Title: Difference between "broken theme" and "missing stylesheet" errors?
Last modified: August 22, 2016

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# Difference between "broken theme" and "missing stylesheet" errors?

 *  [gadgetwordpress](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gadgetwordpress/)
 * (@gadgetwordpress)
 * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/difference-between-broken-theme-and-missing-stylesheet-errors/)
 * Hello!
 * Regarding installation, I’ve seen both these errors, but am struggling with the
   differences/causes for each to help users.
 * Missing Stylesheet seems to be related to uploading something that’s not a WordPress
   theme.
 * I’m not sure how to trigger the broken theme message/issue again to test the 
   true cause.
 * Thanks!

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  [Nikhil Vimal](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nikv/)
 * (@nikv)
 * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/difference-between-broken-theme-and-missing-stylesheet-errors/#post-5282867)
 * Usually, if you upload a theme that is NOT a .zip file, you may get this error.
 *  Moderator [t-p](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t-p/)
 * (@t-p)
 * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/difference-between-broken-theme-and-missing-stylesheet-errors/#post-5282868)
 * > Missing Stylesheet seems to be related to uploading something that’s not a 
   > WordPress theme.
 * WordPress Themes use a combination of template files, template tags, and CSS 
   files to generate your WordPress site’s look.
 * The CSS file is where it all comes together.
 * If this file is missing, you get this error accordingly.
 *  Thread Starter [gadgetwordpress](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gadgetwordpress/)
 * (@gadgetwordpress)
 * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/difference-between-broken-theme-and-missing-stylesheet-errors/#post-5282889)
 * Thank you for the replies. I’m still unclear as to what triggers the “broken 
   theme” (non missing stylesheet) message instead.
 *  [Nikhil Vimal](https://wordpress.org/support/users/nikv/)
 * (@nikv)
 * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/difference-between-broken-theme-and-missing-stylesheet-errors/#post-5282911)
 * See this thread, this is for WordPress child themes, but still relevant. [http://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-error-broken-theme-stylesheet-is-missing?replies=7](http://wordpress.org/support/topic/child-theme-error-broken-theme-stylesheet-is-missing?replies=7)
 *  [catacaustic](https://wordpress.org/support/users/catacaustic/)
 * (@catacaustic)
 * [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/difference-between-broken-theme-and-missing-stylesheet-errors/#post-5282972)
 * ‘Broken Theme’ – You’re missing a default fallback templae file, normally `index.
   php`.
 * ‘Missing Stylesheet’ – Your theme does not have the default `style.css` stylesheet
   available.
 * Completely different things, but both will stop a theme from working.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘Difference between "broken theme" and "missing stylesheet" errors?’ is
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## Tags

 * [installation](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/installation/)
 * [missing](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/missing/)
 * [Stylesheet](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/stylesheet/)

 * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/)
 * 5 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [catacaustic](https://wordpress.org/support/users/catacaustic/)
 * Last activity: [11 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/difference-between-broken-theme-and-missing-stylesheet-errors/#post-5282972)
 * Status: not resolved

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