Download Theme as ZIP

Add a download button to every theme on your Themes page. Quickly export theme files for backup, migration, or local development without needing FTP or file manager access.

Use Cases#

• Backup Before Updating: Download your theme before applying updates
• Clone to Another Site: Export a customized theme to use elsewhere
• Share Child Themes: Download your child theme to deploy on other sites
• Archive for Development: Keep local copies for development or testing

How It Works#

1. Enable the module in Switchboard
2. Go to Appearance → Themes
3. Hover over any theme card
4. Click the download button (download icon) that appears

Where to Find It#

On the Themes page, hover over any theme to reveal action buttons. The module adds a download button with a download icon alongside the existing “Theme Details” button.

What Gets Downloaded#

The ZIP file contains:

• All theme files (PHP, CSS, JS, images)
• Complete directory structure preserved
• Template files and functions
• Theme configuration files

The ZIP can be directly uploaded to another WordPress site via Appearance → Themes → Add New → Upload Theme.

Downloading Different Theme Types#

Parent Themes#

Standard themes download as complete packages:

theme-name/
├── style.css
├── functions.php
├── templates/
├── assets/
└── ...

Child Themes#

Child themes download with their own files only:

child-theme/
├── style.css
├── functions.php
└── [your customizations]

Size and Performance#

Typical Theme Sizes#

Maximum Size#

The module supports themes up to 500MB. Themes larger than this need FTP.

Download Time#

• Small themes (under 5MB): Instant
• Medium themes (5-20MB): 5-15 seconds
• Large themes (20MB+): May take 30+ seconds

Technical Details#

ZIP Creation#

Uses PHP’s ZipArchive when available, with PclZip fallback for compatibility.

Temporary Storage#

• ZIP created in system temp directory
• Automatically deleted after download
• Orphaned files cleaned up hourly

Security#

• Requires install_themes capability
• WordPress nonce verification
• Path validation prevents directory traversal

Downloading Active vs Inactive Themes#

You can download any theme regardless of active status:

This is safe because downloading doesn’t affect the live site.

Common Issues#

Download Icon Doesn’t Appear#

1. Ensure module is enabled
2. Verify Administrator login
3. Clear browser cache
4. Check for JavaScript errors
5. Try a different browser

Download Fails or Times Out#

1. Theme might be too large (try FTP)
2. Server timeout too short
3. Insufficient memory limit
4. Try during off-peak hours

ZIP File is Corrupt#

1. Incomplete download - try again
2. Browser interrupted - use download manager
3. Server error - check error logs

Child Theme Migration Checklist#

When moving a child theme to another site:

1. ✅ Download the child theme ZIP
2. ✅ Download the parent theme ZIP
3. ✅ Upload parent theme first on new site
4. ✅ Then upload and activate child theme
5. ⚠️ Customizer settings need separate migration

Comparison with Alternatives#

FAQ#