# Install SweetDate

> Download SweetDate from ThemeForest, install it with its child theme and open the SweetDate Panel to finish the setup.

Source: https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/install-the-theme/

Before you start, check that your hosting meets the [SweetDate requirements](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/theme-requirements/) and that WordPress is installed. Most hosts install WordPress for you in one click; otherwise follow the official [WordPress installation guide](https://developer.wordpress.org/advanced-administration/before-install/howto-install/).

## 1. Download SweetDate from ThemeForest

1. Sign in to [ThemeForest](https://themeforest.net/) and open **Downloads** from your account menu.
2. Find SweetDate and click **Download**.
3. Choose **All files & documentation**. Also download **License certificate & purchase code**: it holds the purchase code you need to [register SweetDate](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/register-your-theme/).
4. Unzip the downloaded main files zip on your computer. The theme files are in its **WordPress** folder: `sweetdate.zip` and `sweetdate-child.zip`.

:::caution[Do not upload the full package]
The main files zip from ThemeForest contains the theme, the child theme, plugins and licensing files. WordPress only accepts the theme zips from its **WordPress** folder: `sweetdate.zip` and `sweetdate-child.zip`. Uploading the full package fails with **"The package could not be installed. The theme is missing the style.css stylesheet."**
:::

## 2. Install from WordPress admin

1. Go to **Appearance > Themes > Add New Theme > Upload Theme**.
2. Choose `sweetdate.zip` from the **WordPress** folder of the main files and click **Install Now**.
3. Upload `sweetdate-child.zip` the same way: this is the child theme.
4. Activate **SweetDate Child**. The parent theme must stay installed, but it does not need to be active.

If the upload fails with **"The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive"**, install by FTP (below) or ask your host to raise the upload limit. See [common errors](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/common/common-errors/#the-uploaded-file-exceeds-the-upload_max_filesize-directive).

## 3. Or install by FTP or SFTP

1. Unzip `sweetdate.zip` and `sweetdate-child.zip` (from the **WordPress** folder of the main files) on your computer.
2. Connect to your server with an FTP client and open `wp-content/themes/`.
3. Upload the extracted `sweetdate` and `sweetdate-child` folders. Each folder must contain a `style.css` file directly inside it.
4. In WordPress, go to **Appearance > Themes** and activate SweetDate Child.

## 4. The SweetDate Panel opens

Right after you activate SweetDate (or SweetDate Child), WordPress opens the **SweetDate Panel**. You find it again any time under **Appearance > SweetDate Panel**, right below **Themes**, or from the **SweetDate Panel** link in the admin toolbar.

The **Dashboard** tab shows a short checklist that turns green as you go: register the theme, install the required plugins, import a demo, customize the theme.

## Why the child theme

Your own CSS, PHP and template changes go in the child theme, so SweetDate updates never overwrite them. Read [SweetDate child theme](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/introduction-to-the-child-theme/) for how to use it.

## Next steps

1. [Register SweetDate](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/register-your-theme/) with your purchase code, on the **Dashboard** tab of the panel.
2. [Import a demo](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/importing-the-modern-demo/) on the **Demo Data** tab. The import installs and activates the plugins that demo needs.
3. Customize the design. See [Get started](https://seventhqueen.com/docs/sweetdate/) for the SweetDate options.