How can I connect the template I purchased in Webflow to my hosted website project, and how can I work on modifying the template without it being visible to the public?

TL;DR
  • Duplicate the purchased template project in the Webflow Dashboard to preserve the original.  
  • Customize the site in Designer without publishing, using Preview mode to view changes privately.  
  • Enable password protection under Project Settings > Hosting to restrict staging site access if needed.  
  • Once ready, connect your custom domain by updating DNS records and publish via Project Settings > Hosting.

To connect a purchased Webflow template to your hosted project and work on it privately, you need to duplicate the template into a project, modify it there, and control the published site. Here's how to do both:

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1. Duplicate the Purchased Template

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  • Webflow templates are added to your dashboard as new projects.
  • Go to the Webflow Dashboard and look for the project created from your purchased template.
  • Duplicate the template project if you want to keep an untouched version. Click the three dots on the project card and choose Duplicate.

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2. Customize the Template Privately

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  • Open the duplicate or original template project in the Designer and make all the desired changes.
  • Do not publish the site to the live domain yet. You’ll be working within the Webflow Designer and Preview mode, which does not expose changes to the public.
  • You can preview interactions and layouts within the Webflow Designer by clicking the eye icon (Preview mode) or using device-specific views.

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3. Set a Password to Block Public Access (Optional)

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  • If you need to publish to a staging domain temporarily but keep the changes hidden:
  • Go to Project Settings > Hosting > Password Protection.
  • Enable Require a password to view this site and set a password.
  • This protects both the Webflow staging domain (yourproject.webflow.io) and any custom domains.

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4. Connect to Your Custom Domain When Ready

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  • When your modifications are complete and you're ready to go live:
  • Go to Project Settings > Hosting.
  • Under Custom Domains, click Add Custom Domain and enter your domain name.
  • Update your domain registrar’s DNS records:
    • A Records: Point to (a) 75.2.70.75 and (b) 99.83.190.102
    • CNAME Record: For subdomains like www, point to proxy-ssl.webflow.com
  • Once DNS is set up, set your default domain and click Publish to that domain.

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5. Avoid Publishing Prematurely

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  • While working on the project, only publish to the staging domain (e.g., yourproject.webflow.io), or avoid publishing altogether.
  • Ensure the custom domain is only set to publish once you're ready for public visibility.

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Summary

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To modify a purchased Webflow template without it being live, work in the Designer without publishing, optionally set a password for staging, and only connect your custom domain when ready. Duplicate your template to keep a backup, and control publishing from the Project Settings > Hosting section.

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