Understanding managed WordPress installation

2 min read Updated 4 days ago

Understanding managed WordPress installation

When creating a WordPress application, you have the option to enable "Use managed WordPress installation". This setting fundamentally changes how your WordPress site operates and stores its files.

What it does

The managed WordPress installation option determines whether your WordPress files are stored in a persistent volume or deployed from your source code repository.

Source control mode (default - unchecked)

  • WordPress is deployed from your Git repository

  • All files are built into the application image during deployment

  • Theme and plugin changes must be committed to Git

  • Updates require pushing changes to your repository and redeploying

  • Ideal for teams using version control and development workflows

Managed mode (checked)

  • WordPress files are stored in a 20GB persistent volume

  • Install themes and plugins directly from the WordPress admin panel

  • All changes (uploads, plugins, themes) automatically persist

  • No need to commit changes to Git

  • SFTP access becomes available for direct file management

  • Repository files are ignored during deployment

Pros and cons

Source control mode pros

  • Full version control history of all changes

  • Code review process for theme and plugin updates

  • Easy rollback to previous versions

  • Consistent deployments across environments

  • Better for collaborative development

Source control mode cons

  • Requires technical knowledge of Git

  • Plugin and theme updates must be committed manually

  • Media uploads need separate handling

  • More complex workflow for content managers

Managed mode pros

  • Traditional WordPress experience

  • Direct plugin and theme installation from admin panel

  • No Git knowledge required

  • All changes persist automatically

  • SFTP access for file management

  • Easier for non-technical users

Managed mode cons

  • No version control for changes

  • Cannot easily rollback updates

  • No code review process

  • Harder to maintain consistency across environments

  • Manual backup management needed

Important limitation

This setting cannot be changed after the application is created. Once you create a WordPress application in either source control mode or managed mode, you cannot switch between them. You would need to create a new application to use a different mode.

Which mode should you choose?

  • Choose source control mode if: You're a developer or agency managing client sites, need version control, want code review processes, or require consistent deployments across multiple environments.

  • Choose managed mode if: You want a traditional WordPress experience, prefer managing everything through the WordPress admin panel, don't need version control, or are building a single site without complex deployment needs.