How to install a WordPress theme

WordPress themes control how your site looks and behaves. Whether you are starting fresh or switching up an existing site, the process of installing a theme is the same regardless of where the theme comes from. You can pull one from the built-in catalogue or upload a file you have 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 dashboard, go to Appearance in the left-hand menu, then select Themes. You will see any themes already installed on your site listed here.

To add something new, click Add New. This opens the theme catalogue, which contains hundreds of free and premium options. You can filter by feature, layout or popularity, or search by name if you already have something in mind.

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 Install, wait a moment for it to finish, then click Activate 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.

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 archive. Keep the file zipped for now, as WordPress handles the extraction itself during upload.

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.

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 post on how plugins compromise security 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.

Installing and managing WordPress themes takes a few minutes once you know where to look. The built-in catalogue covers most needs, and the upload route handles anything sourced externally. If you want a hosting environment built around WordPress, take a look at our WordPress hosting plans.

If you have questions about getting set up, the UWH support team is available to help.