How to Change WordPress Themes
A theme is a very fundamental part to a WordPress site build and lays further structure to the foundation of the WordPress platform. However, sometimes it may become necessary to change a theme whether it be to add features, get off the default theme, or migrate to a faster/up-to-date theme.
How to Change WordPress Themes
In order to change themes, simply follow these steps.
Step One: Login to the Dashboard
First, login to the WordPress admin dashboard.
Step Two: Navigate to the Themes Section
Once logged in on the left hand side select Appearance > Themes. This will load up the themes that are currently installed on the site much like the plugins section does with plugins. It is generally recommended to keep themes up-to-date as well as only having the current one in use (and if it’s a child theme the parent theme as well, which we discuss how to create a child theme here,) as well as a default fall-back theme such as Twenty Twenty-One. All other themes can go as they’re serving little to no purpose and just clogging up the file manager with useless files that may even be exploitable.
Step Three: Install the Theme if Not Present
If the theme that is desired is not already installed, simply click Add New or Add New Theme. This will bring up a list of most popular themes to install as well as the ability for users to upload their own theme which we cover in detail here.
Step Four: Activate the Theme
Once the theme is installed, simply select Activate and this theme will become the default theme on this WordPress site. Be warned, when changing themes some major development may need to occur to get everything to look right, so don’t be surprised if certain items such as header and footer options are missing. Most themes handle content similarly but not all. Some themes may also require add-on plugins to get full functionality so go ahead and install those now that the theme is live.
Conclusion
Oftentimes with one-off themes and themes that have relatively low support we will find that there comes a time when critical errors rear their head and create problems that can only be alleviated with a theme change. Certain themes also work better with features such as AMP and if that is a necessity can be cause for change. Whatever is facilitating this change, we have an article on what to look for in a WordPress theme as well as one on Updating WordPress Themes.
