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If demo content import fails

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The demo import process for WPResidence should normally work smoothly via the WordPress admin area, using the official demo importer. Before starting, please follow the complete guide here:
1-Click Demo Import Help

Activate theme license

Before importing demo content, make sure the WPResidence theme license is activated. Demo import requires a valid and active license.

If the license is not active, demo import may fail or stop unexpectedly.

You can find your purchase code and activate the license by following this guide: Where is my purchase code

Verify SSL and site URLs

Important:
Your site must use HTTPS and have a valid SSL certificate before demo import.

Go to Settings → General and verify that both:

  • WordPress Address (URL)
  • Site Address (URL)

are set to https://.

If Demo Import Fails

If the demo import fails, gets stuck, or does not complete correctly, the most common cause is a hosting or server configuration issue.

Before retrying the import, make sure your server meets the recommended requirements.

Recommended PHP Configuration Limits

  • max_execution_time: 600
  • memory_limit: 128M or higher
  • post_max_size: 64M
  • upload_max_filesize: 64M

If your values are lower, contact your hosting provider and ask them to increase these limits.

How to Check Your Current PHP Limits

You can verify your active PHP configuration directly from your WordPress dashboard:

  • Go to Dashboard → Tools → Site Health
  • Open the Info tab
  • Expand the Server section

Here you can review important values such as PHP version, memory limit, execution time, and upload limits.

Important:
Even if you try to change these values via wp-config.php or .htaccess, many hosting providers enforce hard limits. If the values do not change, the hosting provider must update them manually.

LiteSpeed Cache Plugin Can Break Demo Import

Some hosting providers (for example, Hostinger) automatically install the LiteSpeed Cache plugin. If this plugin is active during demo import, it can interfere with wp-admin requests and cause the import to fail.

  • 403 Forbidden errors
  • Missing demo content or images
  • Broken Elementor pages
  • Incomplete demo imports

Before Starting Demo Import

  • Go to LiteSpeed Cache → Settings
  • Disable all options in every tab
  • Save changes after each tab

After Import (if LiteSpeed was active)

  • Disable LiteSpeed Cache completely
  • Purge all caches
  • Clear your browser cache or open the site in an incognito window
  • Re-run the demo import if needed

Full instructions:
How to disable LiteSpeed Cache

Problem: Demo Import Fails With 403 Forbidden Error

https://wpresidence-demos.s3.amazonaws.com/demo/theme_content.xml
Reason: 403 – Forbidden

Cause

This is usually caused by server-side caching or request blocking,
most commonly LiteSpeed Cache being active in wp-admin.

Solution

  • Disable all LiteSpeed Cache options
  • Activate the WPResidence theme license
  • Re-run the demo import

Problem: Demo Import Fails With 500 or 503 Error

The demo import may stop suddenly or fail with one of the following errors:

  • 500 – Internal Server Error
  • 503 – Service Unavailable

Cause

These errors are almost always related to server resource limitations during the demo import process.

Demo import is resource-intensive because it:

  • Downloads large XML files
  • Imports posts, pages, widgets, and theme options
  • Downloads and processes multiple images

The most common causes include:

  • Low PHP memory limit
  • Low max_execution_time
  • CPU or process limits on shared hosting
  • Server-level caching or security rules blocking long admin requests

What to Check

  • Confirm PHP limits meet or exceed the recommended values above
  • Temporarily disable all caching and security plugins
  • Disable server-level caching if available
  • Check server error logs from your hosting control panel

Solution

  • Ask your hosting provider to temporarily increase PHP limits and server resources
  • Retry the demo import after disabling all caches
  • If the issue persists, contact support to request a manual demo import

Problem: Elementor Pages Are Blank After Import

This happens when Elementor Containers are disabled.

Enable Containers in Elementor

  • Go to Elementor → Settings → Features
  • Find Container
  • Set it to Active
  • Save changes

All modern WPResidence demos require Elementor Containers.

If the Demo Was Imported Before Enabling Containers

  • Reset the site using WP Reset
  • Re-activate the theme license
  • Run the demo import again

Need Help?

  • Open a support ticket: https://support.wpestate.org/
  • Include your site URL
  • Include temporary wp-admin access
  • Confirm that server limits and caching plugins were checked