What will happen if I update my theme?

  • Resolved debsgt85

    (@debsgt85)


    10 years, 5 months ago

    “very new to wordpress and css stuff” Please help. I used the circumference lite theme to create my website. I have heavily customised it using plugins and changing colours/font/pics etc etc. Its looks very different to the original and has taken me FOREVER. I have not touched the css files. It is now asking me to update the theme? But it says “Please Note: Any customizations you have made to theme files will be lost. Please consider using child themes for modifications.” That does not sound too good… I have not edited the actual theme files. Just edited it using the option available to me and plug ins. What will happen when I update? Is there any way around this? I read about creating a copy of the theme and updating that one…. but I have no idea how to do that…. Sorry but any replies will have to be very basic step by step instructions ?? Thanks soooo much in advance for any help you can offer me. my site is https://www.natal-plum.co.uk

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  • Sorry for late reply…also, I have to say congrats on reading that notice first before updating because many people do not.

    Regarding your question if you will lose things with the update…if you made any changes to any of the theme files directly, you will lose those changes. However, if you made CSS changes using a plugin and NOT made direct changes to the theme files, you should be fine. Likewise, if you made changes from the customizer (theme settings like colours etc and found if you go to Appearance >> Customize), then you should be fine. If you use a child theme (which it sounds like you did not), normally any theme file modifications you make in that will be ok with an update.

    If you are nervous (and I can totally understand), you may want to consider using a backup plugin. A few to check out are:

    https://www.ads-software.com/plugins/backwpup/
    https://www.ads-software.com/plugins/backupwordpress/
    Also this one (which I use) https://vaultpress.com/

    Keeping regular backups is very important for anyone running a site. Any major updates I do, I always make a backup first.

    Thread Starter debsgt85

    (@debsgt85)

    Thank you so much. That is a vey helpful response. I have not made any direct changes to the theme files, so it sounds like I will be ok. Thank you for the advice regarding backups, I gave Backwpup a go. But it has come up with errors and warnings. **confused** Thanks again.

    No worries… try a different plugin or consider checking out VaultPress, but if you get any error messages, best to submit that to the developer of the plugin.

    Thread Starter debsgt85

    (@debsgt85)

    Thank you, I am trying vault press! I already need support with that though as I do not know what FTP details are! So I will look up on the forums for that! ?? Thanks!

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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