How to import starter templates in WordPress

Create a full backup of your database, files and uploads before importing anything. A complete starter site can add pages, menus, media and theme settings, and it may mix with content that is already on the site.

Use a staging site if the website is live. Importing a complete template into an existing site can produce duplicate pages, unexpected menus and conflicting styles. Single-page imports are safer because they normally create a new draft rather than replacing the whole site.

For a small layout, use WordPress patterns instead of importing a complete starter site. With a block theme, open Appearance → Editor → Patterns, choose Import pattern from JSON, then insert the pattern into a page or template. WordPress supports importing reusable pattern files through the Site Editor.

This route is fine when you only need a hero section, pricing table or call-to-action. It does not recreate a complete site, install required plugins, configure a page builder or import all theme settings. The older Tools → Import route is for content such as posts, pages, users and media references, not a complete visual design.

Install and activate the theme, page builder and starter-template plugin required by the design. For an Astra-based workflow, install Astra, then install Starter Templates from Plugins → Add New. The template library is normally opened from Appearance → Starter Templates.

Use the same editor shown on the template preview, such as the block editor or Elementor. If a template uses an older version of its page builder, update the required plugin before importing; missing or outdated widgets can leave blank sections or broken layouts.

Open the template library, filter by page builder or site type, and preview the design before importing it. Choose a complete-site import when you need the home, about, contact, blog and other pages. Choose an individual page or pattern when you want to keep your existing site structure.

Check whether the template depends on WooCommerce, a form plugin, a block extension or another page builder. Individual page and pattern imports may not install required plugins automatically, so the design can look different until those plugins are installed and activated.

Start the import wizard and select only the site parts you need. On a blank installation, a complete import can add the pages, menus, images, customiser settings and required plugins used by the demo. Do not close the browser while the process is running.

If the import hangs or fails, check the server's PHP memory, execution time, upload limits, cURL support and file permissions. A hosting restriction can stop an import even when the template itself is valid. If WordPress reports missing file permissions, ask your host to correct them rather than changing server configuration blindly.

Open the imported pages and replace placeholder text, images, forms, logos and contact details. Check Settings → Reading for the homepage, then review menus, header, footer, widgets and permalinks. Remove demo pages and media you will not use.

Test the site while logged out on a phone and desktop. Check forms, search, links, checkout if applicable, image loading and page-builder editing. If Astra customiser settings were overwritten, its Starter Templates importer creates a backup before a complete import, but that backup covers Astra customiser settings only, not every plugin or site change.

Fast way: use Astra Premium Sites Plugin when you want a large Astra template library and a guided one-click import. Choose a template, let it install the compatible pieces, then replace the demo content and test the finished site.