Whether you're creating a new website or redesigning an existing one, WordPress themes brand it quick and easy to add together character to your site.

WordPress themes are templates and stylesheets created by web designers and developers that are available to download straight to your site. They cut out the difficult parts of website pattern, similar coding, so y'all can focus on creating and publishing engaging content.

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Both WordPress and third-party sources offer a myriad of free and premium themes for y'all to download. The but work you'll need to practice is install and customize it.

Here's a complete guide to installing a WordPress theme on your website.

How To Install A WordPress Theme

At that place are a few different ways to install a WordPress Theme on your website: through the theme directory, using the upload method, or with file transfer protocol (FTP). The theme directory and upload methods are simpler, but installing via FTP is best for larger themes, custom themes, or when the WordPress dashboard is not accessible.

Installing a WordPress Theme Through the Theme Directory

Installing a WordPress theme can ameliorate the expect and functioning of your website. The theme directory on WordPress allows yous to search for and install a free theme for WordPress.

1. Log in to your WordPress account.

To begin, log in to your WordPress account.

2. Navigate to Appearance > Themes.

On the menu on the left side of the dashboard, hover your mouse over Appearance, and select Themes within that option box.

WordPress navigation to see theme options.

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3. On the Themes page, select Add New at the top of the page.

Add a new theme in the theme builder on WordPress.

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4. Choose a theme.

After clicking on the Add New push button, you can select from featured themes, popular themes, or latest themes. Yous can even search for themes with specific features, such as themes with mucilaginous posts or total width templates; layouts, such as grid layouts or two-column layouts; and subject, such equally blogs, eCommerce, or photography.

Find specific themes with features on WordPress.

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v. Click Download to begin the installation procedure.

When you've chosen a theme, hover over the preview image of the theme. Yous'll have the option to click More than Info to learn nigh the theme's features and preview the theme, or you tin can click Download to begin the installation process.

Installing a WordPress theme with the theme builder.

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6. Click Activate once complete.

The theme will take a few minutes to install. Afterwards installing, you'll receive a message that the installation was successful. But the theme isn't live on your website just yet! Be sure to select Activate for the theme to announced on your site.

Successful installation message from WordPress.

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Installing a WordPress Theme Using the Upload Method

If y'all have found a premium or custom theme from a 3rd-political party, yous can easily upload it using the WordPress dashboard with only a few steps:

1. Ensure you have the .zip file for the theme y'all desire.

First, download the .zip file you bought in the theme marketplace or commercial provider.

ii. Navigate to Advent > Themes.

Then, log in to your WordPress account and get to Appearance in the menu on the left of the dashboard and select Themes.

Using the WordPress dashboard to get to the themes.

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3. On the themes page, select Add New at the top of the page.

Add New button to upload a WordPress theme.

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4. After clicking on the Add together New push, select the Upload Theme button.

Upload Theme button to upload your own theme on a WordPress site.

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v. Upload and install the file.

After selecting Upload Theme, click Choose File. Select the theme .zip binder yous've downloaded, and so click Install Now.

Choose a file to upload your theme on WordPress.

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half dozen. Click Activate once complete.

After clicking Install, a message volition appear that the theme installation was successful. Click Activate to make the theme live on your website.

Successful installation message after uploading a WordPress theme.

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Installing a WordPress Theme With File-Transfer Protocol (FTP)

If y'all accept chosen a complex, robust theme with big files, information technology might be too big to upload manually. In this case, y'all'll demand to use FTP to upload the theme. There are six steps to installing your WordPress theme using FTP.

i. Download FTP Client to your computer.

To begin this process, you will demand to download an FTP Customer to your computer. This is a software tool that allows you lot to admission and add together or delete files on your website server.

2. Create an FTP account through your hosting provider.

Next, you'll need to proceeds admission to your hosting provider account through the FTP Customer. Usually, you volition have to set up your own FTP user account within your hosting dashboard, yet, information technology is a different procedure for every hosting provider. Typically, the hosting provider gives you a username and password when you make a new account, which you'll need when creating your FTP Client account.

3. Download your theme and unzip the file.

If yous don't already have your theme file downloaded to your computer, download it at present. Certain companies provide more than in the download folder than you demand to upload your theme, then exist sure to just download the .cypher file. Once you've downloaded your files, you'll need to unzip and shrink your file. You tin do this past but right-clicking the .zilch file, then selecting Excerpt.

4. Upload the theme folder to WordPress to install.

Inside the FTP Client, find the root of your WordPress install. Side by side, get into the wp-content folder, and select Themes. Upload the unabridged folder yous unzipped hither.

Choosing a theme within the FTP client.

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5. Activate the theme from your WordPress dashboard.

Afterward you lot've uploaded the theme binder using the FTP Client, navigate back to the WordPress themes department on your dashboard. You should see your new theme as an option nether your downloaded themes. Select the new theme and click Activate to brand the theme live on your website.

Activating a FTP theme on WordPress.

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6. Add plugins to your WordPress site.

Afterwards you've activated your theme, be sure to add some plugins to add even more functionality to your site. In that location are thousands of available plugins that tin aid you with everything from improving SEO to capturing the contact information of visitors to a folio.

A groovy plugin to get started with is the gratis HubSpot WordPress plugin. It allows you to manage contacts, follow leads, add forms and conversation, track conversions, build newsletters, and more.

Create an Attractive Website With a New WordPress Theme

A cohesive and on-brand theme determines whether visitors will stay long enough to engage with your content or make a purchase. Whether you've found a free theme in the WordPress directory or uploaded a premium or custom theme manually, these steps volition setup your website to attract and convert prospects.

Editor's annotation: This post was originally published in Feb 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Originally published February eight, 2021 7:00:00 AM, updated February 26 2021