WPConvert Editor Guide

Step-by-step guide to the WPConvert Editor — front-end editing for converted themes, editable regions, roles, and how saved content is stored.

The WPConvert Editor lets you change content on converted WordPress themes from the front end — without Elementor, without rebuilding layouts, and without editing PHP templates for everyday copy updates.

Every WPConvert theme includes the editor bundled in the theme at inc/wpconvert-editor.php. You do not install a separate plugin for basic editing. After you activate the theme, log into WordPress and open your live site to start editing.

This guide is the canonical reference for how the editor works, what you can edit, and how to hand off editing to clients.

How the WPConvert Editor works

During conversion, WPConvert marks content regions in your theme HTML with stable attributes:

• data-wpc-id — unique ID for each editable region
• data-wpc-editable — element type (heading, text, image, button, link, list, section, video, and more)

When a visitor loads a page, the theme outputs normal HTML. If you are logged in and enter edit mode, the editor:

1. Captures the HTML via an output buffer
2. Loads saved edits from the WordPress database (wpconvert_edits option)
3. Applies overrides via pattern replacement so saved text, URLs, images, and visibility replace the original content in the right places

Layout files stay untouched. PHP templates and CSS are not rewritten for content changes. Only the rendered output is overridden at render time — so spacing, breakpoints, and nesting stay intact.

Open the editor

1. Install and activate your converted WPConvert theme (Appearance → Themes → Upload Theme).
2. Log in to WordPress as an Administrator or Editor.
3. Visit your live site (front page or any converted page).
4. Click Edit Content in the admin bar (Pro/Agency themes) or WPConvert Editor (Starter themes).

In edit mode, editable elements show a blue dashed outline on hover. Click any highlighted region to open the toolbar or popover for that element type.

Do not use Pages → Edit for converted content

The WordPress block editor and Pages → Edit do not show WPConvert editable regions. Saved edits are applied when visitors load the page through your theme templates.

Converted pages relabel the admin bar button to Page Settings — it opens the normal WordPress screen for title, URL, template, and SEO fields. That screen includes a notice linking back to the front-end editor for the page you were viewing.

Pages you create yourself in WordPress (not from conversion) keep the standard Edit Page button because the block editor is the right tool for those.

What you can edit

All plans

Pro, Agency, and PAYG (editor PRO features)

Edits save via AJAX to the WordPress database. Layout and styling stay the same.

Roles and permissions

By default, Administrators and Editors can open the front-end editor.

Site administrators can enable or disable other roles under:

• Content Editor (Pro/Agency) → Who can use the front-end editor?
• WPConvert (Starter) → Who can use the front-end editor?

Administrator is always enabled. Editor is on by default. Saving updates WordPress capabilities immediately — no theme file edits required.

Editors can change existing content without access to theme files or Appearance settings.

White-label labels (Pro and Agency)

Pro and Agency themes use neutral labels automatically:

• Admin bar: Edit Content
• wp-admin menu: Content Editor
• No WPConvert branding in normal client workflows

Starter themes show WPConvert Editor in the admin bar.

To pick up the latest white-label labels on an existing theme, replace inc/wpconvert-editor.php with the latest version or re-convert.

Works with CPT and WooCommerce content

The editor and the WPConvert CPT plugin are designed to work together:

• Static page content (headings, paragraphs, images outside CPT loops) — editable via the front-end editor
• CPT card grids (rooms, services, team cards) — managed from wp-admin via the CPT plugin guide
• WooCommerce products — managed from Products in wp-admin via the WooCommerce import guide

CPT field values are stored as post meta and rendered via the loop swap. They are not edited through the front-end editor.

Troubleshooting

Hover outlines appear but clicks do nothing

Usually a JavaScript error earlier in the page stops the editor script from running. Check the browser console for syntax errors in inline scripts from the original site export. Re-converting with the latest WPConvert build often resolves this — the pipeline wraps risky inline scripts to prevent one failure from killing the editor.

Footer links or nav CTAs not editable

Footer links inside <footer><nav> and some CTA buttons need data-wpc-editable="link" markers from conversion. Re-convert with the latest build if links in those regions are missing badges.

Changes revert after reload

Confirm you clicked Save in the editor popover. If a specific button reverts while others save, the element may be inside a region the editor treats as a section background — click the button itself, not the surrounding hero area.

Editor updates after a fix

The editor ships inside your theme. For editor-only fixes without a full re-conversion, replace inc/wpconvert-editor.php in your active theme with the latest version from a fresh WPConvert export.

Step-by-step: first edit after conversion

1. Convert your AI-built site with WPConvert and download the theme ZIP.
2. Install the theme in WordPress and activate it.
3. Log in and visit your homepage.
4. Click Edit Content (or WPConvert Editor on Starter).
5. Click a heading, update the text, and save.
6. Exit edit mode and reload — your change should persist.
7. Hand off to clients: create an Editor role user and point them to the front-end editor, not Pages → Edit.

For a visual walkthrough, see Edit My Theme in the dashboard.