Server Requirements

Any self-hosted WordPress site needs a server to store its PHP files, media, database, and content. For the Shock theme to work exactly as expected, that server has to be configured correctly. If you’re unsure whether your hosting meets these requirements, your web host’s support team can confirm — and adjust — them for you.

Minimum requirements

Make sure your environment is running at least these versions:

Requirement	Minimum version
WordPress	6.0 or higher
PHP	7.4 or higher
MySQL	5.6 or higher (or MariaDB 10.1+)

Recommended PHP limits

These are suggested values. You may have smaller limits and still have everything work perfectly — but your server works hardest when you edit very long pages, save WordPress entries packed with data, or import demo content. The values below deliver excellent overall performance:

PHP setting	Recommended value
PHP Memory Limit	256M or greater
Post Max Size	1000M or greater
Max Input Vars	3000 or greater
Upload Max File Size	300M or greater
Max Execution Time	1200 or greater
Max Input Time	600 or greater

Most “broken” sites are just low PHP limits

White screens, failed demo imports, empty page content, settings that won’t save, and similar issues are almost always caused by PHP limits that are set too low. Raising them is the fix.

How to raise your limits

You can increase these limits yourself if you have the necessary skills — typically by editing php.ini, .htaccess, or wp-config.php. If you’re not comfortable doing that, contact your hosting provider and ask them to raise the values to at least the recommended minimums above. Most hosts will do this in a few minutes.

Tip

After changing PHP settings, verify them under Tools » Site Health » Info » Server in your WordPress dashboard to confirm the new values took effect.

Once your server meets these requirements, continue with Required Plugins and then How to Install the Shock Theme.