How can I update my paid theme without losing modifications?

[marieleh]

Hello, 

I made some changes to my paid theme (duplicated for security). Today this theme has been updated by its creator. How can I update it without losing my modifications? For example, on WordPress, we talk about a "parent" theme and a "child" theme, which allows us to update the theme and add the corrections made by the creator without losing our work. Thank you

[NomtechSolution · Accepted solution]

In Shopify, there is no direct equivalent of a "parent" and "child" theme like in WordPress. However, you can still update your theme without losing your modifications by following these steps:

1. Create a backup: Before performing any updates, make sure to create a backup of your current theme. This ensures that you have a copy of your modified theme files in case anything goes wrong during the update process.

2. Compare changes: Compare the changes made by the theme creator in the updated version with your modified version. You can review the theme's release notes or changelog to understand what updates and fixes are included.

3. Transfer modifications: Identify the specific modifications you made to the theme, such as custom code, styles, or template changes. Make a note of these modifications or keep a separate copy of the modified files.

4. Update the theme: Install the updated version of the theme in your Shopify store. You can do this by going to "Themes" in your Shopify admin, clicking on "Upload theme," and selecting the updated theme file.

5. Merge modifications: After updating the theme, you need to manually transfer your modifications to the updated version. This involves comparing the modified files with the updated files and applying your changes accordingly. You can use a code editor or Shopify's built-in theme editor to make the necessary modifications.

6. Test and validate: Once you've merged your modifications into the updated theme, thoroughly test your store to ensure everything is working as expected. Verify that your customizations, layouts, and functionality are still intact.