How to Update a WordPress Theme Without Losing Changes
Which customisations survive a theme update and which don't, plus three ways to update a theme safely.
By Steve, Founder and editor, website developer
Updated
· Last reviewed · 2 min read
In short
- A theme update replaces the theme's files, so any edits made directly to those files are lost.
- Changes made in the Site Editor, the Customizer or a child theme are kept.
- Themes from the WordPress directory update from Dashboard › Updates; others update by uploading the new .zip.
- Since WordPress 5.5 you can switch on auto-updates for individual themes.
Which changes survive a theme update?
| Where you made the change | After a theme update |
|---|---|
| Appearance › Editor (Site Editor), including Styles | Kept: saved in your database |
| Appearance › Customize (classic themes) | Kept: saved in your database |
| A child theme | Kept: it's a separate folder |
| Additional CSS | Kept |
| Editing the theme's files (style.css, templates, functions.php) | Lost: the files are replaced |
If you've edited a theme's files, copy your changes into a child theme before you update.
How do you update a theme from the WordPress directory?
- Take a backup.
- Go to Dashboard › Updates, tick the theme under "Themes" and click Update Themes. Or go to Appearance › Themes and click Update now on the theme.
- Check your site, especially the header, footer and home page.
How do you update a theme that came as a .zip?
Themes bought or downloaded elsewhere (including ours) don't always update from the dashboard. To install a newer version:
- Back up the site.
- Go to Appearance › Themes › Add Theme › Upload Theme and upload the new .zip.
- WordPress notices the theme is already installed and offers to Replace installed with uploaded. Check the version numbers and confirm.
Customised a theme in our builder? Your Site Editor changes stay in your database, so uploading a rebuilt version keeps them. To see the new theme's own templates instead, clear your customisations for that template in the Site Editor.
Should you turn on theme auto-updates?
Since WordPress 5.5, you can switch on auto-updates for individual themes: click the theme in Appearance › Themes and choose Enable auto-updates. It's sensible for themes from the WordPress directory that you haven't edited. Since WordPress 6.3, a manual theme update that fails is rolled back to the previous version automatically.
Where to go next
Read how to update plugins safely or set up your maintenance routine.
Sources and further reading
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