool generates a dedicated link for collecting targeted website feedback without publishing.
Reviewers can view your site and leave comments. No Wix account required on their end.
How to Access It
Open the Wix Editor. Look for the “Get Feedback” option in the top menu. Click to generate your feedback link.
Share this private preview link with anyone who needs to review your draft.
Limitations
Less versatile than Test Sites. Works best for simple review requests rather than comprehensive testing.
Alternative Methods: Test Sites vs. Collaborator Access
Both methods share your unpublished Wix website. Each serves different purposes.
Test Sites
- Setup time: 1 minute
- Best for: External reviewers, clients, one-way feedback
- Access type: View-only
- Recipient requirements: None
Collaborator Access
- Setup time: 2-3 minutes
- Best for: Team members needing edit capabilities
- Access type: View or edit (your choice)
- Recipient requirements: Must accept email invitation
Quick Decision Guide
Need someone to just look? Use Test Sites.
Need someone to make changes? Use Collaborator Access with Website Editor role.
Verification
Confirm your sharing method works before relying on it.
How to Test Your Shared Link
- Copy the shared URL (Test Site or Get Feedback link)
- Open an incognito browser window
- Paste the URL and press Enter
- Verify all pages load correctly
If collaborator access, ask the recipient to confirm they received the invitation email. Check spam folders.
Troubleshooting
Preview Link Not Working for External Viewers
Problem: You copied the Preview Mode URL but others cannot access it.
Solution: Use Test Sites instead. Go to Wix Dashboard > Site Actions > Create Test Site.
Collaborator Cannot Access the Site
Problem: Invited person says they cannot see the website.
Solution: Verify the email address is correct. Resend the invitation. Have them check spam folder.
Changes Not Appearing in Shared Preview
Problem: Recent edits are missing from the Test Site version.
Solution: Save your changes in the editor (Ctrl+S on Windows, Cmd+S on Mac). Create a new Test Site to include the latest revision.
Site Revision Not Updating
Problem: The siteRevision number stays the same after edits.
Solution: Generate a fresh Test Site link. The revision suffix only updates when you create a new test version.
Related Processes
After sharing your site for feedback, you might need these next steps:
- Ready to go live? Learn the full publishing process
- Need to take your site offline? See how to unpublish a Wix site
- Moving platforms? Check how to transfer a Wix site to another account
- Connecting a custom URL? Follow the guide on how to connect a domain to Wix
Need to customize your site further before sharing? Learn how to change Wix template or how to upload fonts to Wix.
FAQ on How To Share A Wix Website Without Publishing
Can I share my Wix website before publishing it?
Yes. Wix offers multiple ways to share an unpublished site. Use Test Sites for a shareable link, Collaborator Access for team members, or the Get Feedback tool for targeted reviews. None of these methods make your site public.
How do I get a shareable link for my unpublished Wix site?
Go to your Wix Dashboard, click Site Actions, then select Create Test Site. This generates a unique URL with a site revision suffix. Copy and share this link with anyone who needs to review your draft website.
Can someone view my Wix site without a Wix account?
Yes. Test Site links and Get Feedback links work for anyone with the URL. No Wix account required. Only Collaborator Access requires the recipient to accept an email invitation and create or log into a Wix account.
Will sharing my unpublished Wix site affect SEO?
No. Unpublished sites and Test Sites remain invisible to search engines. Your preview link won’t be indexed. SEO only becomes a factor after you officially publish and connect your domain.
What is the difference between Preview Mode and Test Sites?
Preview Mode opens in your browser but cannot be shared remotely. Test Sites generate a unique URL that anyone can access. For client feedback or remote team reviews, Test Sites is the better option.
How do I give someone editing access to my Wix site?
Go to Settings, then Roles and Permissions in your Wix Dashboard. Click Invite People, enter their email, and assign a role. Website Editor allows content changes without publishing rights. Admin grants full control.
Can I password protect my shared Wix preview?
Wix does not offer password protection for Test Site links directly. However, you can control access by only sharing the link with specific people. For stricter security, use Collaborator Access with assigned permissions instead.
How long does a Wix Test Site link stay active?
Test Site links remain active until you delete the site or create a new test version. Each time you generate a new Test Site, the site revision number changes. Old links may still work but show outdated content.
Can I share specific pages instead of my entire Wix site?
No. Wix sharing methods provide access to the entire site, not individual pages. If you want to hide certain pages, consider deleting a page on Wix temporarily or using member-only page settings after publishing.
What happens to shared access after I publish my Wix site?
Collaborator permissions remain active after publishing. Test Site links continue working but show the revision from when they were created. Review and revoke any access that should not continue post-launch for better site security.
Conclusion
Knowing how to share a Wix website without publishing gives you complete control over your site development process.
You can gather website feedback, get client approval, and collaborate with team members. All before your domain goes live.
The four methods covered here serve different needs. Test Sites work best for sharing a website preview URL with external reviewers. Collaborator Access handles ongoing team projects with specific site permissions.
Preview Mode lets you check your work locally. The Get Feedback tool collects targeted input.
Pick the method that matches your situation. Most pre-launch sharing takes under five minutes to set up.
Your unpublished Wix website stays invisible to search engines until you decide it’s ready.
