Use a child theme so Astra updates keep your changes
Edit Astra's own files and the next theme update wipes your changes. Put them in a child theme instead, and Astra can update as often as it likes.
TL;DR
Install a child theme alongside Astra and make the child theme the active one. Any code changes go in the child theme's files. When Astra releases an update, only the parent theme is replaced, so your changes stay where you put them.
Why your changes can disappear
A theme update replaces the whole theme folder with the new version. Anything you changed inside Astra’s own files is overwritten, whether it was a tweak to functions.php or an edited template. Nothing warns you first. You find out when part of the site looks wrong after an update.
How a child theme stops that
A child theme is a small theme that sits on top of Astra. Astra, the parent, still does all the work and gets every update. The child theme is the active theme on the site and holds your changes, and anything in it wins over Astra.
When Astra updates, only the parent folder is replaced. The child theme and every change in it stay as they were.
Set it up once
- Make a child theme with Astra’s child theme generator and download the zip.
- Go to Appearance, Themes, Add New Theme, Upload Theme, and upload the zip.
- Activate the child theme. Leave Astra installed but not active.
- From then on, every code change goes in the child theme’s files, and Astra can update like any other theme.
Questions
Do I need a child theme if I only use the Customizer?
Your Customizer and Astra settings are saved in the database, so a theme update won't touch them. You need the child theme once anyone edits theme files, adds code to functions.php or overrides a template. Most sites get there sooner or later, so it's easiest to start with one.
Where do I get a child theme for Astra?
Astra has a free child theme generator on its website. You type in a name, download the zip, then upload it under Appearance, Themes, Add New Theme. Keep Astra installed: the child theme needs it.
Can I switch to a child theme on a site that's already built?
Yes, but check a few things straight after you switch. WordPress stores some settings per theme, like menu locations and custom CSS, so they can go missing. Set them again in the child theme, then compare the pages with how they looked before. It's quicker to set the child theme up at the start of a build.
Can an editor do this?
No. Editors can't see the Themes screen in WordPress. An administrator, or whoever looks after your website, sets the child theme up.
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