# FAQ and Troubleshooting

Common questions and solutions for Plain Jane Starter. If you can't find your answer here, contact support at **<info@openspaces.design>**.

## 📦 Installation & Setup

### Q: Why won't my theme file upload?

**A: Upload issues are usually caused by:**

* **File size too large** (over 50MB) - Contact support for alternative
* **Corrupted zip file** - Re-download and try again
* **Browser issues** - Try different browser or clear cache
* **Wrong file format** - Ensure you have the .zip file, not extracted folder

### Q: Theme looks broken after installation

**A: Try these solutions:**

1. **Clear browser cache** - Hard refresh (Ctrl+F5 or Cmd+Shift+R)
2. **Check if published** - Make sure theme is set as live
3. **Test incognito mode** - Rules out browser-specific issues
4. **Wait 5-10 minutes** - CDN might need time to update

### Q: Some features from the description are missing

**A: Remember Plain Jane Starter has limited features:**

* Check [Theme Features and Limitations](/plain-jane-starter/getting-started/theme-features-and-limitations.md)
* Many features require upgrading to full versions
* Use [Limitations Overview](/plain-jane-starter/limitations.md) to understand what's included

### Q: Can I preview before making live?

**A: Yes, always preview first:**

1. Upload theme (don't publish yet)
2. Click "Actions" → "Preview"
3. Test all essential pages
4. Only publish after thorough testing

## 🎨 Design & Customization

### Q: How do I change colors throughout the site?

**A: Colors are managed per section:**

* **No global color system** in Starter version
* Configure colors in each theme setting section
* Check [Theme Settings](/plain-jane-starter/theme-settings.md) for all options
* For global color control, consider upgrading to full Plain Jane

### Q: Why can't I find certain customization options?

**A: Starter has intentionally limited options:**

* Missing: Animation controls, cursor settings, music player
* Missing: Advanced typography, cart drawer, global menus
* Available: Basic typography, footer, announcement bar, shop layout
* See [complete comparison](/plain-jane-starter/limitations.md#comparison-table)

### Q: Fonts aren't loading properly

**A: Font loading issues:**

1. **Clear browser cache** - Font files might be cached
2. **Check font selection** - Ensure you've saved changes
3. **Test different fonts** - Some fonts load slower
4. **Mobile testing** - Fonts may appear different on mobile

### Q: How do I add my logo?

**A: Logo upload locations:**

1. **Main logo**: Theme Settings → Shop Logo
2. **Footer logo**: Theme Settings → Footer Settings
3. **File requirements**: PNG, JPG, or SVG recommended
4. **Size optimization**: Resize before uploading for best performance

## 🛒 Store Functionality

### Q: Shopping cart isn't working

**A: Cart functionality troubleshooting:**

1. **Check Shopify settings** - Ensure checkout is enabled
2. **Test with real products** - Not draft products
3. **Clear browser data** - Cookies might be corrupted
4. **Try different browser** - Rule out browser-specific issues
5. **Check product inventory** - Ensure products are in stock

### Q: Search isn't finding products

**A: Search functionality fixes:**

1. **Wait for indexing** - New products need time to index
2. **Check product titles** - Search matches titles and descriptions
3. **Verify product status** - Products must be active and available
4. **Test exact product names** - Try searching for known products

### Q: Password protection not working

**A: Password page troubleshooting:**

1. **Check Shopify settings** - Enable password protection in Settings → General
2. **Verify password** - Ensure you're using correct store password
3. **Clear cache** - Browser might cache old version
4. **Test in incognito** - Rules out cookie issues

### Q: Mobile site looks different than desktop

**A: This is normal for responsive design:**

* **Different layouts** - Mobile uses fewer columns
* **Font sizes adjust** - Text scales for readability
* **Navigation changes** - Mobile gets simplified menu
* **Test on real devices** - Browser testing isn't always accurate

## 📧 Email & Forms

### Q: Email signup forms aren't working

**A: Email form troubleshooting:**

1. **Connect email service** - Link Shopify to email provider (Klaviyo, Mailchimp)
2. **Check form settings** - Verify forms are enabled in theme settings
3. **Test with real email** - Use actual email address
4. **Check spam folder** - Confirmation emails might be filtered

### Q: Contact form not sending emails

**A: Contact form issues:**

1. **Shopify notification settings** - Check Settings → Notifications
2. **Form field validation** - Ensure all required fields completed
3. **Email address format** - Must be valid email format
4. **Spam filters** - Check admin email spam folder

## 🔧 Technical Issues

### Q: Site loading slowly

**A: Performance optimization:**

1. **Optimize images** - Compress before uploading
2. **Limit apps** - Too many apps slow down site
3. **Check file sizes** - Large files affect loading
4. **Use Shopify's image optimization** - Enable in settings

### Q: Changes aren't showing up

**A: Update troubleshooting:**

1. **Save changes** - Ensure you clicked "Save" in customizer
2. **Clear cache** - Browser cache might show old version
3. **Wait a few minutes** - CDN updates take time
4. **Check correct theme** - Ensure editing the published theme

### Q: Getting error messages

**A: Common error solutions:**

1. **"Liquid error"** - Contact support with exact error message
2. **"Page not found"** - Check page URL and ensure page exists
3. **"Out of stock"** - Check product inventory settings
4. **"Invalid checkout"** - Verify Shopify checkout settings

### Q: Third-party apps not working

**A: App compatibility:**

* **Check app requirements** - Some apps need specific theme features
* **Contact app support** - Theme integration issues vary by app
* **Test with default theme** - Isolate if it's theme or app issue
* **Consider alternatives** - Some apps work better with Starter

## 🔄 Migration & Upgrades

### Q: How do I upgrade to full Plain Jane?

**A: Upgrade process:**

1. **Contact OPENSPACES** - Get upgrade instructions
2. **Backup current theme** - Download theme file
3. **Document customizations** - Screenshot settings
4. **Plan migration time** - Avoid peak business hours

### Q: Will I lose my content when upgrading?

**A: Content is preserved:**

* ✅ **Keep**: Products, collections, customers, orders
* ✅ **Keep**: Pages, blog posts, navigation menus
* ⚠️ **May need reconfiguration**: Theme settings, custom code
* ⚠️ **May need updates**: App integrations, custom styling

### Q: Can I go back to Starter after upgrading?

**A: Yes, but with considerations:**

* **Keep theme file** - Save Starter theme as backup
* **Settings reset** - Will need to reconfigure
* **Feature loss** - Content using advanced features may break
* **Testing required** - Thoroughly test after reverting

## 📱 Mobile & Responsive

### Q: Mobile menu not working

**A: Mobile navigation fixes:**

1. **Clear mobile cache** - Force refresh on mobile
2. **Test different mobile browsers** - Safari vs Chrome vs Firefox
3. **Check touch targets** - Ensure menu items are tappable
4. **JavaScript enabled** - Mobile menu requires JavaScript

### Q: Mobile layout looks wrong

**A: Mobile layout troubleshooting:**

1. **Check mobile settings** - Verify mobile column configuration
2. **Image sizing** - Large images might break layout
3. **Text scaling** - Some text might be too large/small
4. **Test real devices** - Simulator isn't always accurate

## 🔍 SEO & Analytics

### Q: Site not showing up in Google

**A: SEO checklist:**

1. **Remove password protection** - Can't index password-protected sites
2. **Submit sitemap** - Use Google Search Console
3. **Check robots.txt** - Ensure search engines can crawl
4. **Add meta descriptions** - Use SEO settings in theme
5. **Wait for indexing** - Can take days or weeks

### Q: Analytics not tracking

**A: Analytics troubleshooting:**

1. **Google Analytics setup** - Add tracking code in Shopify settings
2. **Privacy settings** - Check cookie consent settings
3. **Ad blockers** - May block tracking scripts
4. **Wait for data** - Analytics may take 24-48 hours to show data

## 🆘 Getting Help

### When to Contact Support

* **Installation failures** after trying troubleshooting steps
* **Liquid error messages** (include exact error text)
* **Features not working** that should be included in Starter
* **Upgrade questions** and migration planning

### How to Get Better Support

1. **Include details**: Theme version, browser, device
2. **Describe steps**: What you did before the issue occurred
3. **Share screenshots**: Visual issues need visual context
4. **Test first**: Try basic troubleshooting before contacting
5. **Be specific**: "Contact form broken" vs "Red error message when submitting contact form"

### Support Resources

* **Documentation**: This guide and [Getting Started](/plain-jane-starter/getting-started.md)
* **Theme Settings Guide**: [Complete settings reference](/plain-jane-starter/theme-settings.md)
* **Email Support**: <info@openspaces.design>
* **Shopify Support**: For Shopify platform issues

### Common Misunderstandings

**"This feature is missing"** → Check [Limitations Overview](/plain-jane-starter/limitations.md) - many features require upgrading

**"Theme is broken"** → Usually browser cache or settings issue - try troubleshooting steps first

**"App doesn't work"** → Contact app developer - theme can't control third-party app functionality

**"Mobile looks different"** → This is responsive design working correctly - different layouts for different screen sizes

## 🔧 Quick Fixes Checklist

Before contacting support, try these:

### For Display Issues:

* [ ] Clear browser cache (Ctrl+F5 / Cmd+Shift+R)
* [ ] Test in incognito/private mode
* [ ] Try different browser
* [ ] Wait 10 minutes (CDN updates)
* [ ] Check if theme is published

### For Form Issues:

* [ ] Check Shopify notification settings
* [ ] Verify email addresses are valid
* [ ] Test with different email
* [ ] Check spam folders
* [ ] Ensure required fields are filled

### For Mobile Issues:

* [ ] Test on actual mobile device
* [ ] Clear mobile browser cache
* [ ] Try different mobile browser
* [ ] Check mobile column settings
* [ ] Verify touch targets work

### For Performance Issues:

* [ ] Optimize image sizes
* [ ] Check number of installed apps
* [ ] Test with minimal browser extensions
* [ ] Use browser developer tools to check errors

***

**Still need help?** Contact **<info@openspaces.design>** with:

* Detailed description of the issue
* Screenshots or error messages
* Browser and device information
* Steps you've already tried

***

## Need Help?

💬 **Join our community on Discord:** <https://discord.gg/hcc2GvgZc6>

📧 **Email us at:** <support@openspaces.design>

💻 **Live chat with us:** Available Monday–Friday, 10AM–6PM EST, directly on our website


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