Use an image up to 1200 × 900 pixels for a WordPress theme-directory screenshot. WordPress treats 1200 × 900 as a maximum, not a mandatory canvas size. A 1200 × 900 PNG is the documented reference example, but a smaller image is valid if it accurately previews your child theme.
Save the file in the child theme’s own directory (the directory containing its style.css). Name it screenshot.png; WordPress also recognizes GIF and JPEG screenshot extensions. A child theme does not inherit its parent theme’s screenshot, so provide a separate file when you want a preview shown for the child theme.
The accepted size: 1200 × 900 pixels maximum
The WordPress Theme Handbook says a theme screenshot “must not be bigger than 1200 x 900px.” That wording defines an upper limit for the visual preview used in the WordPress.org Theme Directory. It does not establish a required minimum width, minimum height, or a child-theme-only aspect ratio.
The practical choices are:
| Choice | What it means | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 1200 × 900 px | The documented reference dimensions and the largest permitted canvas. | Use when you want a full-size preview with room to show the layout. |
| Smaller than 1200 × 900 px | Allowed because the rule is a maximum, not an exact-size requirement. | Use when your source artwork is smaller or you need a lighter file. |
| Larger than 1200 × 900 px | Exceeds the Theme Directory limit. | Resize or crop before packaging the theme. |
The Theme Handbook’s block-theme structure example labels screenshot.png as a 1200 × 900 screenshot. Treat that as a reference size, while the Theme Directory wording remains the acceptance limit. See the Required Theme Files documentation and Theme Structure documentation.
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Where a child-theme screenshot belongs
Put the image directly in the child theme’s stylesheet directory—the same folder that contains the child theme’s style.css. In a typical installation, the path looks like this:
wp-content/themes/my-child-theme/screenshot.pngUse the conventional filename screenshot.png. WordPress core also recognizes screenshot files with GIF and JPEG extensions. The filename is not a reference to an image in the Media Library; it is a special theme-file convention used when WordPress builds the theme preview. The filename and supported formats are documented in WP_Theme::get_screenshot().
For example, a minimal child-theme folder can be organized as follows:
my-child-theme/
├── style.css
├── functions.php
└── screenshot.pngThe parent theme may have its own screenshot.png, but WordPress does not copy that image into the child theme’s metadata. If the child theme should have a preview, include the image in the child folder itself. The child-theme relationship and file separation are described in the Child Themes Handbook.
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How to create the file correctly
1. Capture or design a representative view
Show the parts of the child theme that a person needs to recognize: its typography, colors, templates, header, navigation, content layout, and any major customizations. A screenshot is a visual indicator in the Theme Directory, not a substitute for a theme demo or documentation.
2. Set the canvas to no more than 1200 × 900
If your editor asks for a fixed canvas, 1200 × 900 is the safe upper-bound choice. If you are resizing an existing image, preserve its aspect ratio unless cropping is intentional. Do not enlarge a tiny source merely to reach 1200 × 900; enlargement can make text and interface details look soft.
3. Export as PNG, GIF, or JPEG
PNG is a practical default for interface screenshots and text because it preserves sharp edges. JPEG can produce a smaller file for photographic previews, while GIF is recognized by WordPress but is usually less suitable for a detailed modern interface. The official reference establishes the recognized extensions, not a required compression setting or file-size limit.
4. Copy it beside the child stylesheet
Place the finished file in the child theme’s root directory, not in wp-content/uploads, a parent-theme folder, or a nested assets directory. Keep the name lowercase and conventional: screenshot.png.
5. Install and inspect the theme preview
- Compress the complete child-theme directory as a ZIP if you are installing it through the dashboard.
- In WordPress, open Appearance → Themes → Add New → Upload Theme, choose the ZIP, install it, and return to the Themes screen.
- Check the card or details view for the child-theme preview. If it is missing, verify the path, filename, extension, and ZIP nesting.
When uploading by FTP or a hosting file manager, the same rule applies: the image must be in the child theme’s own directory on the server.
What the 1200 × 900 rule does not mean
It is not a featured-image setting
WordPress content images use separate Media Library and post-thumbnail sizes such as Thumbnail, Medium, Medium Large, and Large. Those settings do not define the Theme Directory screenshot limit. The Featured Images & Post Thumbnails reference covers that different system.
It is not a child-theme aspect-ratio mandate
Official documentation does not specify a special ratio for child themes. The general screenshot guidance applies to the child preview. You may choose a smaller canvas or a different ratio that remains within the maximum, but an unusual shape can leave less useful space in a theme card.
It is not a requirement to duplicate the parent screenshot
A child theme extends a parent theme, but its preview file is independent. Reusing the parent image is a design decision, not inheritance behavior. If the child changes colors, templates, spacing, or branding, a child-specific image is clearer.
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Common problems and fixes
The screenshot does not appear
- Wrong directory: Move the file into the child theme folder beside
style.css. - Wrong filename: Rename it to
screenshot.png(or use a recognized GIF/JPEG extension). - Nested ZIP: Ensure the ZIP opens directly to the theme folder, rather than
my-child-theme/my-child-theme/screenshot.png. - Stale admin view: Reload the Themes screen after replacing the file; browser or server caching can delay what you see.
The preview is rejected or looks wrong
- Check both pixel dimensions; neither dimension should exceed the 1200 × 900 limit.
- Open the exported file in an image viewer to confirm it is not corrupted and has the extension its contents claim.
- Use enough contrast and large enough type for a reduced theme-card display.
The child preview still shows the parent design
Confirm that the child folder contains its own screenshot and that you are viewing the child theme’s card, not the parent’s. WordPress does not inherit the parent screenshot.
Capturing a clean preview from a live site
You can capture the page yourself with a browser, crop it to the chosen dimensions, and save it in the child theme folder. For automated captures, ScreenshotNeo returns PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF from one GET request. It can accept consent banners before capture and remove more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be disabled. Its options include full-page capture with lazy images loaded, CSS-selector element capture, device and viewport settings, retina scale, custom CSS and JavaScript, click and wait conditions, request blocking, headers and cookies, timezone and geolocation, transparent backgrounds, resizing, caching, signed links, asynchronous jobs, bulk capture of up to 100 URLs per call, usage reporting, and an OpenAPI specification.
Only clean shots are billed. Bot checks or CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and the response identifies the page verdict and billing status in X-Page-Verdict and X-Billed headers.
Or skip the browser setup
Use the ScreenshotNeo API to capture a theme demo URL, then resize or crop the returned image to a canvas no larger than 1200 × 900 before saving it as screenshot.png. The complete parameter reference is in the ScreenshotNeo documentation.
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpPython
import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);Replace the example URL with your public theme-demo URL. ScreenshotNeo also provides an MCP server with take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients, so an AI agent can perform the capture. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots, and every feature is available on every plan. Sign up for the free ScreenshotNeo plan.
Practical quality and maintenance checklist
- Dimensions are at or below 1200 × 900 pixels.
- The image shows the current child-theme design, not an unrelated parent or placeholder.
- The file is in the child theme’s root directory beside
style.css. - The name and extension are recognized by WordPress.
- Text and key interface details remain legible when the image is displayed as a small theme card.
- Update the screenshot whenever a major visual change makes the existing preview misleading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does WordPress require a minimum child-theme screenshot size?
The cited Theme Handbook guidance specifies a maximum of 1200 × 900 pixels, not a minimum dimension. Choose a size that remains clear in the Theme Directory preview.
Can I use a WebP child-theme screenshot?
The WP_Theme::get_screenshot() reference lists PNG, GIF, and JPEG extensions. Use one of those documented formats for the theme screenshot.
Can the screenshot be stored in the parent theme?
For a child-theme preview, place the file in the child theme’s own directory. The parent screenshot is not inherited.
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