Updates
WordPress theme updates: without losing customisations
10 May 2024 · 8 min read
Theme updates are essential for security and compatibility, but they overwrite all changes you have made directly in the theme. This is one of the most common causes of problems with WordPress updates.
At WP Maintainer we always install a child theme to prevent this.
The problem
When you make changes in the parent theme (e.g. style.css, functions.php, templates), these are overwritten during an update. Result: all custom work has disappeared.
The solution: child theme
A child theme preserves your changes in a separate folder. The parent theme can be safely updated without your changes being lost.
Update procedure with child theme
1. **Check whether you use a child theme** If not, create one BEFORE the update.
2. **Read the changelog** Check whether there are changes that affect your child theme.
3. **Make a backup** Of both parent and child theme.
4. **Update the parent theme** Via the WordPress dashboard or FTP.
5. **Test** Check whether everything still works correctly.
6. **Adjust child theme if needed** Sometimes you need to update child theme templates to the new version of the parent theme.
WP Theme update service
We manage theme updates for all our clients. We always use child themes and test updates thoroughly. You never lose custom changes.