Whether you're creating a new website or redesigning an existing one, WordPress themes make it quick and easy to add 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 cutting out the difficult parts of website design, similar coding, and so you can focus on creating and publishing engaging content.

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Both WordPress and third-political party sources offer a myriad of free and premium themes for you to download. The only piece of work you'll need to do is install and customize it.

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 operation of your website. The theme directory on WordPress allows y'all to search for and install a free theme for WordPress.

1. Log in to your WordPress business relationship.

To brainstorm, log in to your WordPress account.

ii. Navigate to Appearance > Themes.

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

WordPress navigation to see theme options.

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three. On the Themes page, select Add New at the height of the folio.

Add a new theme in the theme builder on WordPress.

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4. Choose a theme.

After clicking on the Add together New push button, you can select from featured themes, popular themes, or latest themes. Yous tin can even search for themes with specific features, such as themes with viscous 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 procedure.

When yous've called a theme, hover over the preview image of the theme. Yous'll have the pick to click More Info to larn almost the theme's features and preview the theme, or y'all 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. After installing, you'll receive a message that the installation was successful. Merely the theme isn't live on your website just yet! Exist sure 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 found a premium or custom theme from a tertiary-party, you tin easily upload it using the WordPress dashboard with merely a few steps:

1. Ensure you have the .zilch file for the theme you desire.

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

2. Navigate to Advent > Themes.

Then, log in to your WordPress account and go 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 New button, select the Upload Theme button.

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

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5. Upload and install the file.

After selecting Upload Theme, click Cull File. Select the theme .nix folder you've downloaded, then click Install Now.

Choose a file to upload your theme on WordPress.

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vi. Click Activate once complete.

After clicking Install, a message will appear that the theme installation was successful. Click Activate to make the theme alive 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 have called a complex, robust theme with big files, it might exist also large to upload manually. In this case, you'll need to use FTP to upload the theme. There are six steps to installing your WordPress theme using FTP.

1. Download FTP Client to your reckoner.

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

2. Create an FTP account through your hosting provider.

Next, you'll need to gain access to your hosting provider account through the FTP Client. Usually, yous volition have to set your own FTP user business relationship within your hosting dashboard, however, it is a different process for every hosting provider. Typically, the hosting provider gives yous a username and countersign when you brand a new business relationship, which you'll demand when creating your FTP Customer account.

3. Download your theme and unzip the file.

If you lot don't already take your theme file downloaded to your reckoner, download it now. Certain companies provide more in the download binder than you lot need to upload your theme, so be certain to just download the .zero file. Once you lot've downloaded your files, yous'll need to unzip and compress your file. Yous tin can practise this by simply right-clicking the .zip file, then selecting Extract.

4. Upload the theme binder to WordPress to install.

Within the FTP Client, find the root of your WordPress install. Next, get into the wp-content folder, and select Themes. Upload the entire folder you unzipped hither.

Choosing a theme within the FTP client.

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5. Activate the theme from your WordPress dashboard.

After you've uploaded the theme binder using the FTP Customer, navigate dorsum to the WordPress themes department on your dashboard. You should see your new theme as an pick nether 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 you've activated your theme, exist 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 page.

A bang-up plugin to get started with is the costless HubSpot WordPress plugin. It allows you to manage contacts, follow leads, add forms and chat, track conversions, build newsletters, and more than.

Create an Attractive Website With a New WordPress Theme

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

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

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Originally published Feb viii, 2021 7:00:00 AM, updated May 10 2022