Blocksy - Install your theme & import the demo

Hey! Ready to install your theme? For a smooth setup experience, please read this article in full before installing the theme or importing the demo.

Before You Begin

There are a few important steps you'll need to complete before starting the installation process.

1. Update your site to the latest version of WordPress before installing your theme, as well as update any plugins installed on your site. Whenever updating WordPress software, plugins, or themes, be sure that your site has a backup in place.

2. If you are currently using the Classic Editor plugin, please deactivate it prior to installing your theme. Blocksy is built for the Block Editor and does not support the Classic Editor.

3. Existing sites only: If you are currently using an automatic RSS-to-Email service or a plugin that publishes your posts on social media automatically, you'll want to pause those temporarily. The theme installation process will import the demo posts on your site. Once your theme is installed, you can delete the demo posts and resume your RSS-to-Email feed.

Download the Files

Your purchase includes the open-to-begin (theme name) ZIP file, which contains all of the files that come with your purchase. Please open this zip file to move forward with setting up your website. The zip file package contains the following folders:

Theme Tutorial - Visit the /theme-tutorial  folder and open the theme-tutorial.pdf  file to view the theme tutorial, which includes a link to our support desk.

Ilona Theme - The /ilona-theme folder includes the zip file for the WordPress theme (ilona.zip) When you are installing the theme in WordPress, make sure you use the ilona.zip file.

Global Elementor Kit - The /elementor-kit folder contains the Elementor Global kit with the global fonts and colors settings. The kit file that should be imported when the theme is first installed. Refer to the Setting Up Elementor section below for help with importing the kit file.

Theme Demo Files - The /demo-files folder includes all of the theme XML files. If you are required to manually import the demo files, all of the theme files can be accessed here. Refer to the Demo Import section below for additional assistance with manually importing files.

How to Install Your Theme & Import the Demo

  1. Go to Appearance > Themes. Search for the Blocksy theme and install it (no need to activate).
  2. Upload the child theme file that you purchased (e.g. fiora-child.zip) and activate the theme.
  3. Install the Blocksy Companion plugin.

You might’ve noticed that after installing and activating the Blocksy child theme, you get prompted with an invitation to also install the Blocksy Companion plugin. It is recommended to install the plugin.


Note for Existing Sites

The theme installation process for existing sites is the same as new sites. We recommend importing the demo content on all sites, including existing sites. Do not deselect "Import Content" under Advanced Settings during the import process. Importing the demo content will not delete your existing content. After the demo has imported, you can delete the demo blog posts.

Common Error: Theme is missing the style.css stylesheet

If receive this error during installation -- one of the reasons is that you may have uploaded the incorrect file. Please ensure you are installing the ilona.zip file in the WordPress Dashboard.

Theme Plugins

As described in detail below, there are seven recommended plugins for use with the theme. It is recommended that you install and activate all plugins to use the full functionality of the theme.

To install the plugins, click Begin installing plugins -- Install and activate all plugins before continuing. Alternatively, go to Appearance > Install Plugins to install and activate all of the recommended/required plugins for the theme.

Elementor Page Builder - This plugin is required to create the Elementor landing pages and templates included with the Ilona theme. Visit the Setting Up Elementor section below to learn more about getting started with the plugin.

Ilona Fonts - This plugin is required to display custom fonts on your website. Go to Appearance > Install plugins to add this plugin to your website. Refer to the Ilona Fonts section below for assistance with uploading font files and customizing the font styles on your site.

Ultimate Addons for Elementor - Lite - This plugin is required to display the Elementor Header and Elementor Footer that are styled with the theme. Refer to the Header and Footer sections for advanced help with setting up these areas of your website.

WPZOOM Social Feed Widget - This plugin is required if you want to use Instagram in your Sidebar or Footer. Refer to the Sidebar and Footer sections below for assistance with these items.

One Click Demo Import - This plugin allows you to easily import all theme demo files with a simple click! Refer to the Demo Import section below for assistance with importing the theme demo content.

MailChimp For WordPress - The theme includes styling for the MailChimp subscription form featured throughout the theme demo. Refer to the MailChimp section below to configure the subscription form on your site.

Contact Form 7 - This plugin is required to display the contact form on the theme Contact page. Refer to the Contact section below for advanced help with setting up the website contact form.

Optional Plugins

The demo import process will only install plugins that are essential to the function of your Empress Made theme. However, there are a couple other plugins shown in the theme demo that are optional. If you'd like the demo content to be imported for any of these plugins, be sure to install and activate them prior to installing your theme. You're also welcome to add these plugins later on.

  • WooCommerce - Install if you'd like to have an e-commerce shop (example) on your website

How to install a plugin >


Now it's time to customize your theme! Set up your navigation menus, add your own content to the homepage, upload a logo, etc. All of the Theme Documentation is here for you in case you get stuck anywhere.

Troubleshooting

  • Import time: It's normal for the demo import process to take 5 to 10 minutes to fully complete. Do not exit the page until the import has completed. The import process is slower on lower quality hosts; faster on higher quality hosts. On SiteGround (the host we recommend!), the import should only take a minute or two.
  • Bluehost sites: Bluehost sites disproportionately struggle to import the demo content compared to other hosts. If you receive an error and you are using Bluehost, reach out to Bluehost support with the following message: "Please disable Cloudflare on my website and increase my WordPress memory limit to 512M." Once that is complete, try the import again. This is usually enough to import the demo.
  • If you continue to receive an error message: deactivate all plugins on your site, apart from any plugins that are related to Blocksy (i.e. blocksy companion plugin). Then run the import again.

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