Title: multisite theme &amp; plugin issue
Last modified: October 9, 2019

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# multisite theme & plugin issue

 *  Resolved [ekaika](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ekaika/)
 * (@ekaika)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/)
 * installed multisite, can see main domain and subdomains in Network Admin.
    Installed
   generic theme, shows up in wp main domain but not wp sub domains checked network
   admin > sites > theme – “no themes available”
 * I have a feeling the subdomain theme folders and plugin folders are not properly
   mapped?

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

 *  Thread Starter [ekaika](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ekaika/)
 * (@ekaika)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12014771)
 * PLus… In the WPO subdomain, I can add themes/plugins. I thought this was only
   done on the network admin side?
 *  Thread Starter [ekaika](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ekaika/)
 * (@ekaika)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12015213)
 * based on reading this:[https://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/wordpress-multisite-masterclass-getting-started/](https://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/wordpress-multisite-masterclass-getting-started/)
 * the file structure for the subdomains is not the same as the main domain (confirmed).
 * If anyone reads this before I solve the problem – advice on how to remap the 
   file structure or alert me if im wrong…
 *  [Rough Pixels](https://wordpress.org/support/users/roughpixels/)
 * (@roughpixels)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12015355)
 * Hello,
 * I actually have a multisite (network) setup for my theme demos but know this 
   can be a bit tricky at times. However, just so I get a better picture of things,
   you have set up your network (multisite) on a subdomain?
 * But you are wondering about the installation of themes and plugins being available
   for added “sites” to the network?
 * When installing a theme or plugin, this is done from the network admin dashboard.
   For themes, while logged in, you would go to
 * > My Sites >> Network Admin >> Themes
 * When uploading, you would then **Network Enable** it. So when you add a site 
   to the network, then go into that site’s dashboard, you would see the theme there
   and can then activate it for that site.
 * Plugins are the same but also a bit different. You can Network Enable a plugin,
   but you can also leave it disabled and then go into the added Site’s dashboard
   and activate the plugin from there. There may be some plugins that need to be
   network-enabled, but most can be enabled from each added site’s dashboard. Themes
   are the ones that must be Network Enabled from the start.
 * Hopefully, I understood correctly, but if not, let me know.
 * Regards,
    Andre
 *  Thread Starter [ekaika](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ekaika/)
 * (@ekaika)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12015365)
 * I have my multisite set on my main domain (.example.org) and see three sites:
   .
   example.org (main domain site), sub1.example.org (subdomain), sub2.example.org(
   subdomain)
 * I just successfully uploaded a theme via Network Admin > My Sites > Themes
    Network
   activated it. I can see the theme on the main domain wp site but not the subdomains
   theme folder.
 * Which is why I think the subdomains files are mapped individually and not to 
   the main domain?
    -  This reply was modified 6 years, 5 months ago by [ekaika](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ekaika/).
 *  [Rough Pixels](https://wordpress.org/support/users/roughpixels/)
 * (@roughpixels)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12015376)
 * Hmmm… could be. I have my network setup on a subdomain, not the primary. I’m 
   thinking of trying the root setup of a network to see how this works out. However,
   being as you were following the WPMU tutorial, did you see [this one](https://premium.wpmudev.org/blog/domain-mapping-wordpress-multisite/)
   from them for mapping?
 *  Thread Starter [ekaika](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ekaika/)
 * (@ekaika)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12015387)
 * Yeah I saw that article but lost myself at step 2 and 3.
    However, I noticed (
   in step 4) Sites > Info > Site Address, each of the subdomains still show their
   respective URL.
 * Perhaps I should change the URLs for the subdomains to just the main domain…
   
   That didn’t work.
 * I removed sub2 from the Site Address (URL), saved. It just populated back to 
   sub2.example.org
    -  This reply was modified 6 years, 5 months ago by [ekaika](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ekaika/).
 *  [JNashHawkins](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jnashhawkins/)
 * (@jnashhawkins)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12015404)
 * On a multisite, there are no separate directories for the subsites.
 * If you have WordPress installed in directories created for your subsites (as 
   subdomains or domain names) then you don’t have those sites running under your
   multisite.
 * Under multisite, there is just one WordPress install and that install is shared
   among all the sites in that network.
 * Sometimes this misunderstanding occurs when a domain name is mapped into a new
   directory as part of the process to add the domain to the server. The directory
   would be empty so the admin might think WordPress needs installing there also
   and they’ll do so. The confusion just spreads from there.
 * On a Multisite, you’ll want the WordPress installed into the Webroot then all
   domains need to point to Webroot.
 * —
    BTW: Domain mapping is handled entirely through the Network Admin now. You
   don’t need any domain mapping plugins anymore.
 *  [Rough Pixels](https://wordpress.org/support/users/roughpixels/)
 * (@roughpixels)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12015405)
 * I have to head out the door but will check back here if there’s any update on
   your end. When I get back, I will read through that article myself.
 *  Thread Starter [ekaika](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ekaika/)
 * (@ekaika)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12015440)
 * I think [@jnashhawkins](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jnashhawkins/) hit
   it.
 * We had WP installed on the main domain years ago.
    I created the subdomains and
   then installed wp on each subdomain, THEN created multisite. So basically I did
   everything ass-backwards.
 * Fortunately the subdomains are nothing but bones right now, so should I delete
   the subdomains and everything and start again ?
 * Which makes me question 1) how do I ensure WP is in the webroot and point the
   sub/domains there?
 *  [JNashHawkins](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jnashhawkins/)
 * (@jnashhawkins)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12015477)
 * I’d imagine if you installed the main site first then that went to your webroot
   and is probably know as ‘public html’ in the directory listed for the domain 
   settings in your Control Panel.
 * The add on and subdomains will need to point at the same ‘public html’ directory
   as the first domain provided that was also the site you set up as your multisite.
   My best guess is those other domains/subdomains point to subdirectories under‘
   public html’ right now.
 * You don’t really need to delete those other installs but, if you pointed them
   to the same database, then you might want to just in case they might interfere
   with a working site somehow.
 * Keep in mind also that you have practical limits to the database and file system
   so deletion might be necessary to avoid problems with ‘space’ allocations later.
 *  Thread Starter [ekaika](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ekaika/)
 * (@ekaika)
 * [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12015690)
 * Boom solved.
 * Thanks for the light [@jnashhawkins](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jnashhawkins/)
   
   end up deleting the subdomains and creating new ones with the primary domain’s
   web directory. now all works perfectly.

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

The topic ‘multisite theme & plugin issue’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [admin](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/admin/)
 * [file structure](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/file-structure/)
 * [multisite](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/multisite/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 11 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [ekaika](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ekaika/)
 * Last activity: [6 years, 5 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/multisite-theme-plugin-issue/#post-12015690)
 * Status: resolved

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