How to Install Thrive Theme Builder on a Multi-Site Setup

In this article, you’ll learn how to install and use Thrive Theme Builder on a WordPress multi-site network, including activation options and important considerations.

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Prerequisites

Before installing Thrive Theme Builder on a multi-site setup, make sure you have:

• A WordPress multi-site network already configured (either subdirectory or subdomain setup).
• Super Admin access to the network.
• An active Thrive Suite or Thrive Theme Builder license.
• The Thrive Product Manager plugin installed and activated on the network.

Installing Thrive Theme Builder on a Multi-Site Network

Step 1: Install the Thrive Product Manager

1. Log in to the Network Admin dashboard (the main admin area of your multi-site network).
2. Go to Plugins > Add New.
3. Upload and install the Thrive Product Manager plugin.
4. Network Activate the plugin so it’s available on all sites in the network.

Step 2: Install Thrive Theme Builder

1. Go to any individual site in the network where you want to use Thrive Theme Builder.
2. In that site’s WordPress admin, go to Thrive Product Manager.
3. Log in with your Thrive Themes account credentials.
4. Select Thrive Theme Builder from the list of available products.
5. Click Install and then Activate.

Step 3: Activate the Theme

1. After installation, go to Appearance > Themes on the individual site.
2. Activate the Thrive Theme Builder theme.
3. Run the Site Wizard to set up the theme for this specific site.

Activation Options

There are two approaches to activating Thrive Theme Builder across a multi-site network:

Option 1: Per-Site Activation

• Install and activate Thrive Theme Builder on each individual site where you need it.
• Each site has its own independent theme settings, templates, and design.
• This is the recommended approach because it gives you full control over which sites use TTB.

Option 2: Network-Wide Theme Availability

• As a Super Admin, go to Network Admin > Themes.
• Enable the Thrive Theme Builder theme for the entire network.
• Individual site admins can then activate it on their sites from Appearance > Themes.
• The theme is available network-wide, but each site still needs to activate and configure it independently.

Note: Even with network-wide availability, each site maintains its own theme configuration, templates, skins, and branding. Sites do not share design settings.

Important Considerations

License Requirements

• Your Thrive Suite or Thrive Theme Builder license determines how many sites you can activate the product on.
• Each site in the multi-site network counts as one site activation.
• Check your license tier to make sure you have enough activations for the number of sites you plan to use.

Plugin Management

• Some network-only plugins require Super Admin permissions to install or activate. Thrive Theme Builder respects these WordPress multi-site permission rules.
• If a site admin tries to install a network-only plugin through the Thrive Product Manager, they’ll see a permission notice asking them to contact the Super Admin.

Independent Configuration

Each site in the network has its own:

• Theme settings — Branding, logo, favicon, colors, typography.
• Templates — All templates are site-specific. A template created on Site A doesn’t appear on Site B.
• Skins — Design skins are stored per-site.
• Analytics & Scripts — Each site manages its own tracking codes.

Exporting Between Sites

To reuse a design from one site on another site in the network:

1. On the source site, export the Thrive Theme Builder theme (see Importing and Exporting Themes).
2. On the target site, import the exported theme file.
3. Customize the imported theme for the target site’s content.

Troubleshooting

Theme Not Appearing on a Sub-Site

• Make sure the theme is Network Enabled in Network Admin > Themes, or install it directly on the sub-site.
• Verify the Thrive Product Manager is network-activated.

Permission Errors

• Plugin installation and activation on multi-site may require Super Admin permissions. If a site admin encounters a permission error, the Super Admin needs to perform the installation at the network level.

License Activation Issues

• Each sub-site counts as a separate site activation. If you’ve reached your license limit, you’ll need to deactivate the product on another site or upgrade your license.

Best Practices

• Use per-site activation — Activate Thrive Theme Builder only on the sites that need it, rather than network-wide, to keep your license activations under control.
• Configure each site independently — Even if multiple sites share a similar design, set up each site’s theme settings, branding, and templates independently for the best results.
• Use theme export/import for consistency — If you want multiple sites to share the same design, export the theme from one site and import it on others. This copies the design without creating dependencies between sites.
• Keep plugins updated network-wide — When updating Thrive plugins, update them through the Network Admin to ensure all sites run the same version.

Related Resources

• Installing and Activating Thrive Theme Builder: Learn about standard installation.
• Importing and Exporting Themes: Learn how to move designs between sites.
• Getting Started with Thrive Theme Builder: Learn how to set up your site.