There are many WordPress themes to pick from. As a beginner, you might need to try out a few on your site until you find the right one. This guide for new WordPress users will show you how to install a WordPress theme. We will discuss three distinct methods for installing a WordPress theme, allowing you to choose the one that works best for you.

Before You Put in a WordPress Theme

Installing a WordPress theme is simple, but keep in mind that activating a new theme will change how your WordPress website looks and works. If you are switching from a living theme, you might want to look at our list of things you need to do before changing WordPress themes. You are good to go if you set up a new WordPress site and install a theme.

Method 1: Install a theme using the Wp-admin Theme Search

If you require to install a free WordPress theme from the WordPress.org themes directory, you can look through this directory from your WordPress dashboard. Log in to your WordPress admin area to look through the directory. Next, click the Add New button on the Appearance » Themes page.

You can choose Popular, Latest, or Favorites on the next screen. If you already understand the name of the theme you want to use, type it into the field that says Search themes… If you click Feature Filter, you can sort themes using different features. Themes can be sorted by topic, specific features, and layout. You’ll see a list of themes that match your search criteria.

In our case, we were looking for the well-known Astra theme. Just move your mouse over the image of the theme you want to install when you find it. This will show the buttons for Install, Preview, and “Details & Preview.” Go ahead and click the button that says “Install.” Now, WordPress will put your theme in place. WordPress will show a success message when your theme is ready.

WordPress will also show buttons that say “Activate” and “Live Preview.” To use this theme on your WordPress site, click the “Activate” button. You have successfully put your WordPress theme in place and turned it on. When you go to your site, it will have this new theme. Some themes have different settings that you might have to change.

For example, your theme may ask you to install some must-have WordPress plugins, download demo data, or look over its settings. As you can see, the “Astra Options” section is added when the “Astra” theme is used. You can also use the theme customizer that comes with WordPress to change your theme.

To do this, choose Appearance » Customize.

Method 2: Use the Upload Method in WordPress Admin to install a theme.

With the first method we discussed, you could only install free themes from the WordPress.org directory. What if you require installing a premium WordPress theme from a company like StudioPress, Elegant Themes, or Themify? What if you want to install a theme that you made yourself? In this case, you would need to upload the theme to your WordPress account to install it.

Begin by loading the.zip file of the theme you purchased from a marketplace or a commercial theme shop. Next, go to your WordPress admin region and click the Add New button at the top of the Appearance » Themes page. This will take you to the page where you can add themes and see featured free ones.

Since you already have the theme you require to use, click the “Upload Theme” button. You can now click “Choose from” and pick the.zip file you downloaded earlier. Then all you have to perform is click the Install Now button. Once your theme is set up, you will see a message saying, “Theme installed successfully.”

You’ll also see links that let you look at your theme or turn it on. Click on “Activate” to use this theme on your WordPress site. If you go to your website now, you should be able to see your new theme. Some themes add additional settings that you may need to change.

Depending on your theme, you might require to use the WordPress customizer or a separate theme options panel to make these changes. The Hestia Options menu is shown in the next screenshot. This is a special options panel for the Hestia WordPress theme that you can use to change how it looks.

Method 3: Using FTP to WordPress theme install 

If you must try something new and take your skills to the next level, you can learn how to use FTP to install WordPress themes. Remember that this method is not for people who are just starting because it is a bit more complicated. First, you must save the.zip file of the theme to your computer. The file needs to be unzipped after that.

This will make a new folder on your computer with the theme’s name. The free edition of the Hestia WordPress subject was what we got. Now that you have the files for the theme, you can put them on your website. You’ll require to utilize an FTP client to connect to your WordPress hosting account. See our lead on utilizing FTP to upload WordPress files if you need help.

Once connected, you must go to the ‘/wp-content/themes/’ folder. Inside, you’ll find folders for all the themes currently installed on your website. You can publish your new theme by putting it in this folder called “wp-content/themes.” Choose the folder for your theme that you unzipped from your computer. Then, you can drag and drop this theme folder into your site’s “themes” folder.

Once the theme has been uploaded, go back to the WordPress dashboard. Then click on Look » Themes. The theme you just uploaded should now be visible. Please move your mouse over the theme you want to use on your website to use it. Then click the button that says “Activate.”