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How to Edit Footer.php and Other Template Files in Your Child Theme

19 threads Sep 9, 2025 Plugin → Child theme configurator

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Many WordPress users create a child theme to safely customize their website, only to discover they can't find key template files like footer.php or header.php in their child theme's directory or in the WordPress theme editor. This is a common point of confusion, especially after a parent theme update overwrites custom changes made directly to the parent files.

This article explains why this happens and provides the standard method for copying and editing these template files using the Child Theme Configurator plugin.

Why Can't I See My Template Files?

By design, a new child theme only contains a style.css file and sometimes a functions.php file. It intentionally does not contain copies of every parent theme file (like footer.php, header.php, etc.) because many of them, particularly files containing PHP functions or classes, would cause fatal errors if duplicated.

WordPress is built to automatically use any template file that exists in the parent theme. However, if a file with the same name is present in the child theme, WordPress will use the child theme's version instead. This is the core mechanism that allows you to safely override parent theme templates.

The standard WordPress Appearance > Theme Editor menu has a limitation: it typically only shows files in the main child theme directory and does not display files located in subfolders, which is a common structure for many modern themes.

How to Copy and Edit Template Files

The Child Theme Configurator plugin provides a straightforward interface to manage this process. To copy a template file from your parent theme to your child theme for editing, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to Tools > Child Themes in your WordPress admin dashboard.
  2. Select your child theme and go to the Files tab.
  3. A list of available parent theme templates will be displayed. Locate and check the box next to the file you want to customize (e.g., footer.php).
  4. Click the button labeled "Copy Selected to Child Theme".
  5. After the file is copied, a new link will appear: "Click here to edit template files using the Theme Editor." Click this link to be taken to the standard WordPress editor, where your newly copied file should now be available for editing.

Once the file is in your child theme, you can edit it directly. Your changes will be preserved during parent theme updates.

Important Considerations and Limitations

  • Not All Files Should Be Copied: The plugin will exclude directories that contain theme functions and classes. Copying such files can cause fatal PHP errors on your site.
  • Subdirectory Limitation: If your theme stores files in subfolders (e.g., /template-parts/footer/site-info.php), the core WordPress theme editor will not show them. To edit these files, you will need to use FTP, your hosting file manager, or a different editing solution.
  • Delete Unused Files: If you copy a template file to the child theme but do not make any customizations to it, you should delete it. An unedited file in the child theme will still override the parent theme's version, which is unnecessary and could potentially cause issues if the parent theme file is improved in an update.

By understanding how child themes and template hierarchy work, you can effectively use the Child Theme Configurator to make lasting customizations to your WordPress site without fear of them being erased by the next update.

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