WP Templater
Site TemplatesUpdate KickStarter
Site Templates

Update KickStarter

Apply KickStarter updates manually by copying only the new or changed CSS and PHP sections into your existing child theme and Customizer.

How to update KickStarter

When a new version of KickStarter is released, you receive an email with details about what changed, including new features, Kadence compatibility adjustments, and improvements to existing styles. Use this guide to apply those updates to your site.

How updates work

KickStarter is not updated like a regular WordPress theme or plugin. Because its CSS lives in your Customizer and its PHP functions live in your child theme's functions.php, you apply updates manually by copying the new or changed code into your existing setup.

This process matches adding KickStarter features to an existing site, but focuses only on the new or updated parts.

Before you start

Create a full backup of your site before applying any updates. Include your database, theme files, and Customizer settings.

Step 1: Get the new code

Download the latest KickStarter version

Download the latest KickStarter version from your WP Templater Account. Then access the new code using one of these methods:

  • Unzip the file and open style.css and functions.php in a code or text editor
  • Install KickStarter on a sandbox site (for example via TasteWP) to see the new features in action with the Styling Block

Identify what's new

Check the update email for details on what changed. Use this information to see which sections of the CSS or PHP have been added or modified so you know exactly what to copy.

Transfer the new code

Copy only the new or updated sections into your existing site:

  • New CSS — Paste into your Customizer under Appearance → Customize → Additional CSS, in the appropriate section alongside your existing KickStarter styles.
  • Updated CSS — Find the corresponding section in your Customizer and replace the old code with the new version.
  • New PHP functions — Add to your child theme's functions.php (or code snippets plugin).
  • Updated PHP functions — Replace the old function with the new version.

Do not replace all your CSS at once. You have likely customized your KickStarter values such as font sizes, border radiuses, and spacing, and overwriting everything would undo your customizations. Transfer only the new or changed parts.

Check your site

After each addition, check the frontend and browse several pages to make sure everything still looks correct. Pay attention to:

  • Typography — Confirm headings and body text still look as expected.
  • Spacing — Confirm sections and content blocks are still properly spaced.
  • Components — Confirm cards, buttons, and other styled elements still look right.

If something looks off, check these common areas for conflicts:

  1. Customizer → Additional CSS — Look for duplicate or conflicting rules.
  2. Row Layout or Section blocks → Custom CSS — Check for block-level overrides.
  3. Page Scripts → Custom CSS and JS (Kadence Blocks Pro only) — Check for page-specific styles.

Summary

  1. Back up your site before making changes.
  2. Download the latest version from your WP Templater Account.
  3. Check the update email to know what changed.
  4. Copy only the new or changed sections and keep your customized values.
  5. Check the frontend after each change and browse multiple pages.
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Last updated 5 days ago

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