Title: First Timer WP – Theme down after .php code modification
Last modified: August 22, 2016

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# First Timer WP – Theme down after .php code modification

 *  [SamAgain](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samagain/)
 * (@samagain)
 * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/first-timer-wp-theme-down-after-php-code-modification/)
 * Dear WP experts,
 * This is my first WP website and right after I had most of the info setup I tried
   to add a widget to the header. I tried to modify the function.php code but couldn’t
   get it to work!
 * now the site is down and I’m unable to log into the wp-admin. overtime I get 
   the following error:
 * Parse error: syntax error, unexpected ‘<‘ in /home/beginagainhomes/public_html/
   wp-content/themes/zerif-lite/functions.php on line 36
 * My website is [http://www.beginagainhomes.com](http://www.beginagainhomes.com).
 * I appreciate the help on getting this resolved.
 * Thanks,
    Sam

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

 *  [leejosepho](https://wordpress.org/support/users/leejosepho/)
 * (@leejosepho)
 * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/first-timer-wp-theme-down-after-php-code-modification/#post-5562243)
 * Use File Manager at cPanel or use FileZilla and FTP (or preferably SFTP) to rename
   the ‘ `/zerif-lite/` ‘ folder to ‘ `/zerif--lite/` ‘ to deactivate that theme.
   WordPress will then activate a default theme and you can begin again with the
   other.
 *  [tim.vodien](https://wordpress.org/support/users/timvodien/)
 * (@timvodien)
 * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/first-timer-wp-theme-down-after-php-code-modification/#post-5562246)
 * Hi,
 * Try to open and check your theme’s(zerif-lite) ‘functions.php’ file, its in this
   directory.
 * =====
    /home/beginagainhomes/public_html/wp-content/themes/zerif-lite =====
 * Then, check line 36 if you have an extra character ‘<‘ ,then try to remove it
   and save the changes.
 * You can also try to check the characters of the php tags ‘<?php ?>’ of your functions.
   php file.
 * Hope this helps.
 *  Thread Starter [SamAgain](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samagain/)
 * (@samagain)
 * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/first-timer-wp-theme-down-after-php-code-modification/#post-5562412)
 * Leejosepho and Tim, Thank you for the instructions. I have used both!
 * After I changed the theme file name, WP activated a default theme. After that
   I went to the “function.php file and removed the extra php?> I had left there
   initially. That removed the Error!
 * Now the issue is how to load back my website with the previous template?
 * I found the theme again and activated it but it is now empty without the info
   I had customized.
 * Could someone help please?
 * Thanks,
    Sam
 *  [leejosepho](https://wordpress.org/support/users/leejosepho/)
 * (@leejosepho)
 * [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/first-timer-wp-theme-down-after-php-code-modification/#post-5562419)
 * > Now the issue is how to load back my website with the previous template?
 * Your theme folder had been renamed to deactivate it because that copy of your
   theme is broken. So, your best bet is to now delete that theme altogether and
   re-upload a new copy that has not been altered.
 * > I found the theme again and activated it but it is now empty without the info
   > I had customized.
 * I just looked at your site, and I am not certain of what I see there since I 
   have no idea what it looked like prior to what has just happened. In any case,
   changing themes does not affect your site content, and WordPress typically remembers
   each theme’s custom settings or options you might have chosen at your Dashboard.
   So overall, I would again suggest deleting that theme altogether and uploading
   a fresh copy and then making a Child Theme where you can add code modifications
   without ever altering any file in your Parent Theme.
 * note: If you can find a suitable WordPress theme from here [https://wordpress.org/themes/](https://wordpress.org/themes/)
   and begin using that one in place of any other, we can help you make a Child 
   Theme so you do not have these same problems again in the future.

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

The topic ‘First Timer WP – Theme down after .php code modification’ is closed to
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## Tags

 * [parse-error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/parse-error/)
 * [syntax error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/syntax-error/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 4 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [leejosepho](https://wordpress.org/support/users/leejosepho/)
 * Last activity: [11 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/first-timer-wp-theme-down-after-php-code-modification/#post-5562419)
 * Status: not resolved

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