Whether y'all're creating a new website or redesigning an existing ane, WordPress themes make information technology quick and piece of cake 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 cut out the difficult parts of website design, like coding, so y'all can focus on creating and publishing engaging content.

Sign up for HubSpot Academy's WordPress Course [Free Online Course]

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

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

Installing a WordPress Theme Through the Theme Directory

Installing a WordPress theme tin can improve the look and performance of your website. The theme directory on WordPress allows yous 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 menu on the left side of the dashboard, hover your mouse over Advent, and select Themes within that option box.

WordPress navigation to see theme options.

Image Source

3. On the Themes folio, select Add New at the tiptop of the folio.

Add a new theme in the theme builder on WordPress.

Prototype Source

4. Choose a theme.

After clicking on the Add New button, you tin select from featured themes, popular themes, or latest themes. Y'all tin can fifty-fifty search for themes with specific features, such as themes with pasty posts or full width templates; layouts, such every bit filigree layouts or 2-column layouts; and subject, such as blogs, eCommerce, or photography.

Find specific themes with features on WordPress.

Image Source

5. Click Download to begin the installation process.

When yous've chosen a theme, hover over the preview prototype of the theme. Y'all'll have the option to click More Info to learn well-nigh the theme'south features and preview the theme, or you lot tin click Download to begin the installation process.

Installing a WordPress theme with the theme builder.

Paradigm Source

half dozen. Click Actuate in one case complete.

The theme will take a few minutes to install. After installing, y'all'll receive a message that the installation was successful. Merely the theme isn't alive on your website only yet! Be sure to select Activate for the theme to appear on your site.

Successful installation message from WordPress.

Image Source

Installing a WordPress Theme Using the Upload Method

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

ane. Ensure you have the .null file for the theme you want.

First, download the .zip file yous 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.

Image Source

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

Add New button to upload a WordPress theme.

Image Source

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

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

Prototype Source

5. Upload and install the file.

After selecting Upload Theme, click Choose File. Select the theme .zip binder you've downloaded, then click Install Now.

Choose a file to upload your theme on WordPress.

Image Source

6. Click Activate once complete.

After clicking Install, a bulletin volition announced that the theme installation was successful. Click Activate to make the theme alive on your website.

Successful installation message after uploading a WordPress theme.

Image Source

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

If you have chosen a complex, robust theme with large files, information technology might be also big to upload manually. In this case, you'll need to use FTP to upload the theme. There are 6 steps to installing your WordPress theme using FTP.

1. Download FTP Client to your computer.

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

2. Create an FTP account through your hosting provider.

Next, you'll demand to gain access to your hosting provider account through the FTP Client. Ordinarily, yous will accept to prepare your ain FTP user account within your hosting dashboard, however, it is a different process for every hosting provider. Typically, the hosting provider gives you a username and countersign when you make a new account, which yous'll need when creating your FTP Client account.

iii. Download your theme and unzip the file.

If you don't already have your theme file downloaded to your computer, download it at present. Sure companies provide more in the download binder than yous need to upload your theme, so be sure to merely download the .zip file. Once yous've downloaded your files, you'll need to unzip and compress your file. You can practice this by merely right-clicking the .zip file, then selecting Extract.

4. Upload the theme folder to WordPress to install.

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

Choosing a theme within the FTP client.

Image Source

5. Actuate the theme from your WordPress dashboard.

After you lot've uploaded the theme folder using the FTP Customer, navigate back to the WordPress themes section on your dashboard. You should see your new theme equally an pick under your downloaded themes. Select the new theme and click Actuate to make the theme alive on your website.

Activating a FTP theme on WordPress.

Prototype Source

6. Add plugins to your WordPress site.

After you've activated your theme, exist sure to add some plugins to add even more functionality to your site. At that place are thousands of available plugins that can help you lot with everything from improving SEO to capturing the contact data of visitors to a page.

A swell plugin to become started with is the free HubSpot WordPress plugin. It allows yous to manage contacts, follow leads, add together forms and chat, track conversions, build newsletters, and more.

Create an Attractive Website With a New WordPress Theme

A cohesive and on-brand theme determines whether visitors volition stay long plenty to appoint with your content or make a buy. Whether yous've found a complimentary theme in the WordPress directory or uploaded a premium or custom theme manually, these steps will setup your website to attract and catechumen prospects.

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

Apply for a job, keep track of important information, and prepare for an  interview with the help of this free job seekers kit.

Apply for a job, keep track of important information, and prepare for an  interview with the help of this free job seekers kit.

Originally published February viii, 2021 seven:00:00 AM, updated February 26 2021