Whether you're creating a new website or redesigning an existing one, WordPress themes make information technology quick and easy to add grapheme to your site.

WordPress themes are templates and stylesheets created by web designers and developers that are available to download directly to your site. They cut out the difficult parts of website design, like coding, so yous tin focus on creating and publishing engaging content.

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Both WordPress and third-party sources offer a myriad of costless and premium themes for you to download. The only piece of work y'all'll need to do is install and customize information technology.

Hither'due south a complete guide to installing a WordPress theme on your website.

Installing a WordPress Theme Through the Theme Directory

Installing a WordPress theme can improve the look and functioning of your website. The theme directory on WordPress allows y'all to search for and install a gratuitous 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 carte du jour 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 folio, 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 button, you tin can select from featured themes, popular themes, or latest themes. You can fifty-fifty search for themes with specific features, such equally themes with sticky posts or full width templates; layouts, such as grid layouts or two-column layouts; and subject, such as blogs, eCommerce, or photography.

Find specific themes with features on WordPress.

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5. Click Download to begin the installation process.

When you've chosen a theme, hover over the preview image of the theme. You'll have the option to click More Info to learn most the theme'south features and preview the theme, or you tin 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 accept a few minutes to install. Later installing, you'll receive a message that the installation was successful. Merely the theme isn't live on your website just nonetheless! Be certain to select Activate for the theme to appear on your site.

Successful installation message from WordPress.

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Installing a WordPress Theme Using the Upload Method

If you have constitute a premium or custom theme from a third-political party, y'all can easily upload it using the WordPress dashboard with just a few steps:

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

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

2. Navigate to Appearance > Themes.

Then, log in to your WordPress account and go to Advent in the card 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 together New at the meridian of the page.

Add New button to upload a WordPress theme.

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

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

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5. Upload and install the file.

Afterwards selecting Upload Theme, click Choose File. Select the theme .zilch folder you lot've downloaded, and so click Install At present.

Choose a file to upload your theme on WordPress.

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6. Click Activate once complete.

Afterward clicking Install, a bulletin will 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 you accept chosen a circuitous, robust theme with large files, it might be likewise big to upload manually. In this case, y'all'll need to employ FTP to upload the theme. In that location are 6 steps to installing your WordPress theme using FTP.

1. Download FTP Client to your computer.

To brainstorm this process, you volition need to download an FTP Client to your estimator. This is a software tool that allows you to access and add or delete files on your website server.

ii. Create an FTP business relationship through your hosting provider.

Next, you'll demand to proceeds access to your hosting provider account through the FTP Client. Unremarkably, you will have to set up your own FTP user account within your hosting dashboard, however, information technology is a different process for every hosting provider. Typically, the hosting provider gives you a username and countersign when you make a new business relationship, which y'all'll need when creating your FTP Client account.

three. Download your theme and unzip the file.

If you don't already take your theme file downloaded to your computer, download it at present. Certain companies provide more in the download folder than y'all need to upload your theme, so be certain to just download the .zip file. Once y'all've downloaded your files, y'all'll need to unzip and compress your file. You tin can do this by simply right-clicking the .zip file, then selecting Extract.

iv. Upload the theme folder to WordPress to install.

Inside the FTP Client, find the root of your WordPress install. Adjacent, go into the wp-content folder, and select Themes. Upload the unabridged folder you unzipped here.

Choosing a theme within the FTP client.

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5. Activate the theme from your WordPress dashboard.

After y'all've uploaded the theme binder using the FTP Client, navigate dorsum to the WordPress themes section on your dashboard. You should see your new theme as an option under your downloaded themes. Select the new theme and click Activate to make the theme live on your website.

Activating a FTP theme on WordPress.

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6. Add plugins to your WordPress site.

Later on y'all've activated your theme, be sure to add some plugins to add fifty-fifty more than functionality to your site. There are thousands of available plugins that tin can assistance you with everything from improving SEO to capturing the contact information of visitors to a folio.

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

Create an Bonny Website With a New WordPress Theme

A cohesive and on-make theme determines whether visitors will stay long plenty to appoint 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 notation: This postal service was originally published in February 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Originally published February 8, 2021 vii:00:00 AM, updated February 26 2021