Unable to customize existing theme or 'live preview' new themes.

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  trevorcoultart · Member · May 23, 2013 at 7:05 pm

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  Hello, over the last couple of days I’ve been trying to set up a new blog (in addityion to several I already run on wordpress.com) but have been running into a problem with Theme customization. When I select ‘customize’ from the menu, I get a plain white page with a “Loading Design tools” sidebar on the right hand side, but it never moves on from this.

  I have tried in Safari and Chrome on a mac, and Chrome – and even Internet Explorer (sorry!) on a PC, with the same results each time.

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  staff-blorbo · Staff · May 23, 2013 at 7:07 pm

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  Please make sure that you have third-party cookies enabled: http://en.support.wordpress.com/third-party-cookies/

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  trevorcoultart · Member · May 23, 2013 at 7:22 pm

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  Just checked, yep, third party cookies enabled. Have never had problems changing/customising themes before, though it’s not something I do too often, preferring to keep a consistent look.

  Has the system changed?

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  staff-blorbo · Staff · May 23, 2013 at 8:04 pm

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  It’s changed a bit, but not the extent you’re describing. :)

  Let’s try some general browser troubleshooting.

  First, please make sure that your browser is up to date by visiting http://whatbrowser.org/

  If it is not, please try updating your browser or switching to a different browser.

  If it is, please do these three things:

  1. Try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies: http://en.support.wordpress.com/browser-issues/

  2. Try with all browser extensions or add-ons temporarily disabled.

  3. Try enabling HTTPS: http://en.support.wordpress.com/https/

  Please let us know how each step goes for you, and which browser (and version of) you’re using if you’re still having trouble.

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  trevorcoultart · Member · May 23, 2013 at 8:37 pm

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  Thanks for the suggestions, I’ve worked through them all (in both Safari and Chrome on my Mac) to no avail.

  To clarify, this is the page I’m trying to access: https://trevorscomfortzone.wordpress.com/wp-admin/customize.php

  Before yesterday, I’d never seen the black bar down the side with “loading design tools”. Now it’s all I see. =[

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  staff-blorbo · Staff · May 23, 2013 at 8:40 pm

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  Ah, I see the problem, and you’re all fixed up now.

  You had selected to use a static from page, the former Welcome page, but then deleted the page, so the poor customizer was confused. I just removed the static front page choice.

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  trevorcoultart · Member · May 23, 2013 at 9:07 pm

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  Ah, I see. I think. Probably a result of re-using an old dormant blog, renaming it and deleting all the content, rather than simply making a new one.

  Many, many thanks for your help. I think this is the first time I’ve needed WordPress support since I set up here about six years ago; what a great first experience!

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  staff-blorbo · Staff · May 23, 2013 at 9:09 pm

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  You’re welcome!