Title: Child Theme Considerations
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# Child Theme Considerations

 *  [OneWill](https://wordpress.org/support/users/onewill/)
 * (@onewill)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-considerations/)
 * Greetings!
 * What is the best strategy to migrate an existing WordPress theme to a child theme,
   if you do not have access to the original version of the parent theme?
 * My theme has gone through several updates since I installed it. The theme does
   not support automated updates. I am now ready to update the theme. However, my
   theme has gone through numerous customizations by multiple WordPress techs! I
   know if I update, all those customizations are gone.
 * So, what would be the best strategy for getting myself out of this situation?
   My thoughts…. (and I’m not entirely clear on the child theme process; I just 
   know that it makes sense to implement a child theme)
 * * I should create a folder named after my original theme (this will be the child
   theme folder)
    * I should copy all the theme files into that folder * I should
   create the child theme construct (style.css file) * I should have the child theme
   construct point to the new ChildTheme folder * (and now I’m stuck…aren’t I back
   to the same problem here?)
 * Some solid advice would be greatly appreciated. Somewhere along the line, I thought
   I would have to go file-by-file, noting the differences, and then reproducing
   those differences in the child theme.
 * Thank you.

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-considerations/#post-3194619)
 * >  if you do not have access to the original version of the parent theme?
 * where did you download the original theme from?
 *  Thread Starter [OneWill](https://wordpress.org/support/users/onewill/)
 * (@onewill)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-considerations/#post-3194653)
 * I downloaded the original version from ElegantThemes.
 * I do not see a repository of previous files versions.
 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-considerations/#post-3194669)
 * I’m sorry but this is a commercial theme, you need to seek ask the theme’s vendors
   about it.
 *  Thread Starter [OneWill](https://wordpress.org/support/users/onewill/)
 * (@onewill)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-considerations/#post-3194673)
 * Ahhh! I understand. 🙂
 * I was speaking in general, as the question could apply to *any* theme.
 * However, I understand from your answer that having the original version of the
   theme is essential.
 * I guess I was looking more for theme strategy (how to) as opposed to theme support(
   in terms of a “problem” with the theme, itself)….
 * Thank you very much for your time.
 *  [esmi](https://wordpress.org/support/users/esmi/)
 * (@esmi)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-considerations/#post-3194676)
 * I think your best bet is to re-name the theme in the style.css file and rename
   it’s folder to create a new standalone theme.
 *  Thread Starter [OneWill](https://wordpress.org/support/users/onewill/)
 * (@onewill)
 * [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-considerations/#post-3194678)
 * Thank you esmi. I appreciate your advice….

Viewing 6 replies - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)

The topic ‘Child Theme Considerations’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [child theme creation](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/child-theme-creation/)
 * [theme updates](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/theme-updates/)

 * 6 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [OneWill](https://wordpress.org/support/users/onewill/)
 * Last activity: [13 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-considerations/#post-3194678)
 * Status: not resolved

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