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Resolving the Botiga Demo Import Stuck at 43% Error

17 threads Sep 7, 2025 Theme → Botiga

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Many users of the Botiga theme encounter a frustrating issue where the one-click demo import process fails, often getting stuck at around 43% and displaying errors like "Forbidden" or "Something went wrong." This guide will explain the common causes of this problem and provide proven solutions to help you successfully import your chosen starter site.

Why Does the Import Get Stuck at 43%?

Based on community reports and troubleshooting, this error is typically not a bug in the theme itself but is caused by server-side restrictions. The 43% mark often coincides with the point where the import process attempts to automatically download and install required plugins like WooCommerce or WPForms. Web hosts, particularly those with strict security configurations, may block these automatic background processes, causing the import to fail.

Most Effective Solutions

1. Manually Install Required Plugins

This is the most common and successful solution. The automatic plugin installation is often the step that gets blocked.

  • Navigate to your WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Add New.
  • Search for, install, and activate the following plugins manually:
    • WooCommerce
    • WPForms Lite
    • aThemes Blocks
  • Once all plugins are active, go to Appearance > Starter Sites and restart the demo import process.

2. Check File Permissions

If WordPress cannot write files to your server's wp-content directory, the import will fail. Ensure your file permissions are set correctly. Generally, directories should be set to 755 and files to 644. You can adjust these permissions through your hosting account's file manager or an FTP client. Note: Setting permissions to 777 is not recommended due to serious security risks.

3. Verify HTTPS Configuration

Although less common, an improperly configured SSL certificate can sometimes interrupt the import. Ensure your site is fully configured to run on HTTPS and that there are no certificate errors. Using a plugin like "Really Simple SSL" can help resolve mixed content issues.

4. Check Server Resources

A lack of server resources, such as PHP memory limit, maximum execution time, or available disk space, can halt the import process. Contact your web host to confirm your PHP memory limit is at least 256MB and that your maximum execution time is set to 300 seconds.

5. Consider a Manual Import

For users on hosts with very restrictive security policies, a full manual import may be necessary. This involves importing the demo content, customizer settings, and widgets separately using tools under Tools > Import and Appearance > Widgets. The Botiga team has provided instructions for this method in various support threads.

What Doesn't Usually Work?

  • Simply deactivating other plugins often isn't enough, as the conflict is with the installation process, not the active plugins.
  • Reinstalling WordPress or the theme typically does not resolve this server-level issue.

By following these steps, most users are able to overcome the 43% import error. The manual plugin installation method, in particular, has a very high success rate. If problems persist, the issue is likely a specific configuration with your web host, and you may need to contact their support for further assistance.

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