I Upload a Theme but This Text Are You Sure You Want to Do This? Comes Up

10 Common WordPress Theme Issues & How To Fix Them

Last updated on: March 18, 2019

In that location are thousands of forum posts opened everyday non simply on WordPress.org but also on other forums and of course well-nigh every theme programmer's support site regarding very mutual issues that tin be solved very quickly and hands. I'm certain theme developers and community members are pretty bored of answering these questions over and once again, then I've decided to write the following post which addresses some of the most common WordPress theme issues and then you lot tin can bookmark information technology and have it ready at your disposal.

i. Stylesheet Is Missing

You've only downloaded or purchased a super awesome theme and y'all go to install it and see the lovely message below:

Well your get-go thought might be…

"the developer screwed me and gave me a theme without a stylesheet"

Of course it is possible the zip file you received didn't accept a style.css file, but more than likely the issue is you didn't upload the root theme folder.

Missing Stylesheet Error Solution

Locate the folder you have of the theme on your desktop and open it (if it is zipped, unzip and open it). Now when you open it you should see all your files in in that location, if not the theme is likely in a sub-directory. For example our premium themes all accept the theme within an "Installable Theme" folder. Generally it'southward somewhere obvious and the actual theme folder volition likely be named the aforementioned every bit the theme. In one case institute null it and upload via WordPress or upload the unzipped folder via FTP.

2. Sample Data Import Errors

You've got your theme installed and now you are uploading a sample .xml file the theme developer was and then dainty to provide you with and withal again you get an error!

Failed to Import Mistake Solution ane

The "failed" to import error is ordinarily i of 2 things. The first is that it could exist trying to load posts or taxonomies from custom post types that do not exist still.

• Activate Theme: Make sure the theme y'all are going to use is active.
• Double Check Theme: Make sure the theme actually includes these custom mail types and taxonomies – peradventure ask the programmer or if y'all know how look yourself

Failed to Import Fault Solution 2

For errors that testify "Failed to import Media" the images aren't being downloaded.

• Did you bank check the box to import attachments? Before running the import did you you need to check the box that reads "download and import file attachments".
• Are the images accessible? It'south possible the mages aren't accessible from the server. You could open the sample data in a text editor and endeavor and locate one of those files and test the link in your browser. But the easiest is probably to contact the theme developer and let them know that the images aren't downloading.

3. Homepage Doesn't Look Similar The Demo

It would be not bad if any theme you activated looked exactly like the demo once it was activated? Our Full WordPress theme does this when you use the built-in demo importer, just not every theme can be every bit crawly as Total.

And then if you've installed a theme (and it'southward sample data) but your site isn't matching up to the theme demo there are a couple very mutual reasons why your homepage might look dissimilar.

Homepage Brandish Error Solution 1

Reading settings are wrong. This ways your theme either does or doesn't require a habitation page to exist set, and you accept your site fix to the contrary. So go to Settings > Reading and check the options under "Front Page Displays."

If your theme doesn't require any page template for the homepage layout brand certain this selection is set to"Your latest posts." If your theme does employ a homepage template, accept your site set to use a static homepage.

Homepage Brandish Error Solution 2

You need to use a homepage template.A lot of theme developers utilize custom page templates for their homepage layouts. So you lot should first of course read the documentation files, but if there aren't whatever caput over and create a new page, while in the editor nether Page Attributes > Template check to run into if at that place is a Domicile, Homepage, Frontpage or similar template. If so, then you lot likely demand to create a folio using this template, relieve/publish it, then head over to Settings > Reading to gear up information technology every bit your static front end page option.

4. My URL's Are "Ugly"

By default the default WordPress url structure isn't very "pretty" much less SEO-Friendly. So when you first setup your website URLS might look ugly (a mish-mash of the post ID, publish date, post title and even the category). Don't worry – it'due south easy to fix.

Ugly URLs Fault Solution

So if your urls aren't looking that bang-up (yourwebsite.com/?p=one) simply become to Settings > Permalinks and change your setting to the "Post Name" choice (or any of the others – but choose the one that all-time works for you lot).

v. My Posts Are Returning 404 Errors

If y'all accept posts that are now returning a 404 error page, don't panic (even so) most of the time your posts are still there and you just need to update your permalink settings to set up the upshot. This is very common with themes that use custom post types. Whenever you actuate a new theme that uses custom mail types you should reset your permalink settings.

Posts Showing 404 Fault Solution

The simplest prepare is to just become to Settings > Permalinks and click the relieve button. Usually this will do the trick. But if this doesn't work you might accept to update your .htaccess file manually (note: we do not recommend tackling this on your own if you're make new to WordPress, instead you might need to contact a freelance developer for assistance). Y'all can read more about using WordPress permalinks in the WordPress codex.

6. My Carte du jour Is Blank

For those who utilise WordPress on a daily basis yous volition likely non have this event, but if you are very new to WordPress or y'all used WordPress a few years ago and only getting dorsum information technology you might be confused equally to why your bill of fare is blank when you lot install the theme.

Missing Bill of fare Mistake Solution

The default WordPress theme has a fallback for the WordPress carte in case there isn't whatsoever setup, nevertheless, non all theme developers have added this to their own themes.

To make sure your menus are working, caput over toAdvent > Menu to setup your menu.

1. Make sure you accept a carte. If y'all don't, you'll demand to create i (checkout this post to learn how to setup menus in WordPress)
2. Make sure the menu is assigned to a location. Below your carte yous should see "Display Locations" – these are the menu areas built into your theme. Some themes may only have one main card location, others might have tons of locations. Just be sure to check the option for where yous want your menu to appear and so save.

7. New Theme Uses Featured Images But I Have a Ton Of Posts Without Them

Prior to WordPress 2.9 in that location wasn't featured image (post thumbnails) back up in WordPress so many themes used meta options or custom fields for defining featured images or they didn't have any sort of default postal service image.

Then peradventure you are switching from an older theme to a new one that does support featured images or maybe your prior theme was just very minimal and didn't use them. We'll you aren't going to accept hours to go through your hundreds of posts to set the featured image (or perchance you lot are) so there is a quick solution for this and it comes in the course of a plugin!

No Featured Images Mistake Solution

A elementary solution is to use the "Easy Add Thumbnail" plugin to automatically set featured images on old posts. Simply install, actuate and follow the instructions to add images to old posts. Going forwards, simply remember to add your featured images when you publish new posts.

8. Slides, Accordions, Toggles, Tabs…Not or Stopped Working!

A lot of WordPress themes these days brand utilize of java-script/jQuery to enhance the themes adding things such as epitome sliders, toggles, accordions, tabs, mobile menus, image hovers…etc.

If the these features are not working on your theme or of a sudden stopped working its most likely do to some sort of javascript error causing everything to suspension.

Broken Slides, Toggles, Tabs, etc Error Solution

The first thing y'all should do is disable all your plugins, clear your enshroud (all of them) and re-load your site to cheque if everything is working how it should exist. If it is, and so now you can actuate your plugins dorsum 1 by 1 and as soon as it breaks you'll know that concluding plugin was the one causing issues (make note of this plugin, deactivate and so keep doing the aforementioned).

Once y'all know which plugin/plugins are causing the event you can either search for new plugin with the same functionality that is uniform, or you tin can contact the plugin or theme developer to permit them know of the conflict (get-go inspect the page to see what the actual problems are so you lot can contact the appropriate person – if its a plugin error send a note the plugin dev, or if its a theme mistake the theme dev).

nine. Styling Changes Aren't Doing Anything

So you have your theme all setup and now yous want to alter the manner it looks to give it more than of your own "personality" and really make it match your brand, business, niche…etc. And so you've started adding some custom CSS to your site or modifying the stylesheet just whenever you refresh your site none of your changes are taking affect!

Missing Way Edits Error Solution

There are a few steps you can accept to ensure your edits are applied:

• Disable Cache:The most common outcome is that you have some sort of caching plugin such equally W3 Total Cache installed and caching your CSS. If you do, you lot should disable it.
• WordPress Customizer: If using the theme customizer you should try clicking the save push button then refreshing the page to run into if your changes take impact.
• Background not irresolute: If yous are simply trying to alter the background using the WordPress background dashboard you might be having issues if the theme you are using has an image set up for the background. Try uploading a new image just to test because that should override it. Uploading a 1px solid color and setting it to repeat might be a decent option also.
• WordPress Editor Changes: If you are trying to make changes via the WordPress editor at Appearance > Editor the changes might not actually be saving due to server permissions, only if this is the instance yous will receive an error. You can learn more than well-nigh setting file permissions hither.

ten. I've Updated My Theme And All My Changes Are Gone!

The most likely crusade of this error is that you made manual changes to your template files such as the manner.css file (normally). Then when y'all updated your theme your edited files were overwritten by the default theme code. This is why we NEVER recommend making changes to original theme.

Theme Changes Are Gone Error Solution

Unfortunately your edits may be gone forever unless y'all take a fill-in of your website that yous tin can apply to restore it. Some hosting companies offering 30-days worth of website backups, so effort contacting your host if you lot demand assist locating and/or reverting to a backup. If y'all take your ain manual backup, you lot should be able to restore your theme files via FTP.

While you might not be able to set up this issue before long you can take precautions to be certain you're not in this situation again. In the future, when you desire to make edits to your themes you should exist using one (or more) of the post-obit:

• Custom CSS Plugin. If you only need a few small tweaks you could utilize a custom CSS plugin to make your tweaks and ensure they aren't deleted during a theme update. Hither are a two we similar:
  • Yellow Pencil CSS Editor
  • CSSHero Visual CSS Editor
• Create A Child Theme. Creating a child theme is probably the all-time method of customizing your theme and will allow the greatest flexibility and even allow yous to edit template files (too only manner.css), remove or add new scripts too equally add together custom functions.
  • Checkout this commodity to learn how to create a WordPress child theme.
• Maintain Full Website Backups. In case something goes wrong information technology's ever a skilful idea to go on backups of your website. For this nosotros highly recommend you fill-in your WordPress website (which is unlike from the server backups your hosting company might offering) using one of the following:
  • VaultPress – WordPress Backup and Security
  • BackupBuddy WordPress Fill-in Plugin
  • Updraft Plus Complimentary WordPress Fill-in Plugin
• Keep A Changelog. Whether you are editing the template files manually (all-time no to) or using a child theme, creating a changelog is the all-time way for you to proceed track of all the tweaks you've made to the theme. It's especially useful if something breaks so yous can back-track and see where yous might have made a mistake.

Wrapping Up

There you lot have it – 10 common WordPress errors plus solutions so y'all tin fix them. Only these are just a few of the errors nosotros see folks run into near often. For more tips you should besides take a look at this guide nosotros wrote on how to install your Themeforest WordPress theme (though the guide has tips that would apply to most themes).

If you're having other issues your first step should exist to practice a quick Google search to see if y'all can observe an reply yourself. If later on researching on your ain you all the same tin't detect an answer, try contacting the theme or plugin author (if information technology's an issue with their product) or visit a forum like Reddit or Envato to come across if a customs fellow member can help. Chances are the mistake yous're getting is more common than y'all retrieve!

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Source: https://www.wpexplorer.com/fix-common-wordpress-theme-issues/

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