Short answer: your site keeps working. Here are the details, question by question.
Will my site break when my license expires?
No. Your site, your content and your settings stay exactly as they are, and the theme and the plugins you’ve already installed keep running. What stops are the extras that come with an active license, listed below.
What does an active license give me?
While your license is active, you get:
- automatic theme updates in your dashboard
- one-click install and update of the bundled premium plugins
- demo import
- support
How long does my license last?
Most licenses are free keys created from a ThemeForest purchase code at dan-fisher.dev/migrate/. Each key is valid for the remaining ThemeForest support period plus 3 months. That means at least 3 months, even if your support period has already ended.
If you bought your license directly on dan-fisher.dev, see the question about direct purchases below.
Do I still get new versions after it expires?
If you bought on ThemeForest, yes. A ThemeForest purchase is a lifetime right to use the theme. Every new version of the theme and the bundled plugins stays free on your ThemeForest Downloads page. What you lose is the convenience (automatic updates, one-click plugin installs, demo import) and support, not access to the files.
How do I update the theme manually?
On your ThemeForest Downloads page, download the latest version. Choose “All files & documentation” if you also need the plugins. Then in your WordPress dashboard:
- Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New.
- Click Upload Theme and choose the theme zip file.
- Click “Replace active with uploaded“.
Your settings and content are kept. Changes made directly in the theme’s files are replaced, so keep custom code in a child theme.
The bundled plugins are in the same download. Update them the same way under Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
I bought directly on dan-fisher.dev. Is it different for me?
A little. Yearly licenses renew automatically, so nothing expires unless you cancel. If you do cancel, your site keeps working after the expiry date, but direct purchases have no ThemeForest downloads, so new versions need an active license. Lifetime licenses never expire.
Will I be reminded before it expires?
Yes. Freemius, our licensing provider, sends automatic emails 30, 7 and 2 days before expiry, and one more a day after. Renewing is optional, so you can ignore them if you don’t need updates through the dashboard.
How much does renewing cost?
If your key came from a ThemeForest purchase code, your first paid year is the full price: $59 a year ($49 for Voelas). It’s the full price because your original key was free.
From the second year, renewal is 40% lower: $35.40 a year ($29.40 for Voelas).
If you’d rather not think about it again, there is a lifetime license. You pay once: $179 ($149 for Voelas).
Depending on your country, VAT or sales tax is added at checkout. If you buy as a business, entering your VAT number at checkout removes the VAT.
How do I renew?
Use the link in the reminder email. You can also sign in at users.freemius.com with the email you used for your license and open Licenses. Signing in for the first time? Use “Forgot password” to set a password.
Where can I read more?
The blog post Migrating from ThemeForest: what expires and what never does covers the same ground in more depth.