Major Issue with theme update from v9.5.5 to v9.5.6: missing files in package

[MickeyOne]

Thank you! Yes, it worked.

[Remco van Dun]

Does this update automatically? I'm not able to update the theme anymore

[arminunruh]

https://kernl-file-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/14-08-2025/05-42-39/lay.zip

heres the link to the latest theme zip you can use that

[samuel.t]

It broke 6 (!) client websites on my end - and not all of them had auto-updates enabled. They all paid a significant amount for the theme. This isn’t the first time it has happened. The release notes are outdated. This forum still runs on HTTP. I’m sorry to say it, but I don’t understand how such a well-known theme can get it this wrong - even though I do appreciate the maintainer’s responsiveness.

[arminunruh]

hey there! yea thats really bad! im sorry about it!
i reacted as fast as i could but i was not able to be on my pc for a while.

it was just unfortunate that the updating service i use https://kernl.us/ didnt include all files in the latest theme package. even though all files were present in my repository.

i would suggest that you turn off autoupdate for your clients websites and turn off updates for lay theme in "lay options"

• and not all of them had auto-updates enabled

then they must have updated the theme by themselves, if autoupdate is disabled, the theme wont update by itself.

im just releasing small new features for lay theme with updates mostly.
but updating of a website can bring new bugs, so its best to just turn it off on client websites.
cause most of the time when a client website is finished, it doesn't need any new features added to it anyways.

[arminunruh]

i will think about a solution to this.
probably i can somehow turn off autoupdate via code
cause its enabled by default by wordpress

ah yea and probably i can switch the forum to https and keep the version history more up to date.

[clnstz]

Hello! Thanks for fast fixing. 3 out of 7 client websites crashed as they were on Auto update. But it affected it in different ways (2 fully down, 1 just the admin panel access).

How can I install the corrected issues version without access to the Admin Panel? I no longer have access to the panel because of the error. Quite urgent, people are panicking as their business rely on it. Thanks!

[arminunruh]

basically you would access their FTP
go to wp-content / themes

and rename the folder "lay" to a different foldername

then you will be able to access wp-admin again.
in wp-admin go to appearance - themes and delete the faulty theme
and install the one that works
https://kernl-file-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/14-08-2025/05-42-39/lay.zip

if you dont have FTP access, you can get the FTP credentials through their webhost control panel

often webhost control panels also provide webftp, where you can just click through their FTP without having to get the credentials

[arminunruh]

basically this
https://laytheme.com/troubleshooting.html#critical-error

[clnstz]

Ok Thanks — Can I just check this will keep all existing Theme settings, Page Layouts, Content and CSS? No changes. Eg. The 'old' or existing site will be as was.

[arminunruh]

yea it will keep everything as it was.
if you want i can also do it for you, you can send the infos i need to info@laytheme.com

[samuel.t]

Yes, everything will stay there. I solved the problem through database:

1. Switch to an old theme:
   UPDATE wp_options SET option_value = 'twentytwentyfive' where option_name = 'template';
   UPDATE wp_options SET option_value = 'twentytwentyfive' where option_name = 'stylesheet';
2. Login to Admin, delete the faulty theme
3. Re-install Lay, activate theme

[clnstz]

Ok great thanks, no it's fine we will do (some clients did a reset in panic.... need to get the back up up again). If I need any help, I'll write here.

[arminunruh]

@samuel.t thats a great way to do it too

[monospace]

Anyways. Shit happens. Didn’t want to be in your skin yesterday ;)
Glad you’ve reacted quickly though.

Just a wish from my side: Please keep people informed if such a major issue happened. You have the licensees email addresses also for that reason.

The time you’ve discovered a major break happened and as well when it's been fixed, including a guide on how to restore functionality.

[arminunruh]

ah yea thats a good idea.
with the next lay update, auto updates will also get disabled

[arminunruh]

heres the guide: http://laythemeforum.com:4567/topic/11195/broken-website-since-yesterday-14th-of-aug.-how-to-fix-it

[clnstz]

Ciao @arminunruh, can the corrected Theme file (V 9.5.7) take on the latest updates (9.7.0)? There is no Update package avail with it. Should we re-install original theme file and then update to 9.7.0 - this might break other bits though. What's the safest appraoch. Thank you!

(Excited to test out the new features!)

[arminunruh]

mh the update should work!
https://kernl-file-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/04-09-2025/12-44-52/lay.zip

here is a link to the latest version
updating shouldn't break the website no