How to create a WordPress child theme

Let's talk about creating a WordPress child theme

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Creating the child theme directory

When it comes to creating a WordPress child theme, the first step is to create the child theme directory. This is where all of your child theme’s files will reside. There are a few different ways to create the directory, but one of the most straightforward is to simply create a new folder on your computer and then upload it to your WordPress site.

To create the folder, simply open your file explorer, navigate to your preferred location, right-click, and select “New Folder”. Name the folder with your desired child theme name. After that, you’ll need to upload the folder to your WordPress site. This can be done either via FTP or by accessing your site’s file manager through your hosting control panel.

Once the folder is uploaded, you’ll need to create the required files for your child theme. The most basic of these is the stylesheet, which we’ll discuss in more detail in the next section. But for now, it’s important to note that having the child theme directory set up is an important first step in creating your child theme.

Creating a stylesheet

The stylesheet acts as the foundation for your child theme, and it’s what allows you to make customizations to the look and feel of your site.

To create a stylesheet, you’ll need to open up your preferred text editor and create a new file. Give the file a name such as “style.css” and save it in your child theme directory.

Next, you’ll need to add the following code to the top of the stylesheet:

/*
Theme Name: [Your Child Theme Name]
Theme URI: [Your Child Theme URL]
Description: [A brief description of your child theme]
Author: [Your Name]
Author URI: [Your Website URL]
Template: [The folder name of the parent theme you are using]
Version: 1.0
*/

This code provides important information about your child theme to WordPress, such as the theme name, author, and parent theme.

Once you’ve added this information, you’re ready to start customizing your child theme’s stylesheet. Whether you’re changing the font styles, background colors, or other design elements, everything you do in the stylesheet will be specific to your child theme and won’t affect the parent theme in any way.

For your information, you don’t have to fill in all these fields, the 3 really required elements are:

“Theme Name”
“Author”
“Template”

Here is a concrete example with our flagship theme: RetroTube Adult WordPress Theme

/*
Theme Name: RetroTube Child
Author: WP-Script
Template: retrotube
*/

Importing the style of the parent theme

To import the style of the parent theme, you’ll need to create a style.css file in your child theme directory and include the following code in the file. Let’s continue with the example of RetroTube:

/*
Theme Name: RetroTube Child
Author: WP-Script
Template: retrotube
*/

@import url("../retrotube/style.css");

It’s important to note that the Template line should match the folder name of your parent theme. Once you’ve saved this file, your child theme will now inherit the styles of the parent theme.

By importing the styles of the parent theme, you’ll have the ability to make changes to your website’s design and layout without affecting the parent theme. Any changes you make to your child theme will take precedence over the parent theme’s styles, allowing you to easily customize your website to fit your needs.

Activating the WordPress child theme

Activating a WordPress child theme is a simple process that involves just a few steps. Here’s how you can do it:

Log into your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the “Appearance” section.
Find the “Themes” section and click on it.
Locate the child theme you just created and click the “Activate” button.

That’s it! You’ve successfully activated your child theme and are now using it to customize your WordPress site.

How to Use a WordPress Child Theme

Adapting the code of a page template to your needs

Adapting the code of a page template to your needs is a powerful way to customize your WordPress website. This is where a child theme really shines, because it allows you to make changes to your website’s design and functionality without touching the parent theme’s code. This means that you can safely experiment with your website’s design, knowing that your changes won’t be lost if the parent theme is updated.

Here are some things to keep in mind when adapting the code of a page template:

Make a backup of your website before you start making changes.
Use a child theme to avoid affecting the parent theme’s code.
Look for the specific template file that you want to modify and copy it from the parent theme to your child theme directory.
Make your changes to the copied template file in your child theme directory.
Preview your changes on your website to see if everything looks and works as expected.

It’s important to note that adapting the code of a page template is an advanced customization and requires a good understanding of HTML, CSS, and PHP. If you’re not comfortable with these technologies, it’s best to seek help from a professional developer.

Customizing the style sheet

Customizing the stylesheet of your WordPress child theme is an important step to give your website a unique look and feel. Here are a few things to keep in mind when customizing the stylesheet:

Use the style.css file in your child theme directory to make your customizations.
You can add new styles or overwrite existing styles in the parent theme by specifying the styles with higher specificity.
You can use CSS comments to indicate your custom styles, making it easier to identify and modify them in the future.
Use the inspector in your web browser’s developer tools to identify the specific styles you want to change, and then make the changes in your child theme’s stylesheet.

By following these steps, you can easily make customizations to the stylesheet of your WordPress child theme and give your website a unique look.

Adding new functions to your theme

If you want to add new functions to your WordPress child theme, it’s best to use the functions.php file. This file is located in the child theme directory and is used to add custom functionality to your theme. Here’s how you can add a new function to your child theme:

Create a functions.php file in the child theme directory if it doesn’t already exist.
Open the file in a text editor.
Add the following code to the file:

<?php
function your_function_name() {
// Your code here
}
add_action('init', 'your_function_name');

In this example, you can replace your_function_name with the name of the function you want to add. The code inside the function will be executed whenever the init action is triggered in WordPress.

This is just one example of how you can add a new function to your child theme. The possibilities are endless and you can add as many functions as you like to customize your theme even further.

Other Options to Create a WordPress Child Theme

Checking if your theme developer offers a pre-made child theme

Save time by using a pre-made WordPress child theme!

One of the first things you should do before creating a child theme is to check if the theme developer offers a pre-made child theme.

This can save you a lot of time and effort, as the child theme will already include all the necessary templates and styles for you to start customizing. Some theme developers even offer detailed documentation and tutorials on how to use their child themes, making it a great option for those who are new to WordPress.

Using a WordPress child theme plugin

When it comes to customizing your WordPress theme, a child theme plugin can be a convenient option for those who aren’t comfortable with writing code.

There are several child theme plugins available in the WordPress plugin repository, including Child Theme Configurator. Simply install the plugin of your choice, activate it, and follow the steps to create a child theme.

The child theme plugin will take care of creating the necessary files and directories, importing the styles of the parent theme, and even providing a user-friendly interface for customizing your theme. No need to worry about the technical details, just sit back and enjoy the flexibility and ease of use of a child theme!

Using a browser-based WordPress child theme generator

If you’re looking for a more hands-off approach to creating a WordPress child theme, you may want to consider using a browser-based WordPress child theme generator. This type of tool is typically web-based, meaning you don’t need to install any software on your computer. Simply visit the website, follow the instructions, and your child theme will be generated for you.

The process is simple: you provide the details of your parent theme, including its name, stylesheet, and template files, and the generator will take care of the rest. You can even preview your child theme before downloading it to make sure everything looks as it should.

There are several browser-based WordPress child theme generators available, each with its own set of features and capabilities. Some are free, while others require a fee. Before you start using one, take the time to read reviews and compare the options available to determine which is best for your needs.

Once your child theme has been generated, you can further customize it to meet your specific needs, just like you would with any other WordPress child theme. And because it’s all done through a web browser, there’s no need to install any additional software, which can be a big time-saver for those who aren’t comfortable with coding or who simply prefer a more streamlined approach.

WordPress Child Theme Not Working

Double-checking your functions.php file

If you’ve created a child theme and it’s not working as expected, don’t worry! One of the most common issues is a mistake in the functions.php file. Here are some steps to help you double-check and fix the problem.

Firstly, make sure you’ve correctly imported the parent theme’s functions.php file into your child theme’s functions.php file. You can do this by using the require_once function or the get_template_directory_uri function.
Secondly, check for any typos or syntax errors in your code. Make sure your functions are properly defined and closed. Also, ensure that you’ve used the correct hook for each function you’re trying to modify.
Finally, try deactivating and reactivating your child theme. This can sometimes help resolve any issues that may have been caused by a plugin or a recent WordPress update.

If you’ve checked all these things and your child theme is still not working, you might want to consult the theme developer or a WordPress expert for further help.

Ensuring you named the sheet “style.css”

If your WordPress child theme is not working, it might be due to an error in your style sheet. One common mistake is naming it incorrectly. Ensure that you have named your sheet “style.css” as this is what WordPress looks for by default. This may seem like a small detail, but it can have a big impact on the functioning of your child theme. Make sure you double-check the name of your sheet and see if that fixes the issue.

Making sure you used the correct Template name in style.css

It’s important to make sure that you’ve used the correct Template name in your style.css file. The Template name should match the name of the directory in which your child theme resides. If the Template name is incorrect, WordPress won’t recognize your child theme as a separate entity and won’t apply the styles and customizations you’ve made.

Clearing your cache

Sometimes, after making changes to your WordPress child theme, it might not seem to be working as expected. One common issue is caching. When you view your website, your browser might store a cached version of the pages you’ve visited. To ensure you’re seeing the latest changes, it’s always a good idea to clear your cache. Here’s how to do it:

In your browser, click on the three dots (or dots and bars) in the upper right corner
Find the “History” or “Privacy” option and click on it
Look for “Clear Browsing Data” or “Clear Cache” and click on it
In the pop-up, select “Cached images and files” and hit “Clear Data”

It’s that simple! Clearing your cache ensures that you’re seeing the latest version of your website, including any changes you’ve made to your child theme.

Adding !important to your CSS code

It’s a useful technique to override any conflicting styles from your parent theme and ensure that your custom styles are applied correctly.

Here’s how you can use !important in your CSS code: Simply add “!important” after the value of your CSS property. For example, if you want to change the background color of an element, you can write:

background-color: blue !important;

Keep in mind that using !important excessively can make your CSS code messy and hard to maintain. So, it’s best to use it sparingly and only as a last resort when all other methods have failed.

Contacting your theme’s support

If you’ve tried all of these solutions and your child theme still isn’t working, it may be time to reach out to your theme’s support team. They’ll be able to help you diagnose and fix any issues you’re experiencing. Just make sure you have all relevant information handy, such as your theme version and any error messages you’ve received.

Video Tutorial on How to create a WordPress Child Theme

How to make a WordPress child theme

Child Themes for WP-Script Themes

If you’re using a WP-Script theme, you can create your own child theme by following the methods discussed above.

As it can be a bit overwhelming, we have already created a zip file for each theme with the backbone code you need to start.

Final thoughts on WordPress child themes

A WordPress child theme is a great tool for customizing your website. It provides a safe and efficient way to make changes to your site’s design and functionality, without risking the loss of your customizations during future updates. Child themes also allow you to extend and build upon the existing features of a parent theme, without making changes directly to the parent theme code.

In this article, we’ve explored the basics of child themes in WordPress, including how to create a child theme, import the styles of a parent theme, and customize your child theme’s code and styles. We’ve also looked at different methods for creating a child theme, including using a plugin or a browser-based generator.

Finally, we’ve discussed some common issues that may arise when using a child theme, and how to troubleshoot them. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced WordPress user, a child theme is a valuable tool for customizing your website.

So, if you’re ready to take your WordPress website to the next level, consider using a child theme. Whether you’re looking to make small tweaks or large-scale customizations, a child theme can help you achieve your goals with ease and confidence.

Table of content

Why and When Should I Use a Child Theme?

Benefits of using a child theme

Safe Customizations

Easy to Customize

Speed Up Development Time

Keeps Your Site Up-to-Date

Easy to Share Customizations

When to use a child theme in WordPress