Title: PHP breaking outdated theme, need a theme replacement
Last modified: February 12, 2024

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# PHP breaking outdated theme, need a theme replacement

 *  [bigredbeard](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bigredbeard/)
 * (@bigredbeard)
 * [2 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-breaking-outdated-theme-need-a-theme-replacement/)
 * Greetings,
 * My client took over a website from another organization that was removing the
   site due to an admin retiring. The site was built in 2012 and barely updated 
   since then. The theme they used was made by a developer that I don’t think exists
   anymore (Oodletech). The site, which is massive, uses TablePress A LOT amongst
   a heaping handful of other plugins for specific functionality. (phew) What I 
   found is that if the PHP updates to 8.0 the theme breaks, and that if I switch
   to, say, the WordPress 2024 or 2023 theme, the site loses most of its functionality.
   So now I am watching the clock to see when GoDaddy will force the update to 8.0
   and FUBAR the website.
 * Looking for recommendations and/or advise on updating the theme to something 
   that will preserve the functionality of the website.
 * Thanks for your time.
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fphp-breaking-outdated-theme-need-a-theme-replacement%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

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

 *  Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * (@macmanx)
 * [2 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-breaking-outdated-theme-need-a-theme-replacement/#post-17419497)
 * For the most part, functionality comes from plugins, not themes.
 * And, if your functionality was coming from your theme, now’s a great time to 
   switch to that approach so theme changes are easier in the future. 😉
 * All of the themes you can find here are free: [https://wordpress.org/themes/](https://wordpress.org/themes/)
 * In particularly, the new default theme [https://wordpress.org/themes/twentytwentyfour/](https://wordpress.org/themes/twentytwentyfour/)
   is ridiculously customizable: [https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/twenty-twenty-four/](https://wordpress.org/documentation/article/twenty-twenty-four/)
 * I recommend giving that a shot first, and if you find any specific functionality
   missing, let us know and we can recommend some plugins.
 *  Thread Starter [bigredbeard](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bigredbeard/)
 * (@bigredbeard)
 * [2 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-breaking-outdated-theme-need-a-theme-replacement/#post-17419558)
 * Thanks [@macmanx](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/). Ya its weird.
   I tried twenty twenty-four, but the content just vanishes on a lot of the pages.
   The site uses TablePress a lot. Don’t know if that is part of the issue. I will
   keep tinkering.
 *  Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * (@macmanx)
 * [2 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-breaking-outdated-theme-need-a-theme-replacement/#post-17419573)
 * Regarding that, I recommend asking at [https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/tablepress/](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/tablepress/)
   so the plugin’s developers and support community can help you with this.
 *  Thread Starter [bigredbeard](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bigredbeard/)
 * (@bigredbeard)
 * [2 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-breaking-outdated-theme-need-a-theme-replacement/#post-17419579)
 * Roger that. Thank you.

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

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## Tags

 * [php](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/php/)
 * [theme update](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/theme-update/)

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [bigredbeard](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bigredbeard/)
 * Last activity: [2 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-breaking-outdated-theme-need-a-theme-replacement/#post-17419579)
 * Status: not resolved

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