> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Premium Theme Updates Not Detected

> Troubleshoot missing premium theme updates, add installed theme folders in Premium Updates settings, and keep existing compatibility filters working.

MainWP Dashboard 6.2 includes built-in compatibility for many premium themes. If a theme update is missing, check the child site, licensing, and active theme before adding a custom identifier in **Settings > Premium Updates**.

## What You'll Learn

* Check update availability and the active theme on a child site
* Add a custom identifier for an unsupported or renamed theme folder
* Use existing theme compatibility filters when needed

## Troubleshooting

<Steps>
  <Step title="Check WordPress and the vendor license">
    Log in to the child site and open **Dashboard > Updates**. Use **Check again** if needed. Verify any license, account connection, or registration required by the theme vendor.

    If the update never appears on the child site, check the theme's settings and contact its author. MainWP cannot supply an update that the vendor is not making available to that site.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the active theme and its parent">
    MainWP's extra premium theme checks apply to the active theme and the parent of an active child theme. An installed but inactive theme does not receive those extra checks. Review **Appearance > Themes** on the child site and any inactive notice under **MainWP > Settings > Premium Updates > Detected Themes**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sync the child site">
    Go to **MainWP > Sites > Manage Sites**, sync the affected site, and check for theme updates again.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the installed theme folder if needed">
    Go to **MainWP > Settings > Premium Updates**. Under **Custom Identifiers**, select **Theme**. Search for the theme and select it, or enter its installed folder name, then click **Add New**.

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/mainwp-mintlify-b537ecc3/QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC/images/dashboard/premium-updates-theme-identifier-dark.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=QaSkppJvZ7fFcjDC&q=85&s=77ea2986560e0b4d52eec6e263f2d525" alt="Theme identifier field highlighted in Premium Updates settings" width="1379" height="244" data-path="images/dashboard/premium-updates-theme-identifier-dark.svg" />

    Use the folder under `wp-content/themes/`, such as `example-theme`, rather than the display name or a PHP file. If the folder was renamed, use the renamed folder. For a premium parent theme, use that parent's installed folder.

    Search results include non-premium themes too. Only add the premium theme you intend to support. Built-in and saved custom identifiers are omitted from suggestions, so check the detected and custom tables before adding a duplicate.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sync and check the result">
    Sync again and check the theme updates. If the update appears but installation fails, verify licensing on the child site and try updating the affected theme separately.
  </Step>
</Steps>

See [Premium Updates](/sites/updates/premium-updates) for detected-table details and removing custom identifiers.

## Advanced Compatibility Filters

Both theme filters still work in MainWP Dashboard 6.2. Keep a working snippet if you already use one. For new compatibility entries, the settings page applies both behaviors without code.

| Filter                                 | Purpose                                        |
| -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| `mainwp_detect_premium_themes_update`  | Adds theme folders for extra update detection  |
| `mainwp_request_update_premium_themes` | Adds theme folders for premium update requests |

<Accordion title="Add theme compatibility with a PHP snippet">
  Add this code on the **MainWP Dashboard site**, for example in the PHP section of the [MainWP Custom Dashboard Add-on](/add-ons/development/mainwp-custom-dashboard-extension) or an existing custom plugin.

  Replace `example-theme` in both callbacks with the installed theme folder. Use the renamed folder if it differs from the original vendor folder.

  ```php theme={null}
  add_filter( 'mainwp_detect_premium_themes_update', 'hook_mainwp_detect_premium_themes_update' );
  function hook_mainwp_detect_premium_themes_update( $premiums = array() ) {
      $premiums[] = 'example-theme';
      return $premiums;
  }

  add_filter( 'mainwp_request_update_premium_themes', 'hook_mainwp_request_update_premium_themes' );
  function hook_mainwp_request_update_premium_themes( $premiums = array() ) {
      $premiums[] = 'example-theme';
      return $premiums;
  }
  ```

  For multiple themes, append another `$premiums[] = 'another-theme';` line in each callback. Edit existing callbacks if they already use these function names; do not define them twice.

  Append to the supplied array to preserve built-in and UI-added identifiers. Returning a replacement array removes those exact identifiers from that filter. Filter-only additions are not automatically imported into the settings tables.

  Save the snippet and sync the affected sites. If you use a theme's `functions.php` instead, switching themes stops the snippet from running, and parent-theme updates can overwrite it.
</Accordion>

## When Updates Still Do Not Work

Contact the vendor if the update cannot be detected or installed directly on the child site. If it works there but fails through MainWP, [contact MainWP Support](https://mainwp.com/my-account/get-support/) with the theme name, installed folder, versions, and exact error. Some proprietary updaters require vendor-specific support beyond adding an identifier.

## Related Resources

* [Premium Updates](/sites/updates/premium-updates)
* [Premium Plugin Updates Not Detected](/troubleshooting/premium-plugin-updates-not-detected)
* [Manage Updates](/sites/updates/manage-updates)