WordPress themes control how your site looks and behaves. Whether you are applying a new WordPress theme to a fresh site or switching an existing one, the process to install a WordPress theme is the same regardless of where the theme comes from. You can pull a free theme from the built-in theme directory, buy a premium theme from a developer, or upload an installable WordPress file you downloaded elsewhere.
This post covers both routes, along with a note on keeping your themes in good shape once they are installed. If you are new to WordPress, the UWH guide to WordPress is a good place to start before diving into themes.
Installing a theme from the WordPress library
The built-in theme catalogue is the most direct route. From your WordPress admin dashboard, go to Appearance in the left-hand menu, then select Themes. You will see any themes already installed on your site listed here, including the WordPress default themes.
To add something new, click Add New. This opens the WordPress theme directory, which contains hundreds of free themes, while developers sell paid themes elsewhere. Use the feature filter to narrow by layout, subject or features, or the search bar to find popular themes such as the Astra theme by name.
When you find a theme you like, hover over it to reveal two options: Preview and Install. The preview loads a live view of your content inside the theme, which gives you a reasonable sense of how it will look before committing. Once you are ready, click the Install Now button to add the theme directly, wait a moment for it to finish, then click the Activate button to make it live.
If you change your mind later, switching themes is straightforward. Any theme you have installed stays in your themes menu, so you can move between them without losing your previous setup.
If you plan to customise a theme’s code, set up a child theme first. A child theme inherits everything from the current theme but keeps your changes safe when the parent theme updates. Many modern options are block based themes, which you edit visually through the Site Editor rather than the older Customizer.
Installing a theme from an external source
Many theme developers sell their work through their own websites rather than the WordPress catalogue. You might also be working with a designer who has built a custom theme for your project. In either case, you will receive a theme file to install manually.
Start by downloading the theme file to your computer. Theme files are typically delivered as a .zip theme archive. Keep the file zipped for now, as WordPress handles the extraction itself during upload.
Tip: Some theme vendors bundle multiple files in a single download, with the actual theme zip nested inside. Check the contents before uploading to make sure you are selecting the correct file.
Go back to Appearance > Themes and click Add New again. This time, look for the Upload Theme button at the top of the page. Click it, then select your .zip file from wherever you saved it on your computer.
WordPress will upload and install the theme in a few seconds. Once it is done, you can activate it the same way you would with any theme from the catalogue. The theme will then appear in your themes menu alongside any others you have installed.
Installing a theme manually with FTP
If a theme file is too large for the upload limit on your hosting account, or the dashboard upload fails, you can install it with an FTP client instead. Connect to your web host or hosting provider with a client such as FileZilla. Enter your FTP credentials in the FileZilla screen and click QuickConnect, unzip the theme on your computer, then upload the files by copying the resulting theme folder into the wp-content/themes folder in the root directory of your WordPress installation.
Once the theme folder is in place, it appears under Appearance > Themes ready to activate, exactly as if you had used the upload route in the dashboard. This manual method is the dependable fallback when a large premium theme will not install any other way.
Choosing the right theme
With thousands of options, picking the right theme matters as much as installing it. A few guidelines narrow the field before you commit.
- Start with reputable sources. Free WordPress themes from the official directory are officially approved and security-reviewed. The default themes, such as Twenty Twenty Three, give you a fast, safe baseline.
- Match the theme to your purpose. The most popular themes suit many sites, but a theme built for your target audience and type of content will need less adjustment than a generic one.
- Avoid bloat. A theme with too many features you will never use is sometimes poorly coded and slow. Lean templates load faster.
- Plan for changes. If you intend to edit theme code, work in a child theme (sometimes called a sub theme) so an update to the old theme does not wipe your changes.
When new features arrive in a theme update, test them on a staging copy before applying them to your live site.
Keeping your themes updated
Installing a theme is not a one-off task. WordPress releases updates regularly, and themes need to stay compatible with the version of WordPress you are running. An outdated theme can cause layout problems or, in some cases, create security vulnerabilities. Our WordPress security guide covers similar risks that apply equally to themes.
You can check for theme updates in two places. The Themes menu will flag any themes with available updates directly on their thumbnail. The Dashboard > Updates screen lists all pending updates in one place, covering WordPress core, plugins and themes together.
It is worth updating all installed themes, not only the one currently active. Inactive themes can still be exploited if they contain known vulnerabilities, so keeping them current or removing ones you no longer need is good practice.
Knowing how to install a WordPress theme, whether free themes pulled straight from the WordPress dashboard or paid ones added by upload, takes only a few minutes once you know where to look. The built-in catalogue covers most needs, and the upload route handles anything sourced externally. Themes and the sites built on them run best on hosting tuned for WordPress, which is what our WordPress hosting plans are designed for.
Stuck on a step while installing or switching a theme? The UWH support team can walk you through it.
