This help explains how to install WPResidence, install the included plugins, activate the license, and prepare the site for demo import. It covers both ways of buying the theme: directly on wpresidence.net and on ThemeForest.
Before You Install WPResidence
Before installing WPResidence, make sure you already have:
- A hosting account
- A domain name
- WordPress installed on your domain
If WordPress is not installed yet, ask your hosting provider to install it for you, or follow the official WordPress installation guide.
Server Requirements and PHP Limits
Before installing the theme or importing a demo, check that your hosting meets the recommended values below. Low limits are the most common cause of upload and demo import errors.
| Setting | Recommended minimum |
|---|---|
| max_execution_time | 600 |
| memory_limit | 512M |
| post_max_size | 64M |
| upload_max_filesize | 64M |
| PHP modules | XMLReader, cURL |
Full WPResidence server requirements
Step 1. Where Did You Buy WPResidence?
WPResidence is sold in two places. The installation steps are identical, but where you download the theme and what you use to activate the license are different.
| Bought on wpresidence.net | Bought on ThemeForest | |
|---|---|---|
| Download from | care.wpestate.org → My Licenses | themeforest.net → Downloads |
| Activate with | License code only | ThemeForest username + purchase code |
| Theme updates | Automatic, built into the theme | Through the Envato Market plugin |
| Support | care.wpestate.org for both | |
Use the download section that matches your purchase, then continue from Step 3.
Step 2a. Download WPResidence (Bought on wpresidence.net)
If you bought WPResidence directly, your theme files and your license code are both in your account.
- Log in to care.wpestate.org with the account you used at checkout.
- Open My Licenses in the left menu.
- Find your WP Residence license.
Each license row shows your license code, the Support until date, whether the license is currently activated on a site, and two download buttons:
| Button | What you get | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Download theme | wpresidence.zip only | You want to install from WordPress. Best choice for most users. |
| Download WP Residence package | Full package: theme, child theme, documentation, extra files | You need the child theme, the documentation, or the extra package files |
Step 2b. Download WPResidence (Bought on ThemeForest)
- Log in to ThemeForest with the account used to buy WPResidence.
- Go to your Downloads page.
- Find WPResidence and open the download menu.
You will see two download options:
| Option | Use it when |
|---|---|
| Installable WordPress file only | You want to install the theme directly from WordPress. Best choice for most users. |
| All files & documentation | You also need the child theme, documentation, or extra package files |
Step 3. Install the Theme
This step is the same for both purchase types. You need wpresidence.zip.
- Go to Appearance → Themes.
- Click Add New, then Upload Theme.
- Select wpresidence.zip and click Install Now.
- Click Activate.
Step 4. Install the Plugins
After you activate WPResidence, WordPress shows a notice to install the included plugins. Go to Appearance → Install Plugins.
Required plugin – install this first
WPResidence Core Functionality – required for Theme Options, license activation, properties, agents, agencies, search, and other main theme features.
Which plugins do you actually need?
Install only what your setup requires:
| What you want to do | Plugins to install |
|---|---|
| Basic theme setup | WPResidence Core Functionality |
| Import a full Elementor demo | Core Functionality, Elementor, WPResidence Elementor Widgets, WPResidence Studio, One Click Demo Import |
| Use Elementor templates without a full demo import | Elementor, WPResidence Elementor Widgets, WPResidence Studio |
| Build content with Gutenberg blocks | WPResidence Gutenberg Blocks Functionality |
| Build pages with WPBakery instead of Elementor | WPBakery Page Builder |
| Use sliders | Revolution Slider |
| Manage leads and contacts | WPEstate CRM |
| Build a multilingual website | WPEstate Translate |
| Import MLS listings | MLSImport, with an active MLSImport subscription and approved MLS feed access |
What each plugin does
- Elementor – the page builder used to edit Elementor pages and templates.
- WPResidence Elementor Widgets – adds WPResidence widgets for Elementor: property lists, search forms, agents, agencies, blog widgets, and other theme elements.
- WPResidence Studio – imports pre-built Elementor pages, sections, headers, footers, and property or blog templates. It also lets you create and assign custom templates without editing code.
- One Click Demo Import – needed only to import a full demo. You can remove it afterwards.
- WPEstate CRM – how to set up the WPResidence CRM.
- WPEstate Translate – multi-language setup guide.
- MLSImport – a separate service. See mlsimport.com.
Step 5. Activate Your License
License activation is required for theme registration, automatic updates, and demo import.
Get your code
| Bought on wpresidence.net | Bought on ThemeForest |
|---|---|
| Log in to care.wpestate.org, open My Licenses, and copy the license code. | Log in to ThemeForest, go to Downloads, find WPResidence, select License Certificate and Purchase Code, and copy the purchase code from the text file. |
More details about getting your license code
Register it in WordPress
- Open the WPResidence License section in wp-admin.
- Select where you bought the theme:
- Purchased on ThemeForest – enter your ThemeForest Username and Purchase Code.
- Purchased on wpresidence.net – enter your License Key. There is no username field for direct purchases.
- Tick the consent checkbox.
- Click Register License.
If activation works, you will see You have successfully registered.
How updates work after activation
- wpresidence.net licenses – updates appear automatically in Dashboard → Updates and under Appearance → Themes. The Envato Market plugin is not needed.
- ThemeForest licenses – updates are delivered through the Envato Market plugin included with the theme.
How to update WPResidence and included plugins
Step 6. Save Permalinks
- Go to Settings → Permalinks.
- Select Post name.
- Click Save Changes.
Step 7. Import Demo Content
Once the theme is installed, the plugins are active, the license is activated, and permalinks are saved, you can import a demo.
Read before importing:
- Import demos only on a clean WordPress installation.
- Import one demo only. Do not import multiple demos on top of each other – that creates duplicate pages, menus, widgets, and settings.
- If you want a different demo, reset the site and import again.
- If you only want pages or sections from another demo, use WPResidence Studio instead of a second full import.
Troubleshooting
Plugin install fails with “Download failed. Forbidden”
If you see An error occurred while installing WPResidence Core Functionality: Download failed. Forbidden, the server is blocking WordPress from downloading the plugin package. Common causes are hosting firewall rules, ModSecurity, security plugins, blocked external requests, or incorrect file permissions.
What to check:
- Make sure WPResidence is installed and activated.
- Go to Appearance → Install Plugins and try again.
- Confirm that cURL is enabled on the server.
- Temporarily disable security or firewall plugins, then retry.
- Ask your host whether ModSecurity or a firewall rule is returning a 403 Forbidden for the plugin download.
- Confirm that WordPress can write to wp-content/plugins/.
The license section does not appear
Check that the WPResidence Core Functionality plugin is installed and activated, then refresh the admin page.
Theme upload or demo import fails
This is almost always a server limits problem. Review Server requirements and PHP limits and ask your host to raise the values.