WordPress is one of the best and the most popular content management systems or platforms available today. It can offer some highly interactive interface as well as other great features. WordPress is a web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog but what makes it even more beautiful is the theme or template you use.
In this article, we'll be looking at how anyone can install WordPress theme or template in 4 easy steps. The good news with WordPress is that you are not limited by the theme to install as you can always change your WordPress theme or template any time you wish to do so.
Where to find free and paid WordPress themes
You can get free WordPress themes from the WordPress Theme Directory, which contains over 13,000 themes, or you can take a look at various third-party marketplaces like ThemeForest and on individual developer websites such as Divi, Astra, and OceanWP for the paid versions.
When it comes to free themes, there are pros and cons you have to consider, the option to choose will depend on your specific business needs, whether it is for personal blog, business, corporate, news magazine or something else.
Apart from these, there is also a freemium model which many popular themes like Astra, Neve, and OceanWP offer, and it contains free versions available in the WordPress directory and a paid version with advanced features.
Tips for picking a beginner-friendly theme
If you want to choose a beginner-friendly theme, you will have to first of all consider your website's purpose by selecting a theme that aligns with its goals, such as a portfolio, an online store, or a blog. Then, prioritize themes that are easy to use, ensure you choose a theme that is mobile-friendly so that your site will look good and function well on all devices.
Other tips for picking a beginner-friendly theme are choosing a theme that offers flexibility for changing color, font, and layouts, choosing an SEO-friendly theme which helps improve the performance and ranking of your site, reading reviews and ratings to gauge the quality, performance, and reliability of the theme.
Also ensure the theme is updated regularly and there is security and bug fixes support from the developer. Check that the theme is compatible with the plugins you intend to use, and also test the demo.
How To Install a Theme From WordPress.org Using WordPress Admin Theme Search
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard
- On the left-hand side of the page, you will see the Appearance menu, select Themes
- Click on the Add New button located at the top of the Theme’s page
- Use the search bar to find the theme you want to use by name
- Hover your mouse on the theme you have searched to reveal buttons to Preview, Install, and Details
- Select the Install button and WordPress will download and install the theme from their official directory
- When the installation is complete, the button will now show Activate or Live Preview
- Click on Activate to apply the theme to your website
How To Install a Theme Using the Manual Upload Method From WordPress Admin
- For the manual upload method, it requires that your purchase and download the theme as a ZIP file
- First, purchase and download the theme you want to use: To download a theme, all you need to do is to go through search engine on your browser and simply type “WordPress themes”. You will be presented with two options: free themes and premium themes. There are several free but great templates that you can choose from, but remember you may not be able to access some features, which may be important for your website or blog’s performance.Alternatively, you can choose to purchase the premium WordPress themes or templates. When it comes to this, you will need to carry out some research on websites with premium WP themes and find those that offer competitively priced themes and a wide variety to choose from. Once you settle on either free or premium template then run a demo of it to see how it will appear on your site or blog. You can the click the download link. You will receive your archived theme on your download folder. There are lots of reliable Premium themes at affordable prices on Themeforest
- Then log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to the Upload section
- Go to Appearance → Themes → Add Theme
- Upload and install the theme
- Then activate and configure it
How To Install a WordPress Theme Using FTP
This particular method requires that you transfer the theme files directly to your web server, and it is usually used for custom themes. It is also often used if the WordPress dashboard upload method encounters issues
- Get the zip file of the theme from the source and unzip it on your local computer: You remember that file you downloaded was archived (.zip). In order to install it, you will need to extract it onto your PC. Ensure that you extract it to a folder that is easy to access. If possible, you can extract it to your desktop. You may need to have installed WinZip or any other good archiver if your computer does not have it already.
- Download and install an FTP client like FileZilla or Cyberduck on your computer
- Open the FTP client you installed, connect it to your server using your FTP credentials provided by your web hosting provider
- Now, go to your WordPress installation's wp-content/themes directory, usually found within your website's root directory
- Find the theme folder you unzipped in step 1
- Once you have completed the extraction, you can now upload the complete folder of your template installation into a folder with the name of yourwebsite.com/wp-content/themes/. So far, the best way to effect such uploads is via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) using a trustworthy FTP client like Filezilla or CuteFTP.
This is because trying to upload your files via your systems file management can take too long and would be quite cumbersome because you will be required to upload the folder file by file. However, you will need to find out first if your web hosting service provider supports FTP. You can ask them if you have no way of finding out on your own. - Once the upload is complete, log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Appearance > Themes
- Now, you should be able to see the newly uploaded theme listed in your available themes
- Click the activate button for your new theme to make it live on your website. With successful upload, it is time to activate your theme or template. All you will need to do is to log onto your WordPress installation on yourwebsite.com/wp-login.php. On the dashboard, you will see a variety of navigation buttons including the one called “Appearance”. Go to “Appearance>themes and then search for the new theme and then click “Activate” and the process will be right on its track.
After the activation is successful, you will need to refresh your website and the changes will take effect immediately and you will see the new look your website has adopted. You will then need to take some time to learn how to use the new features (if any) that you are not familiar with. You are free to consult the theme author if need be, ask some questions as nobody knows it all.
Common WordPress Theme Installation Errors (And Fixes)
Some of the common WordPress theme installation errors include the “Stylesheet is missing” error, the “Destination folder already exists” error, issues caused by server upload limits, and plugin or theme conflicts.
To fix these errors, check the theme zip file to make sure it is present, deactivate plugins and switch to a default theme, upload the theme manually via FTP if the file size is too large, or switch to a default WordPress theme to see if the issue is with your current theme. If the problem is fixed, then it is with your previous theme.
FAQs About Installing WordPress Themes or Templates
How do I install a free WordPress theme?
Log in to your WordPress dashboard, and go to Appearance > Themes, click Add New. Click the Upload Theme located at the top of the page, then click on Choose File > Install Now. Once the installation is complete, click on Activate the theme to make it live on your website.
How many themes can I use in WordPress at a time?
You can only use one theme in a standard WordPress site at a time, although you can install and store many others for later use.
Can I change my WordPress theme later?
You can always change your WordPress theme anytime you wish to without losing any of your content. However, it is recommended that you first create a backup and prepare for the switch
What happens if I switch themes?
Switching themes only changes your website’s appearance, but your content remains. However, you may likely lose widgets, customizations, and theme-specific features, thereby having the need to reconfigure or re-add them in the new theme. Other things that may happen if you switch themes are issues like broken layouts, a temporary SEO impact, and plugin conflicts. All these require manual adjustments to be fixed.
How do I delete a theme I no longer use?
- In your WordPress admin area, go to Appearance > Themes, located on the left-hand menu
- With your mouse, hover over the theme you want to delete and click on it
- Then a window will appear with the theme’s details, click on Delete located in the bottom right corner
- A confirmation pop-up message will appear on your screen. Click OK or Delete to confirm.
Premium vs Free themes – Which one should I use?
Both the premium and free themes have their own benefits but if you are running an online store, commercial projects, or complex sites that require professional features and enhanced security, it is best recommended that you use the premium themes.
Then, if you are running personal blogs, projects where budget is a primary concern, or simply portfolios, it is recommended that you use a free theme, because they are not only easier to use but also have limited customization and support.
Conclusion
The process is as simple as that. In most cases, the themes come with automatic installers. However, if you are a guru, you can try semi-manual or complete manual installation. For beginners, the automatic installation is a quicker and easier way to install new WordPress theme or template. Choose what works right for you and your website or blog.