Total WordPress Theme

Total has a manageable learning curve for beginners who are familiar with WordPress basics. The Customizer options are extensive, which can be confusing at first. The built-in demo importer helps new users start with a working layout quickly. That said, anything beyond standard setup benefits from a Total specialist, since the sheer number of options makes it easy to configure things in conflicting ways.

Total has its own built-in page builder, but it also works alongside Elementor and Gutenberg. Running multiple builders on the same site adds load, so most developers pick one and stick with it. Total’s native builder is sufficient for most layouts. Gutenberg compatibility is solid. Elementor works but some styling panels in Total will conflict with Elementor’s own widget styling.

Never edit the parent theme files directly. Use a child theme for all PHP and CSS changes. Customizer settings, custom CSS in Additional CSS, and child theme files are all preserved during theme updates. Before updating, back up your site and test on a staging environment. Updates to Total occasionally reset certain panel settings, so document your configuration before updating.

Total is reasonably fast for a multipurpose theme, but it loads more assets than a minimal theme. Performance depends heavily on which features and modules you enable. Disabling unused page builder modules, enabling lazy loading, and using a caching plugin will improve scores significantly. For serious Core Web Vitals work, a dedicated WordPress performance service is the most reliable route.

Yes, Total has built-in WooCommerce support with dedicated styling panels for shop, product, cart, and checkout pages. You can adjust product grid columns, sidebar placement, and button styles without custom CSS. For deeper WooCommerce customizations like custom product templates, checkout field modifications, or subscription integrations, a Total developer with WooCommerce experience is the practical choice.

Create a folder in wp-content/themes with a name like total-child. Add a style.css with the standard child theme header declaring Template: total, and a functions.php that enqueues the parent stylesheet using wp_enqueue_style. Activate the child theme in Appearance > Themes. All PHP overrides and custom CSS go into the child theme so updates to the parent theme do not wipe your changes.

Yes, Total sites migrate like any standard WordPress installation. Export the database, move the files, update the siteurl and home values, and update file paths if needed. The theme itself stores settings in the database via the Customizer, so those transfer with a full database migration. For a smooth move, the WordPress migration service handles this without downtime or data loss.

No, Total includes its own row and column page builder, so you do not need Elementor, Divi Builder, or Visual Composer to build layouts. The native builder covers most use cases. If you prefer Gutenberg, Total’s theme areas and templates work alongside the block editor. Adding an extra builder on top of Total’s native system is unnecessary for most projects.

WPExplorer provides support through their dedicated support forum for theme license holders. Response times are generally reliable for standard issues. For custom development, bug fixes, or site-specific problems that fall outside what theme support covers, working with a Total developer through Codeable is a faster path to a working solution than waiting in a support queue.

Total is compatible with MemberPress, LearnDash, and LifterLMS. The theme does not include built-in membership or LMS features, but it does not conflict with these plugins either. You will likely need custom template overrides to style course pages, lesson lists, and member dashboards consistently with your Total design. A Total specialist can handle those overrides cleanly in a child theme.