Can I run Strapi in development mode on Strapi Cloud?

Last updated: March 3, 2025

No, you cannot run Strapi in development mode on Strapi Cloud due to its ephemeral file system. Here's why:

  • The ephemeral file system is temporary

  • All filesystem changes are deleted during code deployments

  • Git remains the source of truth for your project

Best practices for development:

  1. Develop content types in your local environment

  2. Push changes to your Git repository

  3. Let Strapi Cloud automatically deploy your updates

This workflow isn't unique to Strapi Cloud - it's our recommended approach for all hosted Strapi applications. Learn more about development best practices in our Strapi development workflow guide.