Push a branch, get Vercel's automatic preview URL, and share it with teammates or testers without touching your live site.
Give me a preview link of this branch I can send to my cofounder
How it works
- Put the changes on a branch: A branch is a separate copy of your code for trying things. Vovy creates one, commits your changes, and pushes it to GitHub.
- Wait for the preview build: Vercel builds every non-main branch as a Preview deployment. Vovy watches the build and tells you when it's ready.
- Check who can open it: New Vercel projects protect previews with Vercel Authentication, so outsiders see a login. Vovy explains the options for sharing with someone outside your team.
- Create a share link: Vovy opens the preview and uses Share to create a link that lets your guest in, or asks before loosening protection in Settings.
- Hand you the link: A card shows the preview URL, which branch it's from, and that nothing changed on your live site.
What you provide
- Your changes
- A project connected to Vercel
What you get
- A preview URL for the branch
- A link your guest can open
- Live site left untouched
FAQ
Does the preview use my live database?
It uses whatever env vars you set for Preview. If those match production, testers hit real data, so Vovy points that out.
Why does my tester see a Vercel login page?
That's Deployment Protection, which is on by default for previews. A share link or protection setting change lets them through.
Will Google index my preview?
Vercel adds a noindex header to preview deployments, so search engines skip them.
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