Troubleshooting Botiga Theme Layout Issues on Tablet and Mobile Devices

Many users of the Botiga theme encounter a common challenge: their site's layout doesn't display correctly on tablet or mobile devices. This can manifest as elements disappearing, columns wrapping incorrectly, or the entire site appearing 'squeezed' into a tablet view. Based on community reports, this guide will help you diagnose and fix the most frequent responsive layout problems.

Common Botiga Responsive Layout Issues

Users have reported several specific problems related to tablet and mobile views:

• Missing Search Icon: The search icon in the header is visible on desktop but disappears on tablet and mobile layouts.
• Incorrect Column Flow: Widgets or post templates that display in multiple columns on desktop wrap into a single column or create unwanted empty space on tablets.
• Stuck in Tablet View: The entire site displays only in a tablet-sized layout, even on desktop monitors, often after a server-side change like a PHP update.
• Header Element Styling: Needing different styling or sticky behavior for header rows between desktop and mobile versions.

Why These Issues Happen

These problems typically occur for a few key reasons:

1. Theme's Responsive Design: The Botiga theme uses CSS media queries to change layout and hide/show elements at specific screen widths. Sometimes, the default behavior may not align with a user's specific design goals.
2. CSS Conflicts: Custom CSS code or styles from other plugins can override the theme's intended responsive styles.
3. Server Environment Changes: Updates to core web technologies, like moving from PHP 7.4 to PHP 8.0, can occasionally cause unexpected behavior in how the theme renders.
4. Widget Configuration: Spacer blocks or empty paragraphs within widgets can create unexpected gaps on smaller screens.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix Layout Issues

1. For a Missing Search Icon on Mobile/Tablet

This is a known design behavior in some Botiga header layouts. The search functionality is often still present but may be accessible through a different mobile-specific menu or hamburger icon. To confirm it's not a bug, check if the search icon appears in the mobile header builder (Appearance > Customize > Header).

2. For Footer or Widget Column Problems

If your footer widgets are not arranging correctly on tablets, forcing a single-column layout often resolves the issue. Add the following Custom CSS in Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS:

.bhfb-footer .bhfb-above_footer_row .container .bhfb-row {
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
}

Adjust the CSS selector (e.g., .bhfb-row) to target the specific row of widgets you want to modify.

3. For Unwanted Spaces in Widgets

Before adding CSS, inspect the widget in question. As one user discovered, unwanted space is frequently caused by spacer blocks or empty paragraph tags within the widget editor itself. Edit the problematic widget and remove any unnecessary blocks or empty space.

4. For a Site Stuck in Tablet View

If your entire site is locked to a tablet layout after a PHP update, it suggests a potential compatibility issue or a corrupted file. The first step is to rule out a plugin conflict:

1. Deactivate all plugins.
2. If the layout returns to normal, reactivate your plugins one by one to identify the culprit.
3. If the problem persists with all plugins deactivated, try reinstalling the Botiga theme.

5. For Device-Specific Styling (Header, Search Icon, etc.)

The Botiga theme may not have built-in options for every device-specific customization. Achieving this typically requires writing custom CSS wrapped in media queries. For example, to make a header row sticky only on desktop, you would need to use a CSS selector for the sticky class and wrap it in a min-width media query targeting desktop screen sizes.

General Best Practices

• Always clear your cache and your browser's cache after making changes.
• Use your browser's developer tools (F12) to simulate mobile and tablet views and test your changes in real-time.
• When adding custom CSS, use specific selectors to avoid unintended side effects on other parts of your site.

By methodically working through these steps, you can resolve most common responsive layout issues in the Botiga theme.