How to Edit a Wix Website (and Make Changes Go Live)

Whether you want to update your opening hours, swap a photo or add a whole new page, editing a Wix site follows the same pattern every time: open the editor, make your changes, save, then publish. The step people trip over is the last one. Here's how to get into the editor, edit with confidence, and make sure your changes reach your visitors.

Open the Wix Editor

1. Log in to your Wix account.
2. Go to your site's dashboard.
3. Click Edit Site.

Wix notes that if you're opening the editor for the first time, the button may say Design Site instead. If you have several sites, use the Site drop-down at the top left of the dashboard to pick the right one first.

Make your changes

• Edit text: click a text box, then type over the words.
• Swap an image: click the image and choose to change it.
• Add something new: click Add Elements on the left.
• Change colours and fonts site-wide: click Site Design.
• Add or rename pages: use the pages menu on the left.

Save, preview, publish: the three buttons

Button	What it does	Visitors see it?
Save	Stores your changes in the editor	No
Preview	Shows how the site will look	No
Publish	Makes your changes live	Yes

All three sit at the top right of the editor.

The mistake that makes edits disappear

Here's the insight that saves a lot of confused emails. Wix says that after making edits, you need to publish, even if your site is already live, to make the changes go live. Saving alone keeps your changes in the editor, where only you can see them. So if you've updated your site and customers say nothing has changed, the answer is almost always that you saved but didn't publish.

Autosave has a catch

Wix automatically saves your site regularly as you work, but only after your first manual save. On a brand new site, click Save early so autosave kicks in. Wix still recommends saving regularly yourself, and you can switch autosave on or off with Ctrl + Alt + Y, or Command + Option + Y on a Mac.

Preview before you publish

1. Click Preview at the top right.
2. Click through your site as a visitor would.
3. Click Back to Editor to make more changes.

Check the mobile view too. Wix lets you adjust the mobile version separately, and it's where many of your visitors will see your edits.

Work on changes in private

Because nothing goes live until you publish, you can make big changes over several days without visitors seeing a half-finished site. Wix confirms that as long as your changes are saved and you don't click Publish, they'll wait in the editor until you're ready. It's the easiest way to redesign a page without taking anything offline.

Undo a mistake

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl + Z	Undo
Ctrl + Y	Redo

For bigger mistakes, Wix's site history lets you restore and republish an older version of your site, so a bad edit is never permanent.

Edits worth making regularly

• Check your contact details and opening hours are current.
• Refresh your homepage photo seasonally.
• Add new testimonials and case studies.
• Remove old offers and events.
• Test your contact form by sending yourself a message.

Small, regular edits keep a site feeling alive, and they're often more effective than a big redesign. If your site needs more than a tidy, my checklist of signs your website needs a makeover helps you decide, and my guide to making your website successful covers what matters most.

Editing on your phone

You can manage plenty from the Wix app, such as replying to messages and checking bookings, but for design changes, the full editor on a computer is far easier. Save phone edits for quick updates.

Let someone else help with edits

If a team member or freelancer helps with your site, invite them as a collaborator from your dashboard rather than sharing your login. That way they can edit what they need, you keep control of your account, and you can remove their access when the work is finished. It's safer, and you'll always know who made which change.

A simple editing routine

1. Open the editor and make your change.
2. Click Save.
3. Preview on desktop, then switch to the mobile view.
4. Click Publish.
5. Visit your live site on your phone to double-check.

When the editor won't load

If the editor refuses to open, it's usually something local, such as your browser or connection, rather than your site. Wix points to its Technical Assistant for troubleshooting common issues. Before that, try the quick fixes: refresh the page, close other tabs, try a different browser, or clear your browser cache. Nine times out of ten, one of those gets you back in.

My verdict

Go to your dashboard, click Edit Site, make your changes and save often. Preview on desktop and mobile, then click Publish, because saved changes stay invisible until you do. Use undo and site history if anything goes wrong, and you'll never be afraid to edit your own site.

Frequently asked questions

How do I edit my Wix website?

Go to your site's dashboard and click Edit Site, make your changes, save and then publish.

Why aren't my Wix changes showing on my site?

You need to click Publish. Saved changes stay in the editor until you publish.

Does Wix save automatically?

Yes, regularly, but only after your first manual save.

Can I undo changes in the Wix Editor?

Yes. Press Ctrl + Z to undo, or restore an older version from site history.

Can I edit my Wix site without visitors seeing the changes?

Yes. Save your work without publishing and it waits in the editor until you're ready.