With the release of The Events Calendar 6.14.0, the Category Colors plugin is now integrated directly into the core plugin. This guide will help you migrate your existing settings from the standalone Category Colors plugin to the new built-in system.
👋 Heads up: With this upcoming migration, you’ll see significant changes to the User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI). This applies to both the frontend and backend. We wanted to let you know beforehand so you’re not surprised when you migrate!
You can preview the new functionality in this article.
This is a one-time, irreversible migration. Your existing settings will be preserved during the process.
Before You Begin
Make sure you meet the following requirements:
- You are using The Events Calendar version 6.11.0.1 or higher
- The Category Colors plugin is installed and active
- You have Administrator access to your WordPress site
- We strongly recommend creating a full site backup before proceeding
How the Migration Works
Once you update to the latest version of The Events Calendar, the plugin will:
- Detect if the standalone Category Colors plugin is active
- Prompt you to migrate your data via an admin notice
- Automatically transfer your color settings and category priorities into the new system
- Deactivate the old plugin once migration is complete
Step-by-Step Migration
1. Update The Events Calendar
Make sure you’re running the latest version of The Events Calendar from your WordPress Plugins page.
2. Watch for the Migration Prompt
If the plugin detects the legacy Category Colors plugin, you’ll see an admin notice:
“We’ve detected you’re using the Category Colors plugin. This functionality is now included in The Events Calendar! To continue using category colors, migrate your settings.”
Click Start Category Colors Migration to begin.
3. The Plugin Performs Pre-Migration Checks
Before migrating, the plugin will:
- Check that your existing color data is valid
- Ensure the new system hasn’t already been set up
- Verify your permissions
If everything checks out, the migration will proceed.
4. Category Data is Migrated
Your existing settings—including primary, background, and text colors, along with category priority—will be transferred to the new taxonomy meta storage. A custom CSS file will be generated automatically.
5. Migration Complete
After migration:
- You’ll see a success message
- The legacy Category Colors plugin will be automatically deactivated
- You’ll be redirected to Events → Event Categories, where you can manage your category colors going forward
Where to Manage Category Colors Now
After migration, go to: Events → Event Categories where you can:
- Set or update your Primary, Background, and Font colors
- Adjust Category Priority
- Use the Quick Edit option to update colors more efficiently
Troubleshooting & Rollback
If migration fails, the system rolls back and restores the original settings, allowing you to retry.
Sometimes, even after an hour of waiting, the migration might not be finished. If this occurs, you must take the following actions to complete the migration:
- Back up your site, files, and database.
- Download The Events Calendar 6.13.0 from this page: https://wordpress.org/plugins/the-events-calendar/advanced/
- Install and activate The Events Calendar 6.13.0.
- Activate the Legacy Category Colors plugin.
- Open its settings page and simply make a minor change; this refreshes legacy settings and ensures they’re recognized.
- Then, update The Events Calendar to the latest version.
- Click the migrate button to run the migration again, allow it to complete, then refresh and verify success.
This method effectively resets the migration workflow and resolves the issue.
Check your site’s error logs or reach out to our Support Team if issues persist.
Frequently Asked Question
Will I lose my current color settings?
No. All existing settings are migrated and preserved.
Can I continue using the old plugin?
No. The old Category Colors plugin will be deactivated after migration.
What happens if I skip the migration?
You won’t be able to manage category colors until the migration is completed.
My category isn’t showing on the filter?
If a category isn’t showing on the filter, this could be due to the category not having a Primary color set. Please follow our guide here on editing the categories, and make sure that a Primary color is set.