Installing a new theme is an important step in creating or customizing a WordPress site. In this guide, we’ll show you step-by-step how to install a WordPress theme, whether from the WordPress packages or from a third-party site.
Before installing a theme, it’s crucial to choose the one that best suits your needs and the aesthetics of your site. Explore the various options available on the WordPress theme directory or trusted third-party sites, and take into account functionality, design, compatibility and user reviews.
Installing a theme from WordPress packages
Access to the WordPress dashboard
Log in to your WordPress dashboard as an administrator using your credentials.
Access to the “Appearance” and “Themes” sections
In the left-hand menu, click on “Appearance”, then on “Themes”.
Adding a new theme
On the “Themes” page, click on the “Add” button at the top of the page.
Theme search and installation
Use the search bar to find themes by name, features, etc.
Theme installation
Once you’ve found the theme you’d like to install, click on the “Install” button to start the installation process. WordPress will download and install the theme on your site.
Theme activation
Once installation is complete, you’ll be redirected to the installed themes page. Find the theme you’ve just installed in the list and click on the “Activate” link below the theme name to activate it on your site.
Theme customization
After activating the theme, you can start customizing it to your preferences using the options available in the WordPress Customizer or via a dedicated options panel in the dashboard.
Checks and adjustments
Once you’ve customized your theme, be sure to browse your site to check that everything is working properly and that the design matches your expectations. If necessary, make further adjustments to suit your needs.
Installing a theme downloaded from a third-party site
Adding via the WordPress dashboard
- Download the theme folder
- Click “Upload theme” in the theme dashboard under the Appearance tab
- Select the zip file from your computer
- Click on “Install now
- Once the theme has been installed, you can activate it directly by clicking on the “Activate theme” button.
Activation via FTP
- Download the theme folder using the “Download” button in the page menu
- Unzip the file, which will extract the directory on your computer
- Upload the theme folder to the following directory: wp-content/themes/ on your web space
- Activate the theme in the “Themes” dashboard