How to Switch from Genesis or Another Theme to Kadence

Switching to one of our new Kadence child themes? Here are some important tips to follow before installing your new theme and importing the demo content:

01. Make a backup

I cannot stress enough the importance of making a website backup before installing a new theme! Your website host should offer an easy way to do this. If not, you can use a backup plugin like Updraft Plus

02. Set up a staging site

If your site is well-established:

A staging site is essentially a clone of your current website that your visitors can't see. This will allow you to install the new child Kadence theme and plugins, customize and edit to your liking, and test your website without modifying the content your visitors see on the current live site. Once you're happy with how the staging site looks, you can push the staging site content to your live site!

Your website host should have instructions on how to set up a staging site. If you need help, get in touch with your host's support team.

03. Watch out for page overwrites

When you import a Kadence child theme demo, I have sometimes seen it overwrite existing pages if they share the same URL (slug).

Example: If you already have an “About” page at yourwebsite.com/about , and the demo content also includes an “About” page at /about , the import may replace your current About page entirely.

So if you're NOT using a staging site, make sure to take screenshots of your current pages or copy/paste your text in a Notes app to keep it safe – this way you're not losing any website copy.

04. Header or Footer Scripts

If your current theme (like Genesis for example) has code added in Appearance > Customize > Header & Footer Scripts such as Google Analytics, pop-up scripts, pixel codes etc, these won’t transfer over.

Copy any code you’ve added and paste it into a safe spot (like a notes app). Later, you can re-add them using a code plugin if you're not already doing so. I wrote a quick how-to guide for this here!

05. Custom CSS

If you or a designer has added custom CSS under Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS (especially for plugin styling), copy it now and save it in a notes app. After switching themes, you can paste it back in the same spot.

06. Check for Genesis-specific plugins

Genesis comes with optional plugins that most likely will not work well with Kadence.

  • Deactivate Genesis plugins like Genesis Simple Share, Genesis Responsive Slider, etc.
  • If you have a WooCommerce store using Genesis Connect for WooCommerce, you’ll need to deactivate that plugin when switching to Kadence or it will break your shop.

07. Don't use the Classic Editor plugin

Make sure you do not have the "Classic Editor" plugin installed and activated. You will not be able to edit your homepage or any other pages using the Classic Editor.

08. Update WordPress & PHP Version

Please make sure your WordPress is up to date and you're running on at least PHP version 8.1 or 8.2

What happens to my current site and content after I switch to a Kadence child theme?

  • Your content is safe. Blog posts, pages*, images, menus, categories etc won't be deleted.

    *Some pages may be overwritten if they share the same URL/slug as demo pages (see step #3).

  • Design changes. The overall layout and design of your website will change because you’re installing a new theme.
  • Widgets might move around. Some may end up in the “Inactive Widgets” widget area. You can move them back after the switch.
  • Menus may change. The demo menus will likely show up after import, but your original menus are still saved. You can always reassign them later if you'd like.

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