How-To Install A WordPress Theme On Your Site
So, you’ve chosen the perfect theme with all the bells and whistles you are looking for, and are ready to install it on your new WordPress site, but how do you get started? This how-to guide will show you the step-by-step instructions to successfully installing a WordPress theme through a .zip file or through the WordPress dashboard. Read on!
Locating the WordPress Theme Area in Your Dashboard
The first step to installing a WordPress theme is to navigate to your Dashboard > Appearance > Themes. Once you’ve reached your Theme directory, you will see an Add New button that you will want to click. This will take you to a page where you can choose to either upload your theme file directly, or, you can search for a theme housed in the WordPress theme directory. You are able to sort and filter themes based on the subject, theme features, or the layout (column or grid) you’d like your theme to have.
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Install a WordPress Theme from the Theme Library
WordPress has thousands of free themes (or free basic versions, many require upgrades to be able to use the full features of the theme) available in their library to choose from. If you have not purchased a licensed theme through another source, two commonly known are ThemeForest and CreativeMarket, you can search for free themes relevant to your niche and filter on features and layouts you’d prefer.
Once you’ve located the theme you’d like to install, it’s an easy two click process!
1) Click the Install button on the theme
2) Click the Activate button
*Note – Very Important! – If you are installing a theme for a brand new site, you can Activate the theme with no issues. If you are installing a theme for an existing WordPress site, never Activate it before you have made a backup of your old site and used the Preview option to see what your site will look like live after you have Activated the new theme.
After you activate it you will have to go in and customize your new theme to make it look as close to the way you want it as possible.
Please note however, that if you are using a free version of a WordPress theme, your customization options will be much more limited, than if you were to use the paid or premium version of that same theme.
Installing a WordPress Theme From .Zip File
If you’ve found a theme that you like that is on an independent site or directory and not a free WordPress theme, you’ll need to download it as a .zip file after you’ve purchased the premium version. This is sometimes true of free versions that independent developers or agencies offer on their websites.
Once you’ve downloaded the .zip file of the theme, you’ll want to upload it by navigating to Dashboard > Appearance > Themes then clicking on the Upload Theme button (instead of searching within the library).
Once you click the Choose File, select the .zip file from where you access downloads on your computer. The theme file will then upload and prompt you to activate it.
We don’t know why WordPress doesn’t make deleting a theme as intuitive as uploading one, but we’re here to help. Keeping your WordPress site free from unused themes is a best practice for maintaining security, so let’s get to deleting old theme files!
1) Navigate to Dashboard > Appearance > Themes
2) Click on the Theme Details button for the theme you want to delete
3) Click the small red delete link located in the lower right corner of the popup
Congrats! Your theme is now deleted!
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