Wordpress Theme Upload Error Style.css Is Missing
You downloaded a cute new theme for your WordPress site and tried to upload it to the WordPress dashboard. Unfortunately, the theme failed to install and showed the post-obit error: "The package could not exist installed. The theme is missing the style.css stylesheet."
In this article, we'll explore the reason for this fault and how to resolve it. We'll besides show you how to avoid this error in the future through a solid understanding of the basics of WordPress file structures, as well as by helping you ensure you're uploading the right files in the get-go identify.
Let's commencement!
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Where Does the "The parcel could not exist installed" Error Appear?
This item theme upload fault shows up in the WordPress dashboard nether Appearance > Themes > Add together New > Upload Theme.
It mainly occurs right after you lot click the Choose File push button, select a file to upload, then click on the Install Now push button. In short, the fault is exclusive to the Add Themes module, and then y'all shouldn't see information technology anywhere else on WordPress.
The error text itself, which reads "The package could not exist installed. The theme is missing the fashion.css stylesheet," gets placed into the theme installation status messaging, right earlier some other message that tells you "Theme installation failed."
What's Happening When Y'all Meet "The package could not be installed" Error?
It's one of the rare times where an error on your calculator screen tells you virtually exactly what'due south going on. In the 2nd line, it states: "The theme is missing the style.css stylesheet."
In brusk, you've attempted to install a WordPress theme by fashion of uploading it to your WordPress dashboard. It involves a .zip file filled with an intricate theme file directory that contains coding, stylesheets, and responsibilities to manage and present your dashboard, frontend interface, and many other WordPress elements.
This mistake, in particular shows, that either the style.css stylesheet is non within that drove of WordPress files, or WordPress has difficulty finding the stylesheet because you've uploaded the file incorrectly.
In short, the error occurs because information technology can't observe the style.css file. Information technology happens due to ane of the post-obit reasons:
- The fashion.css file is missing from your theme's root directory because the theme programmer fabricated a fault.
- The style.css file is missing from the directory because you accidentally deleted it at some point.
- The way.css file is actually in the root directory, but y'all haven't uploaded the directory to WordPress correctly. Information technology sometimes happens when you lot don't unzip the file earlier uploading.
- You're attempting to upload a file that doesn't vest in WordPress—information technology may not be a theme file at all.
What Is the way.css Stylesheet?
Your WordPress file directory contains many documents and folders, including PHP, CSS, and HTML coding.
CSS, or cascading mode sheets, refers to a spider web design language used in conjunction with PHP and HTML. CSS's primary reason is to stylize static web design elements with colors, formats, and fonts. But put, CSS makes your website content look pretty.
A basic example involves a simple image on your website. HTML but goes and then far in terms of styling. Still, CSS strengthens your blueprint possibilities with options for moving that image to whatever location on the folio, calculation margins, padding, backgrounds, and many other elements for a more visual approach to your content.
Nevertheless, the style.css spreadsheet doesn't work alone. It interacts with all directories within WordPress and ofttimes works hand-in-paw with other programming languages to produce the desired results.
For a detailed guide, head to our WordPress CSS commodity.
Where's the style.css Stylesheet Supposed to Be?
The fashion.css canvas is a office of all WordPress themes. Since it's the primary manner WordPress controls your site'southward visual design and layout, it'due south a required file.
That means whenever you purchase or download a theme, you lot should find a fashion.css stylesheet within the theme files.
Annotation: You commonly have to unzip the theme file package to view the theme files.
For instance, we downloaded the Hello Elementor theme and opened the theme files to reveal a list of files and folders, including the manner.css sheet.
Opening the style.css sail reveals its content, starting with essential data like the writer'southward theme proper name. You'll find that information technology tells you not to change whatever part of this file, as many themes adopt yous make CSS modifications inside the dashboard or in another custom directory.
Scrolling down, the style.css stylesheet shows a long listing of CSS snippets, all of which come up together to brand your theme look the way it does.
So, the way.css stylesheet is supposed to be in every theme file directory, often situated near other CSS files and virtually folders for assets and templates.
What Happens After You See The "The packet could not be installed" Error?
A theme folder without the style.css stylesheet is useless, at least when information technology comes to uploading information technology to WordPress and making for a fully functional theme.
It'south impossible to upload the root directory, as WordPress blocks all attempts to upload the file without the style.css stylesheet. The reason for this is because a missing stylesheet could break or impairment the entire WordPress infrastructure.
In addition, you receive the mistake bulletin: "The package could not exist installed. The theme is missing the mode.css stylesheet."
The good news is that any theme previously activated on your WordPress site remains in identify. There's no harm done to your site, and you lot don't go to upload the new theme.
However, yous may desire to replace the current theme, so it's essential to walk through the post-obit solutions to swap out the old 1 and install the new theme.
How Do I Set up "The theme is missing the way.css stylesheet" Error?
In this section, we'll outline the two main reasons for seeing the missing stylesheet mistake, forth with data on how to resolve the problems.
How to Resolve a State of affairs Where Your Theme Is Missing the Style.css File
A missing manner.css file ways 1 of two things: the theme developer (potentially you) failed to include it in the root directory, or you unintentionally removed the style.css file yourself.
With the first situation, we recommend the post-obit course of action:
- Contact the theme developer and notify them of the trouble: Although unlikely, you may take a bad download or someone/something on the developer'due south terminate made an error. Reputable theme developers should give you a quick response with a new theme file. If yous're the theme programmer, read this guide on creating kid themes, specially the section near making a stylesheet.
- Wait for a new theme: This is nearly probable the best course of action, because it'due south rare for a quality theme developer to miss one of the well-nigh critical parts. Peradventure you lot downloaded a theme from a sketchy source or a beginner who'due south learning how to lawmaking.
Yous could add a mode.css sheet, but that kind of defeats the purpose of using a premade theme in the first place. Not to mention, a theme that was meant to take a stylesheet, simply is now missing it, wouldn't piece of work right.
How to Resolve a Situation Where WordPress Doesn't Recognize the style.css Sheet
Sometimes, WordPress can't recognize a style.css sheet within a theme directory when yous effort to upload it in the dashboard.
Reasons for this include the following:
- You're non uploading the theme properly.
- You lot have to unzip the original file from the developer to reveal the theme file.
- The theme file isn't for WordPress.
- The file isn't a theme file just something else.
- The way.css isn't in the correct spot inside the root directory.
Some of these reasons may seem simple, only often the virtually superficial reasons cause frustrating problems.
Accept a look at the sections beneath to understand how to resolve these situations based on the root causes.
Upload the Theme Properly
One reason you may see "The bundle could not be installed. The theme is missing the style.css stylesheet" error is due to your procedure of uploading the theme file.
A new user, or even an experienced user, may accidentally stray away from the all-time steps to upload a theme file.
Please read our guide on installing a WordPress theme to ensure y'all follow the proper steps. The article covers finding the best WordPress themes and installing methods, similar through the dashboard or FTP. It besides guides you through the slightly different means of installing costless vs premium themes.
See If the Theme File Requires Unzipping
Many theme upload errors occur considering of a zipped download file. It's somewhat confusing for people considering WordPress but accepts zipped files.
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However, some theme developers give you a zipped file within a zipped file, and y'all must unzip the original package to find the valid upload file that only includes the contents of the theme.
For instance, you lot may discover that a theme developer packs other documentation into the original download, so WordPress will expect at all this content and wonder where the actual theme file is.
Although most reputable theme developers know this confuses, nosotros've stumbled upon the rare situation where you have to unzip the first theme download to see things like user manuals and other content.
Outside of uploading a theme file the incorrect manner in the previous bespeak, this is the first problem you should troubleshoot before looking at other methods, considering it's an easy fix and all the same somewhat familiar for theme developers to do this. It also only happens when you lot purchase a theme from a third-political party developer, seeing as how the WordPress.org Theme Library restricts oddly packaged theme files.
So, permit's say you upload a zipped file from a 3rd-party programmer, merely to find that you receive the error reading: "The package could not exist installed. The theme is missing the style.css stylesheet."
At that place'south a good take chances all you have to do is unzip the original file provided by the theme developer to extract yet some other ZIP file inside of it.
To solve the trouble, become to the file you initially downloaded from the theme programmer.
It'south nigh likely a ZIP file, which makes sense for uploading into WordPress as a theme, only it may contain additional content files that ataxia the folder and make it difficult for WordPress to place the theme files.
Therefore, open or unzip the file to extract any is inside of information technology. It's ordinarily done past right-clicking and selecting your preferred unzipping or archive utility.
Now, open up the unzipped file to prove its content. As you can see in this instance, the theme developers included a readme.txt file and some other content binder in the root of the theme download. They also have the real, zipped theme file in this area as well. It's the actual theme file yous need to upload into WordPress.
Go back to Appearance > Themes > Add New > Upload Theme to choose a file from your reckoner. Then, make certain you lot select this zipped theme file without any extras (similar the ReadMe certificate in this example).
Remember that you may complete this troubleshooting process and observe that it's non a problem where the theme was packaged strangely. If you don't encounter a zipped theme file within the original theme bundle from your developer, consider looking at the other troubleshooting tips below.
Figure Out If the Theme File Is for WordPress
Many website themes exist online. It'due south non uncommon to see a theme design you enjoy, just to purchase it and notice out it's not actually for WordPress. For instance, the ThemeForest market place sells website templates for diverse content management systems and website builders, including Drupal, Joomla, Webflow, and Shopify.
Each platform has its root file structure for themes, then WordPress will decline any attempt to upload a theme meant for another system like Bigcommerce or Magento.
Proceed in mind that you may see "The theme is missing the style.css stylesheet" fault for a situation similar this. After all, a theme directory from Shopify or Drupal may have its style.css sheet located in a different identify. However, you might also encounter another error.
As for fixing this trouble, all you accept to do is get rid of the non-compatible theme file and cull a new one.
In the futurity, have a hard await at all theme production pages to ensure they're for WordPress and not something else. For case, nigh ThemeForest—and other premium theme product pages—show the platform in which the theme is for several times on the page. Expect at the category, championship, and images on the folio.
Most theme sellers as well include an area with the software type or version for that theme. Once more, look to run across that WordPress is the chief software listed.
Or you could stick to all-WordPress libraries like the WordPress.org Theme Directory.
If you're having problem finding whatsoever information about the theme online, look into the theme directory to see how it is. Even though every WordPress theme directory has dissimilar configurations and files, you can get a good idea if information technology'due south, in fact, a WordPress theme by looking for some specific files.
All WordPress themes have the style.css sheet in the root directory. You should likewise see folders like avails and potential folders for templates. Seek out files similar index.php, footer.php, and sidebar.php. Yous sometimes see these in themes for other platforms, but they're ofttimes given different names or located in other places.
Figure Out if It'due south a Theme File
Y'all can upload many types of zipped folders to WordPress, sometimes making it difficult to run into if it'south a theme file or non. On the surface, a plugin file looks no different than a theme file.
You can say the same for a site import file from some other WordPress site or platforms like Tumblr or Blogger. You may also find that you're trying to upload a WooCommerce product or WXR file for importing items like posts and pages. The list goes on, simply the idea is that none of these files is the same thing as a WordPress theme file.
Therefore, it'due south important to double-cheque what y'all're uploading in the first identify. Information technology'south possible to click on a file type on your computer that's named something similar, or you have trouble distinguishing between a recent plugin file you downloaded and a theme file you besides downloaded around the same time.
The primary fashion to avert this is by remaining organized and focused when you save and upload WordPress files. Brand certain yous keep theme files in memorable locations and know the names of the files when they get downloaded to your reckoner.
Another way to distinguish between theme files and other WordPress-oriented files is past knowing what the file structure looks like for each ane.
Nosotros recommend reading our guide on WordPress files and using them, particularly the WordPress Theme Directories section. This manner, you build your knowledge about the WordPress folder structure and identify what a file does when you encounter its contents.
For this state of affairs, please open the file you're trying to upload and ensure it looks like a theme file.
Let's say we have ii files, and we don't remember the specific proper name of the theme. You may have trouble deciding which of the 2 y'all should upload to WordPress. Nosotros know that ane of them is a plugin file, and the other is a theme file. Start past unzipping them both to come across what's inside.
Open up each file separately to analyze the contents.
This file has folders like addons, assets, blocks, and classes. Information technology doesn't include standard theme folders and files. Although all plugin files look a piffling unlike, it'southward safe to say this appears more like a plugin than a theme.
The other file reveals an extensive drove of folders and PHP files. The fashion.css file is in at that place, along with theme essentials similar footer.php, header.php, and sidebar.php. Information technology'due south likewise relatively common to see folders for CSS, Fonts, and Template-parts in a theme file.
Therefore, this is the theme file we're looking for, and the other 1 is for a plugin. In the future, go along an eye out for the classic attributes of a theme file to ensure you upload the suitable files.
Make Certain the style.css File Is in the Right Identify
Whether done past yourself or the developer, the manner.css file may exist missing in the right place.
It doesn't thing why this occurred, just that WordPress is searching for the way.css file in the root directory, and information technology cannot find it.
To ready this problem, examine the theme's root folder and look for the fashion.css file.
We have the root folder for the TwentyTwenty theme open, and it appears there's no sign of the style.css stylesheet. It's possible you unintentionally dragged it into i of the other folders while organizing, so you should at least take a few seconds to click into the folders to come across if it's in in that location.
It turns out we had moved information technology to the Templates folder. WordPress may take problem recognizing the style.css sheet if it's not in the root folder, and so motion it back to the root folder where it belongs.
Summary
The missing style.css stylesheet error stems from a faulty theme file, and information technology but appears when you try to upload a file within the Add Themes department of WordPress.
The top reasons for seeing the message include:
- The style.css file is missing due to the programmer not including it in the directory.
- The style.css file is missing considering you accidentally deleted information technology or moved it somewhere else.
- You lot're not uploading the theme file the right fashion.
- You must unzip the file to reveal the actual theme file within an original package given to you by the programmer.
- The theme file isn't for WordPress just other platforms like Shopify, or Joomla, or Drupal.
- The file isn't a theme file. Information technology'southward something else, like a plugin file or fifty-fifty a random document or Aught file from your computer.
Use this guide to resolve your theme file issues, and please contact Kinsta customer support if you keep to have issues.
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Source: https://kinsta.com/blog/the-package-could-not-be-installed/#:~:text=in%20the%20directory.-,The%20style.,to%20you%20by%20the%20developer.
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