Title: Installing Storefront – getting Syntax Error
Last modified: August 31, 2016

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# Installing Storefront – getting Syntax Error

 *  [rebeccaschiffman](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rebeccaschiffman/)
 * (@rebeccaschiffman)
 * [10 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/installing-storefront-getting-syntax-error/)
 * I’m trying to use the Storefront Theme. My only plugin is Woocommerce. When I
   activated the theme I got a blank page. Turned on the Debug script and I’m getting
   this:
 * Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_FUNCTION in /home2/fayette3/public_html/
   wpsite/wp-content/themes/storefront3/inc/customizer/class-storefront-customizer.
   php on line 74
 * Is there something wrong with the theme files? Anyone know what I should do?
 * P.S. I’m not savvy with this stuff. I’m writing this after lots of troubleshooting
   just to get out of the blank page trap and to turn on debug. So any replies please
   assume I do not know how to code. Thank you!

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  Thread Starter [rebeccaschiffman](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rebeccaschiffman/)
 * (@rebeccaschiffman)
 * [10 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/installing-storefront-getting-syntax-error/#post-7377935)
 * Also, I just tried changing my PHP version with Bluehost, first to 5.4, then 
   5.6, nothing changed. I’m not totally sure I did that right though.
 *  [Suyogya Shukla](https://wordpress.org/support/users/themeislesupport/)
 * (@themeislesupport)
 * [10 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/installing-storefront-getting-syntax-error/#post-7377938)
 * Hi Rebecca,
 * Looks like a recent update to the theme broke something. And you’re not the only
   one, since someone else reported this issue [here](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/parse-error-syntax-error-unexpected-t_function-22?replies=11).
   Can you try downgrading to a previous version of theme and see if it works? You
   can find the older versions [here.](https://github.com/woothemes/storefront/releases)
   Other than that, please check your PHP version and ask your host to update it
   to version 6 if it isn’t already running that.
 * Hope it helps.
 * Best Regards,
    Suyogya (Themeisle Support)
 *  [James Koster](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jameskoster/)
 * (@jameskoster)
 * [10 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/installing-storefront-getting-syntax-error/#post-7378089)
 * Hey there,
 * Sorry for the trouble you’re having here.
 * The line of code referenced in your error includes the `use` keyword which was
   introduced in php version 5.3. So I’m guessing your update hasn’t gone through.
   Try contacting your host if you’re unable to update the version yourself.
 * Cheers
 *  [crabsandwich](https://wordpress.org/support/users/crabsandwich/)
 * (@crabsandwich)
 * [9 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/installing-storefront-getting-syntax-error/#post-8416402)
 * Hi, i am sure you have fixed it now but for reference to others who might end
   up here,
 * I had a similar problem to this and eventually figured out that my php was not
   updated despite changing it in my control panel. It turns out i needed to update
   the htaccess file
 * I had to define the version of php by adding in this and it solved my problem
 * > # Use system PHP5 as default
   >  AddType x-httpd-php56 .php
 * The only problem i can foresee in the future is having to update this manually
   in the future, fortunately it is only on my dev site!
 * I am a relative newbie to the wordpress backend so apologies to any seasoned 
   WP devs if this is a bad solution. If it is please let me know why, i would be
   happy to listen.
 * Alex

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Installing Storefront – getting Syntax Error’ is closed to new replies.

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## Tags

 * [parse-error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/parse-error/)
 * [syntax error](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/syntax-error/)

 * 4 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [crabsandwich](https://wordpress.org/support/users/crabsandwich/)
 * Last activity: [9 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/installing-storefront-getting-syntax-error/#post-8416402)
 * Status: not resolved