Frequently Asked Questions

Short answers to the questions we hear most often. If yours isn’t here, see Getting Help.

What does my license include, and how do updates work?

Your purchase includes the Shock theme, its bundled Shock Core plugin, use of the demo content, and access to updates and support. After you activate your license, the theme can receive updates directly in WordPress. When an update is available, back up your site first, then update from Appearance » Themes (or the update notice). See Updating the theme for the full process.

My demo import fails, stops halfway, or times out. Why?

This is almost always caused by low PHP limits on your hosting. The importer needs enough memory and time to bring in images, pages and settings. Ask your host (or edit your PHP settings) to raise at least:

• memory_limit — 256M or higher
• max_execution_time — 300 seconds
• upload_max_filesize and post_max_size — 64M or higher
• max_input_vars — 3000 or higher

Then re-run the import. Check your Server Requirements for recommended values.

I only see a blank white screen. How do I fix it?

The “white screen of death” usually means PHP ran out of memory or hit a fatal error. First, increase your PHP memory limit (see above). If it persists, enable WordPress debugging (set WP_DEBUG to true in wp-config.php) to reveal the underlying error, or temporarily switch to a default theme to confirm whether the issue is theme- or plugin-related. Deactivating plugins one at a time will pinpoint a conflict.

The Shock Core plugin won’t activate or install. What now?

Make sure your WordPress and PHP versions meet the Server Requirements — an outdated PHP version is the most common cause. If activation fails, raise your PHP memory_limit, then try again from Plugins or the theme’s recommended-plugins notice. If the plugin isn’t listed at all, reinstall the theme package so its bundled plugin is available.

Shock Core widgets don’t appear in Elementor. Why?

Two things must be true: Elementor must be installed and active, and the Shock Core plugin must be active. If both are active and the widgets still don’t show, clear Elementor’s cache from Elementor » Tools » Regenerate CSS & Data, then reload the editor.

How do I translate the theme’s text?

Shock is translation-ready. Use a plugin such as Loco Translate to translate the theme’s and Shock Core’s built-in strings into your language, or a full multilingual plugin (WPML, Polylang) if you need multiple languages side by side. Translate the theme and the Shock Core plugin separately, since each has its own text.

Should I use a child theme?

If you plan to add custom PHP or override template files, yes — a child theme keeps your changes safe when the parent theme updates. For most customization, though, you won’t need one: use the theme’s own settings, Elementor, and the Custom CSS/JS options for style and script tweaks. Reserve a child theme for deeper code-level changes.

Can I edit the header and footer? They look fixed.

Yes — the header and footer are Global Sections, designed with Elementor. Edit them under Shock » Global Sections rather than looking for a theme-options header/footer panel. See the Navbar and Footer guides.

My changes aren’t showing on the live site. What’s wrong?

You’re most likely seeing a cached version. Purge your caching/optimization plugin, clear your CDN (such as Cloudflare), and hard-refresh your browser. If you edited in Elementor, also Regenerate CSS under Elementor » Tools.

WooCommerce buttons (add to cart, variations) stopped working. How do I fix it?

This is commonly caused by a script optimizer — most often Cloudflare Rocket Loader — deferring the JavaScript WooCommerce needs. Turn Rocket Loader off (or exclude the store scripts) and clear your cache. If the problem remains, test for a plugin conflict by deactivating other plugins.

Where can I get support?

Start with these docs and this FAQ, then reach out via Getting Help. Please activate your license first and include your WordPress and Shock versions, a description of the problem, and a screenshot — it helps us resolve things faster.

Still stuck? Head to Getting Help for troubleshooting steps and how to contact us.