themes/reinstall-theme re-downloads and re-applies the official WordPress.org package for the version a theme is already on, repairing files that have been altered or lost without changing the version.
Unlike a rollback, this works on the active theme and needs no force flag — the version does not change, so the files that arrive are the ones the site is already running.
At a glance
| Ability | themes/reinstall-theme |
| Toolset | Updates — toolset/updates |
| Group | Version Targeting › Reinstall |
| Requires | Nothing. The theme must be published on WordPress.org |
| Capability | manage_options and update_themes |
| Safety | Destructive — replaces files on disk. The version does not change |
| Repeatable | Idempotent — safe to re-run |
| Honours | DISALLOW_FILE_MODS |
| Ships in | AcrossAI Abilities Manager 0.0.45 and later |
What survives, and what does not
Customisations are safe only because WordPress stores them outside the theme directory — Customizer settings in options, template edits in the database. Those survive.
A child theme is a separate directory and is not touched at all.
Files edited directly inside this theme’s own folder are exactly what this ability is for, and they will be replaced. That is the point — but if somebody hand-edited the parent theme instead of using a child theme, this undoes it.
Input
| Name | Type | Required | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
stylesheet | string | Yes | The theme directory name, e.g. twentytwentyfive. |
What comes back
| Name | Type | What it is |
|---|---|---|
reinstalled | boolean | Whether the package was applied. |
version | string | The version re-applied — the same one that was installed. |
stylesheet / theme_name | string | The theme as resolved. |
was_active | boolean | Whether this is the live theme. |
error_code | string | version_not_published, not_on_wordpress_org, reinstall_failed and similar. |
blocked_reason | string | Present when DISALLOW_FILE_MODS stopped it. |
Example
Ask your assistant:
Something has mangled my theme’s files — restore them from the original.
{
"ability": "themes/reinstall-theme",
"parameters": {
"stylesheet": "twentytwentyfive"
}
}Worth knowing
- The swap runs behind maintenance mode, and the previous copy is restored automatically if the package fails to apply — WordPress core’s own mechanism, not ours.
- WordPress.org publishes no theme checksum manifest, so unlike plugins there is no way to detect an altered theme first. If you suspect file damage, reinstalling is the direct answer.
- A premium or privately-hosted theme has no official package to re-apply.
- No
confirmflag, matchingcore/reinstall-wp-core: the version does not change.
Related abilities
- Roll Back Theme — change the version instead of re-applying it
- Reinstall Plugin — the plugin equivalent
- List Asset Versions — which versions exist for this theme
Get the plugins:
AcrossAI Abilities Manager · AcrossAI MCP Manager
Browse the rest: Every ability, by category