Installing WordPress themes is a relatively simple process, but there are still a few things you need to know before you get started. In this post, we’ll walk you through the process of how to install WordPress themes, step by step. By the end, you’ll be ready to start customizing your new site to match your unique style and personality.
There are a lot of WordPress tutorials and references out there. But if you’re just starting, it’s hard to know where to start or what you need. That’s where WPHub comes in. We’re the leaders in content and referrals to the best online training and essential tools that you need to get your WordPress site up and running quickly and easily. We have created an easy-to-follow tutorial to get your WordPress theme installed and your new site looking amazing.
How To Install WordPress Theme?
Follow these simple steps to install a WordPress theme:
- In the WordPress dashboard click on Appearance
- When you click on Appearance you will see that there are default themes pre-installed
- Click on Add New
- Scroll through the theme template options available in the Popular, Latest, and Favorites tabs.
- Select the theme you want to use by clicking Install. (For this tutorial, we will be using Astra)
- Once it has been installed, click Activate
To get access to Astra’s templates
- Click on Appearance
- Click on Astra Options
- On the Astra page, click on Install Importer Plugin
- Click on Build Your Own Website Now, below the YouTube tutorial video.
Select Elementor as your page builder (Elementor is the most beginner-friendly page builder)
Scroll down to see all the different types of templates to choose from (Note: if a theme has a Premium label, you will need to pay for it)
When you click on a template it will show you a preview of what your website will look like if you select that theme.
Scroll down to see all the different options that you can use to customize your website once you’ve installed your selected template. Be sure to select one that suits your site’s content needs.
To install your chosen template:
- Click Skip & Continue
- Click on Continue, then Skip and Start Importing.
- Fill in the text fields on the next page with your info and add your email address
- Select Beginner, Intermediate, or Expert, depending on your skill level. (We will be selecting Beginner for this tutorial)
- Select Myself / My Company or My Client (Depending on your needs)
- Click Submit & Build My Website
After you have submitted it, the Website Builder will start running, it will take a while so just wait until it’s done.
When the Website Builder is finished, you’ll get directed to the Congratulations page
Click on the View Your Website button to see your new site.
You’ll now see the front end of your website. You are able to customize this template by changing the text and images, or adding videos.
When you go over to the back end and click on the front end it will look like the site you have used from the template.
Click on the Home tab to view your home page, which will appear the same way your visitors will see it, including your About page and Contact page, and more. You can edit them to show your information such as your email, location, etc. As well as a contact form that will be linked to your email address.
Deleting the pre-installed templates
- Head over to your Dashboard
- Click on Appearance
- Hover your pointer over the pre-installed themes
- Click on Theme Details
- Click on Delete in the bottom right corner
- Click on OK and
- Repeat this for the other pre-installed themes
Your chosen theme should be the only theme that you are left with.
How To Install WordPress Theme From Zip File?
If you have bought a Premium theme from a third-party company, you will need to install the theme manually from a .zip file and upload it to your WordPress account. Zip files are large files that have been compressed into a single smaller file for faster downloads and ease of use.
Start by downloading the .zip file of the theme purchased.
- Head to the Dashboard
- Click on Appearance, followed by Themes, and click Add New.
- You will be directed to the Add Themes page
- Click on Upload Theme
- Click on Choose File and select the .zip file of the theme you downloaded
- Click the Install Now button
When the theme is installed, you will see: Theme Installed Successfully. There will be options to preview or activate your theme.
To use your downloaded theme on your WordPress site click on Activate. Click Home to view your new webpage as it will appear to visitors.
Note: Certain themes include additional settings that you may have to change. These changes might have to be done in the WordPress customizer or a different theme settings panel, depending on the one you chose.
Why should you delete the default WordPress Theme?
When running a WordPress site, one of the best things you can do is delete the default themes that come with it. One of the main reasons why you should delete the default WordPress themes is that when these default themes, usually named after the current year (for example, “Twenty-Twenty-Two”), need to be updated, it can hurt your site. For example, if you have a lot of plugins and themes installed, and one of them needs an update, you might not be able to update it right away because it could break something else on your site.
When a WordPress theme is updated, it means that the developers have added new features or fixed bugs in the code. These updates are important because they can help improve the security and performance of your site. However, if you have multiple themes installed on your WordPress site, updating just one theme can break the others, causing problems with your site, including broken links and design elements, and may even prevent your site from loading altogether.
In addition to taking up storage space on your server, having multiple themes installed on your WordPress site can also slow down its performance. Every time a visitor loads a page on your site, WordPress has to load all of the files for each theme installed on your site, even if they’re not being used, potentially making your site slower and more difficult to use, especially for mobile users.
By focusing on one theme and customizing it to meet your needs, you can avoid these problems and ensure that your WordPress site runs smoothly. Plus, you’ll be able to take advantage of all the latest features and bug fixes as soon as they’re released!
In summary, it’s best to delete the default WordPress themes and focus on one theme that you’re comfortable with, in turn saving you time and trouble in the long run.
Conclusion:
So, there you have it – a simple guide on how to install WordPress themes. We hope you found this post helpful and that you now feel confident in installing new themes for your website. If you’re looking for more ways to improve your website, be sure to check out our comprehensive website-building course on the WPHub YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like and subscribe so you never miss an episode!
