> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.blockli.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connecting to Studio

> How the Blockli WordPress plugin connects to Studio Cloud — the handshake process, what data is synced, and how to reconnect.

The plugin exposes a REST API that Studio uses to read your site's configuration and write back app settings. The connection is initiated from Studio — you don't configure it manually in the plugin.

## How the connection works

1. In Studio, you enter your WordPress site URL and click **Connect**.
2. Studio calls `GET /wp-json/blockli-mobile/v1/config` on your site.
3. The plugin responds with your site's capabilities: active community providers, enabled modules, plugin version, and site metadata.
4. Studio stores the connection and sets the following fields in the plugin via the admin REST API (`/wp-json/blockli-mobile/v1/admin/settings`):
   * `cloud.enabled = true`
   * `cloud.app_id` — your Studio app's unique ID
   * `cloud.config_url` — the edge CDN URL for published app config
   * `cloud.api_base_url` — the Studio API base for callbacks

After connection, the plugin's **Blockli → Settings** page shows a "Connected" badge with your app ID.

## What Studio reads from the plugin

Studio syncs the following from your site on connection and on each subsequent sync:

* **Community provider** — BuddyBoss, BuddyPress, or FluentCommunity (auto-detected)
* **Active modules** — which content types and features are available
* **Plugin version** — used to warn when the plugin is outdated
* **REST base URLs** — the endpoints Studio will deliver to the app at runtime
* **Authentication capabilities** — whether social login providers are configured

## Local development

To connect a local WordPress install to Studio (e.g. via Local by Flywheel), your site must be reachable from the internet. Options:

* Use a tunnel tool like **ngrok** or **Cloudflare Tunnel** to expose your local site
* Add the tunnel URL to Studio as the site URL

Alternatively, set the Studio URL in `wp-config.php` to point at a local Studio instance:

```php theme={null}
define( 'BLOCKLI_STUDIO_URL', 'http://127.0.0.1:5174' );
```

This overrides the default Studio URL (`https://blockli-studio-cloud.onrender.com`) for the plugin's admin panel only.

## Reconnecting

If you need to reconnect (e.g. after migrating your site to a new URL):

1. In Studio, go to **Settings → WordPress Connection** and click **Reconnect**.
2. Update the site URL if it changed.
3. Studio re-runs the connection handshake and updates the plugin settings.

The plugin token secret is not changed during reconnection — existing app sessions remain valid.

## Troubleshooting

**Connection fails with "Could not reach site"**

* Check that pretty permalinks are enabled (**Settings → Permalinks** — any structure except "Plain")
* Ensure the REST API is not blocked by a security plugin (Wordfence, iThemes Security, etc.)
* Verify the site URL is publicly reachable from Studio's servers

**"Plugin not detected" after connection**

* Confirm the plugin is activated (not just installed)
* Visit `https://your-site.com/wp-json/blockli-mobile/v1/ping` — if this returns 404, the REST routes are not registered