{"id":36905,"date":"2022-09-19T07:00:20","date_gmt":"2022-09-19T14:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhblog.dream.press\/blog\/?p=36905"},"modified":"2026-08-06T10:39:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T17:39:12","slug":"tutorial-how-to-install-a-wp-theme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/tutorial-how-to-install-a-wp-theme\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Install a WordPress Theme (Tutorial)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>To install a WordPress theme, go to <i>Appearance &gt; Themes<\/i> in your dashboard and click <i>Add New Theme<\/i>. From there, either search the free WordPress Theme Directory and click <i>Install<\/i>, or click <i>Upload Theme<\/i> to add a purchased theme\u2019s .zip file. Then click <i>Activate<\/i> to put it live.<\/strong> Below, we\u2019ll cover what to do before you install, three ways to install a theme (including a fallback for when the upload fails), and how to switch themes safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve written previous guides on the topic of what WordPress themes are and how to find them. However, there\u2019s one more crucial step to take. Once you\u2019ve located the perfect theme for your site, you\u2019ll need to get it up and running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fortunately, this couldn\u2019t be easier to do. Installing and activating a new theme in WordPress is simple, whether you got it from the official directory or some other source. Plus, you can change themes whenever you\u2019d like with the press of a button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-to-do-before-installing-your-wordpress-theme\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>What to do before installing your WordPress theme<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Installing a theme in WordPress isn\u2019t difficult, and we\u2019ll discuss how to do that in a moment. First, however, let\u2019s talk about what to do beforehand. There are a few things you might need to do in preparation for adding your new theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, you\u2019ll want to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Make sure you\u2019ve thoroughly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-pick-wordpress-theme\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">vetted the theme<\/a>, which includes checking out its ratings and reviews. Also, take a look at how frequently it\u2019s updated by the developer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the theme has a demo available, try it out to see if you like its appearance and features. You can also check how a theme will look with your content after installation, which we\u2019ll discuss later.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/features\/wordpress-staging\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">creating a staging site<\/a> to test out the theme before adding it to your live site (on DreamPress plans, staging is a built-in, 1-click feature). This is a particularly important step if you\u2019re switching themes on an already established site. You can see exactly how it will look and find out if it causes any compatibility issues or other problems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you\u2019re setting up a new WordPress site, make sure you\u2019ve covered all the necessary tasks to get it up and running. These include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/domains\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">signing up for a domain<\/a> and choosing a quality <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/wordpress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WordPress hosting plan<\/a>. DreamHost WordPress hosting plans include the latest version of WordPress, ready to install from the DreamHost control panel, so a brand-new site is theme-ready right away.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you\u2019ve taken care of the above tasks \u2014 or however many of them apply to your site \u2014 you\u2019ll be ready to install your new WordPress theme. There are a few ways to do this, so we\u2019ll talk about each one in turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"article-newsletter article-newsletter--gradient\">\n\n\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__title\">Get Content Delivered Straight to Your Inbox<\/p><p>Subscribe now to receive all the latest updates, delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p><form class=\"nwsl-form\" id=\"newsletter_block_\" novalidate><div class=\"messages\"><\/div><div class=\"form-group\"><label for=\"input_newsletter_block_\"><input type=\"email\"name=\"email\"id=\"input_newsletter_block_\"placeholder=\"Enter your email address\"novalidatedisabled=\"disabled\"\/><\/label><button type=\"submit\"class=\"btn btn--brand\"disabled=\"disabled\"><span>Sign Me Up!<\/span><svg width=\"21\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 14\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M13.8523 0.42524L12.9323 1.34521C12.7095 1.56801 12.7132 1.9304 12.9404 2.14865L16.7241 5.7823H0.5625C0.251859 5.7823 0 6.03416 0 6.3448V7.6573C0 7.96794 0.251859 8.2198 0.5625 8.2198H16.7241L12.9405 11.8535C12.7132 12.0717 12.7095 12.4341 12.9323 12.6569L13.8523 13.5769C14.072 13.7965 14.4281 13.7965 14.6478 13.5769L20.8259 7.39879C21.0456 7.17913 21.0456 6.82298 20.8259 6.60327L14.6477 0.42524C14.4281 0.205584 14.0719 0.205584 13.8523 0.42524Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-to-install-a-wordpress-theme-2-methods\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>How to install a WordPress theme (3 methods)<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before we show you how to install a theme, there\u2019s one more crucial thing to do first. If you\u2019re changing themes on a site that already has content, you\u2019ll want to make sure <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-back-up-wordpress-tutorial\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">you have a recent backup in place<\/a>. This will be essential for restoring your site in case the new theme causes any problems \u2014 especially if you aren\u2019t using a staging site to test it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-install-a-free-theme-from-the-wordpress-theme-directory\"><b>1. Install a free theme from the WordPress Theme Directory<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s start with the easiest of the three installation methods. If you aren\u2019t familiar with the <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/themes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WordPress Theme Directory<\/a>, this is one of the best places to find themes for your site. Everything listed here is free \u2014 more than 15,000 themes, per WordPress.org\u2019s own count \u2014 and each one has been vetted by a volunteer review team before it\u2019s listed. What\u2019s more, you can install a theme from the directory without leaving your WordPress dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To get started, visit your site and navigate to <i>Appearance &gt; Themes<\/i>. Then click on the <i>Add New Theme<\/i> button (on WordPress versions older than 6.4, it\u2019s labeled <i>Add New<\/i>):<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"371\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/wordpress-appearance-themes.jpg\" alt=\"WordPress Appearance menu\" class=\"wp-image-36911 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/wordpress-appearance-themes.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/wordpress-appearance-themes-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/wordpress-appearance-themes-768x356.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/wordpress-appearance-themes-600x278.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/wordpress-appearance-themes-730x339.jpg.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/wordpress-appearance-themes-784x364.jpg.webp 784w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/371;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll be presented with a searchable version of the Theme Directory. Type a theme\u2019s name into the search box if you already know it, browse the Popular and Latest tabs, or use the Feature Filter to narrow the list by layout, features, and subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you know which theme you want, hover over its image and click on the <i>Install<\/i> button:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"420\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/wordpress-browse-available-themes.jpg\" alt=\"browse for available WordPress themes\" class=\"wp-image-36912 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/wordpress-browse-available-themes.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/wordpress-browse-available-themes-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/wordpress-browse-available-themes-768x403.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/wordpress-browse-available-themes-600x315.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/wordpress-browse-available-themes-730x383.jpg.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/wordpress-browse-available-themes-784x412.jpg.webp 784w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/420;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WordPress will spend a few moments installing the theme. Then you\u2019ll be given a few follow-up options:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"332\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/activate-installed-wordpress-themes.jpg\" alt=\"activate installed WordPress theme\" class=\"wp-image-36907 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/activate-installed-wordpress-themes.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/activate-installed-wordpress-themes-300x125.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/activate-installed-wordpress-themes-768x319.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/activate-installed-wordpress-themes-600x249.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/activate-installed-wordpress-themes-730x303.jpg.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/activate-installed-wordpress-themes-784x325.jpg.webp 784w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/332;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If it\u2019s a classic theme, you can click on <i>Live Preview<\/i> to see what your site will look like using it. Block themes are the exception: <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/documentation\/article\/work-with-themes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WordPress.org\u2019s documentation<\/a> notes that the Live Preview option is removed for block themes, so test one on a staging site, or activate it and fine-tune it in the Site Editor. Meanwhile, clicking on the <i>Activate<\/i> button will switch your site to the new theme immediately. That\u2019s all you need to do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-upload-a-zip-file-in-the-wordpress-dashboard\"><b>2. Install a purchased (premium) WordPress theme by uploading its .zip file<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How do you install a purchased WordPress theme? Download its <i>.zip<\/i> file from the marketplace or developer, go to <i>Appearance &gt; Themes &gt; Add New Theme &gt; Upload Theme<\/i> in your WordPress dashboard, choose the file, and click <i>Install Now<\/i>, then <i>Activate<\/i>. If you\u2019ve bought a premium theme from another directory or a developer\u2019s website, you won\u2019t be able to install it using the directory method above \u2014 this upload method is the one to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The theme should have been provided to you as a <i>.zip<\/i> file, which you can upload directly to your site. If you don\u2019t know where to find that file, contact the theme\u2019s developer and they should be able to help you out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One check before you upload: marketplaces often deliver a purchase as a larger package that bundles documentation and license details alongside the theme itself. <a href=\"https:\/\/help.elements.envato.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/360000629466-How-do-I-install-a-WordPress-theme-I-downloaded-through-my-Envato-subscription\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Envato\u2019s install guide<\/a> (June 2026), for example, tells buyers to choose the installable theme file specifically. If that\u2019s your situation, unzip the package on your computer first and upload only the theme\u2019s own <i>.zip<\/i> inside it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you have the theme\u2019s <i>.zip<\/i> file saved to your computer, go to your WordPress dashboard. Navigate to <i>Appearance &gt; Themes<\/i> and click on <i>Add New Theme<\/i>. This time, however, you\u2019ll want to click on the <i>Upload Theme<\/i> button at the top of the page:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"217\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/upload-wordpress-themes.jpg\" alt=\"upload a WordPress theme\" class=\"wp-image-36910 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/upload-wordpress-themes.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/upload-wordpress-themes-300x81.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/upload-wordpress-themes-768x208.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/upload-wordpress-themes-600x163.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/upload-wordpress-themes-730x198.jpg.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/upload-wordpress-themes-784x213.jpg.webp 784w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/217;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Next, select <i>Choose File<\/i>. Then select the theme\u2019s file on your computer and click on <i>Install Now<\/i>. WordPress will display a success message when the theme installation is complete:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"280\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/install-wordpress-theme-from-zip-file.jpg\" alt=\"install a WordPress theme from a ZIP file\" class=\"wp-image-36909 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/install-wordpress-theme-from-zip-file.jpg.webp 788w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/install-wordpress-theme-from-zip-file-300x107.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/install-wordpress-theme-from-zip-file-768x273.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/install-wordpress-theme-from-zip-file-600x213.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/install-wordpress-theme-from-zip-file-730x259.jpg.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/install-wordpress-theme-from-zip-file-784x279.jpg.webp 784w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 788px) 100vw, 788px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 788px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 788\/280;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As before, you can preview a classic theme with <i>Live Preview<\/i> or hit <i>Activate<\/i> to make it official. (Block themes don\u2019t offer Live Preview, so activate yours and fine-tune it in the Site Editor, or test it on a staging site first.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the installation fails instead, two common causes are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>You uploaded the wrong .zip.<\/b> If WordPress reports that the theme is missing its <i>style.css<\/i> stylesheet, you\u2019ve most likely uploaded the full marketplace package rather than the installable theme file inside it. Unzip the package and upload the theme\u2019s own <i>.zip<\/i>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>The file is bigger than your upload limit.<\/b> Some premium themes exceed the maximum upload size your hosting plan allows. Ask your host to raise the limit, or skip the dashboard entirely and use the SFTP method below.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Purchased themes also tend to have a few setup steps after activation that free themes don\u2019t. Check the theme\u2019s documentation or welcome screen for prompts to enter the license or purchase key from your order, install any required companion plugins, and (optionally) import demo content so your site starts out looking like the theme\u2019s demo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finally, if your purchase includes both a parent theme and a child theme, install both using the steps above and activate the child theme. As <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.wordpress.org\/themes\/advanced-topics\/child-themes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WordPress.org\u2019s Theme Handbook<\/a> explains, child themes \u201callow parent themes to be updated without losing your modifications.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-install-a-theme-manually-via-sftp\"><b>3. Install a theme manually via SFTP or File Manager<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the dashboard upload won\u2019t cooperate, there\u2019s a reliable fallback: place the theme\u2019s folder directly into your site\u2019s <i>\/wp-content\/themes\/<\/i> directory. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/documentation\/article\/work-with-themes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WordPress.org\u2019s documentation<\/a> lists this manual method right alongside the dashboard installer. Here\u2019s how it works:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unzip the theme\u2019s <i>.zip<\/i> file on your computer so you\u2019re left with the theme\u2019s folder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connect to your server with an SFTP client or your host\u2019s file manager. You\u2019ll find your SFTP credentials in your hosting control panel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upload the entire theme folder into <i>\/wp-content\/themes\/<\/i>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Back in your dashboard, go to <i>Appearance &gt; Themes<\/i>. Your new theme will appear in the list, ready for you to click <i>Activate<\/i>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-to-change-your-current-wordpress-theme\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>How to change your current WordPress theme<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have several WordPress themes already installed (using the above methods), you may want to know how to switch back and forth between them. This is very simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just go to <i>Appearance &gt; Themes<\/i> to view your current list of options. Then, click on whichever theme you\u2019d like to use and select <i>Activate<\/i>:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"360\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/activete-wordpress-themes.jpg\" alt=\"activate WordPress theme\" class=\"wp-image-36908 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/activete-wordpress-themes.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/activete-wordpress-themes-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/activete-wordpress-themes-768x346.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/activete-wordpress-themes-600x270.jpg.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/activete-wordpress-themes-730x329.jpg.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/smush-webp\/2022\/09\/activete-wordpress-themes-784x353.jpg.webp 784w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/360;\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s all you need to do to change themes! Don\u2019t forget that with a classic theme, you can use the <i>Live Preview<\/i> link to see what your site will look like before activating it. Block themes skip Live Preview, so if you want to test one before switching, use a staging site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What actually carries over when you switch? Your content does. Per <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/documentation\/article\/work-with-themes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WordPress.org\u2019s documentation<\/a>, a theme changes how your site is displayed, not the underlying content \u2014 so posts, pages, and media stay put. Settings tied to the old theme don\u2019t. After switching, recheck your menus, widget areas, and homepage settings, since those are configured per theme, and features specific to the old theme (such as its shortcodes) may stop displaying until you replace them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every time you switch themes, it\u2019s worth checking to see if there are new settings you need to configure. Take a look at any new tabs or sections added by the theme, as well as at its main settings screen \u2014 the Site Editor (<i>Appearance &gt; Editor<\/i>) for block themes, or the Customizer (<i>Appearance &gt; Customize<\/i>) for classic themes \u2014 and make sure you have everything set up the way you\u2019d like. If you run into any trouble, most WordPress themes come with documentation and forums where you can find help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two housekeeping habits worth keeping: update the themes you keep, and delete the ones you don\u2019t. WordPress flags installed themes with updates available right on the Themes screen (or under <i>Dashboard &gt; Updates<\/i>), and you can remove an unused theme by opening its details window and clicking <i>Delete<\/i>. Just remember that deleting removes the theme\u2019s files completely, including any customizations you made to it, so take a backup first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-block-themes-vs-classic-themes-what-changes-after-you-activate\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Block themes vs. classic themes: what changes after you activate<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which kind of theme you installed determines where you\u2019ll customize it. A block theme uses blocks for every part of your site \u2014 header, navigation, content, and footer \u2014 and you edit all of it in the Site Editor (<i>Appearance &gt; Editor<\/i>). Per <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/documentation\/article\/work-with-themes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WordPress.org\u2019s documentation<\/a>, block themes don\u2019t offer the Customizer at all, since they \u201crely on the Site Editor to edit all parts of your site.\u201d Classic themes work the other way around: you\u2019ll customize them under <i>Appearance &gt; Customize<\/i>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every WordPress default theme since Twenty Twenty-Two \u2014 the first default block theme \u2014 has been a block theme, including recent defaults like Twenty Twenty-Five. So if you activate a theme and can\u2019t find the Customizer in your menu, that\u2019s not a bug. You\u2019re simply running a block theme, and the Site Editor is where everything lives.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-install-your-new-theme-today\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Install your new theme today<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adding a theme to your WordPress website is exciting. You\u2019ll get a brand new look, plenty of options to play with, and elements to personalize. Of course, to get there, you\u2019ll first need to know how to install and activate your theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-faqs-about-installing-wordpress-themes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>FAQs about installing WordPress themes<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-i-install-a-purchased-wordpress-theme\"><b>How do I install a purchased WordPress theme?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Download the installable <i>.zip<\/i> file from the marketplace or developer, then go to <i>Appearance &gt; Themes &gt; Add New Theme &gt; Upload Theme<\/i> in your WordPress dashboard. Choose the file, click <i>Install Now<\/i>, then <i>Activate<\/i>. Afterward, check the theme\u2019s docs for a license key or required plugins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-won-t-my-theme-zip-file-upload\"><b>Why won\u2019t my theme .zip file upload?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Usually you\u2019ve uploaded the full marketplace package instead of the installable theme <i>.zip<\/i> inside it (WordPress reports a missing <i>style.css<\/i> stylesheet), or the file exceeds your host\u2019s upload limit. Unzip the package and upload the theme\u2019s own <i>.zip<\/i>, or install it manually via SFTP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-does-installing-a-new-theme-delete-my-content\"><b>Does installing a new theme delete my content?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. Themes control how your site looks, not what\u2019s in it, so your posts, pages, and media stay in your database. After switching themes, recheck your menus, widget areas, and homepage settings, since those are configured per theme and may need to be reassigned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-do-i-switch-back-to-my-old-theme\"><b>How do I switch back to my old theme?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Go to <i>Appearance &gt; Themes<\/i>, hover over your previous theme, and click <i>Activate<\/i>. As long as you haven\u2019t deleted it, the theme is still installed, and your site switches back immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-i-preview-a-theme-before-activating-it\"><b>Can I preview a theme before activating it?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For classic themes, yes: hover over the theme on the <i>Appearance &gt; Themes<\/i> screen and click <i>Live Preview<\/i>. Block themes don\u2019t offer Live Preview, per WordPress.org, so test them on a staging site instead. For themes you haven\u2019t installed yet, most developers host a demo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<div\n\tclass=\"article-cta-shared article-cta-small\"\n>\n    <div class=\"tr-img-wrap-outer jsLoading\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-img-lazy \" src=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/lazy-loading-transparent.webp\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/article-small-ad-cta-placeholder.webp 1x, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/blog2018\/assets\/img\/article-small-ad-cta-placeholder-x2.webp 2x\" width=\"877\" height=\"539\"  alt=\"Ad background image\" \/><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"content-btm\">\n    <h2\n      class=\"h2--md\"\n    >\n      Do More with DreamPress\n    <\/h2>\n    <p\n      class=\"p--md\"\n    >\n      DreamPress managed WordPress hosting includes 1-click staging to test themes safely, a free Essential CDN, daily backups stored offsite, and 24\/7 support from WordPress experts.\n    <\/p>\n\n            <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/wordpress\/managed\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    aria-label=\"Check Out Plans: Do More with DreamPress\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            Check Out Plans                    <\/a>\n\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To install a WordPress theme, go to Appearance &gt; Themes in your dashboard and click Add New Theme. From there, either search the free WordPress Theme Directory and click Install, or click Upload Theme to add a purchased theme\u2019s .zip file. Then click Activate to put it live. Below, we\u2019ll cover what to do before [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1062,"featured_media":86804,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"How to Install a WordPress Theme (3 Easy Methods) -","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"Learn how to install a WordPress theme via the directory, upload, or FTP, then activate it safely \u2014 plus what to check before you switch.","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"How to Install a WordPress Theme (3 Easy Methods) -","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"Learn how to install a WordPress theme via the directory, upload, or FTP, then activate it safely \u2014 plus what to check before you switch.","toc_headlines":"[[\"h-what-to-do-before-installing-your-wordpress-theme\",\"What to do before installing your WordPress theme\"],[\"h-how-to-install-a-wordpress-theme-2-methods\",\"How to install a WordPress theme (3 methods)\"],[\"h-how-to-change-your-current-wordpress-theme\",\"How to change your current WordPress theme\"],[\"h-block-themes-vs-classic-themes-what-changes-after-you-activate\",\"Block themes vs. classic themes: what changes after you activate\"],[\"h-install-your-new-theme-today\",\"Install your new theme today\"],[\"h-faqs-about-installing-wordpress-themes\",\"FAQs about installing WordPress themes\"]]","hide_toc":false,"show_updated_at":"1","footnotes":""},"categories":[13119,550,696],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-getting-started","category-tutorials","category-wordpress"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Install a WordPress Theme (3 Easy Methods) -<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to install a 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