---
title: "Install Virtue Premium and Upgrade from Free"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/software/kadence/install-virtue-premium-and-upgrade-from-free/"
description: " Login to your WordPress admin and go to Appearance >> Themes. Step 1- Select the Add New tab at the top, then click Upload Theme. Step 2- After you click the U…"
vertical: "Software"
area: "Kadence"
date: "2021-07-14"
last_modified: "2026-07-06"
---

# Install Virtue Premium and Upgrade from Free

#####  Login to your WordPress admin and go to Appearance >> Themes.

**Step 1-** Select the Add New tab at the top, then click Upload Theme.

**Step 2-** After you click the Upload link, a new page will open where you will be asked to find the .zip file you downloaded after purchasing.

**Step 3-** Select that file and click Install Now.

**Step 4-** Once it’s finished uploading, activate the Virtue Premium theme.

![](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/activateascend-min-1.jpg)> \*Safari users please note – safari automatically will unzip the file you download from Kadence Themes. You need to re-zip that file by simply right clicking on the file and in the popup menu click compress.

> \*NOTE if you get this error while trying to update:  
> “The uploaded file exceeds the upload\_max\_filesize directive in php.ini”  
> It means your server is limiting your upload size to less than 8mb. Contact your hosting server and have them increase your php max upload size to 8mb or larger.

### Upgrading – Free to Premium

##### First, you need to copy your theme options from the free version.

- **Step 1** – Click on the Theme Options link under Appearance in the WordPress admin panel.
- **Step 2** – Click on the Import/Export tab of the Theme Options.
- **Step 3** – Under the Export section click the “copy” button and select all the code in the drop down and copy it.

##### Install Premium and import theme options into Premium

- **Step 1** – Install Virtue Premium (follow instructions above).
- **Step 2** – Navigate to the Theme Options > Import/Export tab.
- **Step 3** – Under the Import section click the “import from file” button and paste the copied code into the drop-down box. Then click Import.

##### Update your Menu Location Assignments

- **Step 1** – Navigate to Appearance > Menus.
- **Step 2** – Choose a menu and assign it to the appropriate location in the theme.

![Menu Assignment](https://docs.nexcess.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/menuspage.png)##### Update your Widget Assignments

- **Step 1** – Navigate to Appearance > Widgets.
- **Step 2** – Click and drag each widget back to the desired location (when switching themes widgets may switch widget areas or be placed in the “inactive” widget area).