A WordPress demo import says it finished, but your homepage still shows recent posts, an almost empty page, the wrong header, or missing photographs. Before running the importer again, check what WordPress is actually using for the front page. The imported content may be there; its homepage assignment, template, menu or companion plugin may not be configured yet.
Quick answer: Open Settings → Reading and check Your homepage displays → A static page. Choose the intended imported Home page, if your theme’s instructions call for one. If the layout still looks wrong, work through the seven checks below in order. Do not run another full import on a live website without a backup.
First, identify what is actually different
- Recent posts appear instead of the demo: Check the homepage assignment first.
- The right page opens, but its designed sections are missing: Check imported content, templates and any required companion plugin.
- The layout appears, but menus, logo or photographs are absent: Check navigation and media assignments.
- The editor looks correct but visitors see the old design: Investigate caching and failed stylesheets.
A demo importer is not a universal WordPress feature. Each theme determines what its importer creates and which settings it changes. Some themes render homepage sections from a template or theme settings rather than a single page’s content.
1. Check which page WordPress uses as the homepage
In the WordPress dashboard, open Settings → Reading. Under Your homepage displays, choose A static page if the demo expects one. Select the imported Home page in the Homepage field. If the theme also provides a journal or blog index, choose a different page in the Posts page field, then click Save Changes.
Next, visit Pages → All Pages to confirm the intended Home page is published. If you imported more than one starter layout, verify the correct page rather than selecting the first one with “Home” in its title.
This is the first thing to check because demo importers can add pages without making the imported design your front page. WordPress explains this distinction in its official Reading Settings guide.
Exception: Not every homepage is just an ordinary page. A classic theme may use front-page.php; a block theme may use a front-page template in the Site Editor. If the theme’s guide says the layout is controlled by a template or custom homepage options, follow that workflow instead of expecting all the sections to appear in the Home page editor.
2. Confirm the importer created the expected content
If Reading Settings already points to the correct page, open Pages → All Pages → Home. Is the page blank? Does it include the sections shown in the starter layout? Did the importer create a separate landing page, or is there an unpublished page waiting for review?
Distinguish a missing page from a page that is rendered through a theme template. In a block theme, much of the layout may be defined in Appearance → Editor → Templates. In a classic theme, the design could be assembled through Appearance → Customize or a dedicated theme options screen.
Before deleting or recreating anything, read the theme documentation and look for the importer’s current status or log. If a stage failed, restoring that stage is usually safer than repeating an entire import.
3. Verify the active theme and required companion plugin
Go to Appearance → Themes and check that the intended theme is active. Then open Plugins → Installed Plugins and compare the active plugins with the installation instructions supplied by the theme publisher.
Some themes display normal WordPress pages and posts on their own, but rely on an optional companion plugin for demo import, additional content types or specialized homepage sections. Without that companion, the page may look simpler than the preview. Other themes need no such plugin, so do not assume one is required.
For example, the Journey Lane installation guide explains that standard posts work with the theme alone, while its companion adds destination features and the optional demo importer. That is a Journey Lane-specific example, not a universal WordPress requirement.
Avoid installing unrelated “one-click import” plugins until you have checked the publisher’s instructions. Different import tools may introduce duplicate pages, unnecessary plugins or conflicting setup steps.
4. Check the demo import status before running it again
A demo may finish adding posts and pages while media processing, menu assignment or another stage still needs attention. Return to the theme’s importer screen and review its status. Look for a reported failed stage, missing image, pending task or supported resume option.
The right response depends on what failed. Missing images call for a media check; an unassigned menu calls for a menu assignment; and an interrupted import may call for the importer’s own Resume or Continue action if the theme supports it.
Do not repeatedly start a full starter-site import on a production site. Some importers add duplicate content or change display settings. Back up the database and site files, or work on staging, before trying potentially destructive recovery.
One documented example is Journey Lane’s optional importer under Tools → Journey Lane Demo. Its instructions describe a readiness check, import progress and what to inspect before resuming a paused stage. Other themes may use completely different menus and recovery options.
5. Make sure the homepage template matches the demo
The Home page selected in Reading Settings and the template that displays that page are not the same thing. If the correct page and content exist but the design is still wrong, inspect the theme’s editing model.
For WordPress block themes
Open Appearance → Editor → Templates, then inspect the relevant homepage template. Also review the header, navigation and template parts. A previously customized front-page template may take precedence over the template shipped with the theme. Do not reset customized templates casually: you could lose design changes someone made intentionally. Check the theme’s setup guide and save a backup first.
For classic WordPress themes
Look in Appearance → Customize for homepage sections, header settings, featured content and typography. Some classic themes have a separate options screen for these features.
If you are unsure which workflow applies, see our Site Editor versus Customizer guide or the official WordPress Site Editor documentation.
6. Restore missing menus, logos and demo images
Sometimes the main design is already correct, but the site still looks unfinished because its navigation, branding or images were not assigned to the right places.
Navigation menus
For a classic theme, inspect Appearance → Menus and assign the intended menu to the theme’s primary display location. For a block theme, use Appearance → Editor → Navigation and confirm the header’s Navigation block uses the saved menu. A menu that exists in WordPress does not necessarily appear in the header until it is assigned. WordPress has separate guidance for classic menus and Site Editor navigation.
Site logo and images
Check your theme’s site identity or header settings to assign the logo. Then open Media → Library: did the demo images actually import? If they did, inspect the featured images, background settings and image blocks where they should appear. If they did not, consult the importer’s media report and the demo package instructions.
Do not download photographs from an unrelated theme preview and upload them without checking permissions. Use the media supplied with your package or properly licensed replacements.
7. Clear caches and check broken assets last
Once the homepage assignment, content, template and media are correct, open the live page in a private browser window. Then purge your WordPress cache plugin and, if relevant, the host or CDN cache. A stale HTML page or stylesheet can make the published site look different from the editor preview.
If the page has unstyled text, missing sections or nonworking controls, use your browser’s developer tools to check for failed CSS, JavaScript and image requests. A missing file or blocked asset is a more useful lead than another blind reimport.
For persistent problems, check the theme’s supported WordPress and PHP versions and contact its support team with the error details. If a plugin conflict is suspected, test systematically on a staging site. Do not disable critical plugins on a live store just to experiment.
A real setup example: Journey Lane
Suppose you import Journey Lane’s travel demo but still see a basic post listing where you expected its editorial homepage. Its published installation instructions provide a concrete troubleshooting sequence:
- Confirm the correct Journey Lane theme is active, and activate Journey Lane Companion if using its optional demo features.
- Inspect Tools → Journey Lane Demo for an unfinished stage or media issue.
- Under Settings → Reading, assign imported Home as Homepage and Journal as Posts page.
- Check that the imported menu is assigned and required images are present.
- Compare the result with the intended layout before exploring more complicated changes.
The image below shows the intended visual presentation of this particular ThemeScorpion theme. It is not evidence that every theme uses the same importer.
For version-specific steps and safeguards, always use the Journey Lane setup documentation. If you are considering it for a new travel publication, see the Journey Lane theme page. The main troubleshooting steps above apply regardless of which theme you buy.
What to send theme support if the homepage is still wrong
Collect the theme name and version, WordPress version, companion-plugin version (if applicable), the page chosen under Settings → Reading, and any importer error or paused stage. Include screenshots of the expected and actual homepage, but hide login credentials or private admin details.
“The Home page exists and is selected, but the header menu is blank” is far easier to troubleshoot than “the demo doesn’t work.”
Frequently asked questions
Why does my WordPress theme still look different after a successful demo import?
An importer may create content without assigning the homepage, menu or media. A theme may also rely on a template or companion plugin for particular sections. Start with Reading Settings, then check the imported content and the theme’s setup instructions.
Should I delete WordPress and import everything again?
Usually not. First identify what is missing. Reimporting can duplicate pages or change settings. If a fresh start is truly necessary, make a backup and test on staging.
Do I need Elementor to make the homepage match the demo?
Not necessarily. Many themes use WordPress’s Site Editor or Customizer and do not require Elementor. Only install a builder if the theme’s documented design workflow calls for it. Our article on when you actually need Elementor explains the difference.
Will changing themes preserve imported demo pages?
WordPress pages and posts often remain, but theme-specific templates, navigation assignments, widget areas and companion features may not transfer cleanly. Before switching, consult the theme requirements and our WordPress theme selection checklist.
The short version
If a WordPress demo import finishes but the homepage still looks wrong, check the homepage assignment first. Then confirm the imported content, active theme and plugins, importer status, template, menu and images. Only after those checks should you investigate caches or broken files. A targeted fix is usually safer than repeatedly starting over.
Official sources: WordPress Reading Settings, Site Editor, and Appearance Menus.