How to Install a WordPress Theme: Complete Guide

Have you found the perfect WordPress theme, but don’t know how to install it?

No problem.

In this article, you will learn how to install a theme in WordPress .

There are several ways to install a theme. This will depend on whether you want to install a free theme or a Premium theme. We’ll cover each method below.

Ready? We start:

Install a theme from the official WordPress library

Today, there are thousands of free WordPress themes that you can easily install from the WordPress repository .

You can find these themes in the official WordPress.org theme repository, which you can find in the Appearance → Themes section . Once inside, click Add new and search for the name of the theme you want to install. Then activate it to activate the theme.

It’s that easy.

Automattic , the company that runs WordPress, typically releases free default WordPress themes every year. Although these themes are usually more than enough to have a blog, they have limited features in terms of design and customization to create a professional website or online store.

This is why it is necessary to turn to Premium themes from third-party developers.

For example, GeneratePress and Kadence are two of the best options if you want to install a WordPress theme. They have a free version and you can install them directly from the WordPress theme repository and test them before launching your website.

install a WordPress theme Zip file

With a small budget per year, you can buy a theme or Premium version of a free theme that interests you. We recommend it, as you’ll get access to more features and customization, as well as more reliable support.

After purchasing a Premium theme, you will need to download it from the official website in order to install it. Once downloaded in .zip format , you can install it or upload a new update here.

Once uploaded, click on Install now and activate it to be able to use it on the website.

Install a ThemeForest theme in WordPress

If you purchased it from a theme marketplace like ThemeForest, you will need to download it from there. To do this, go to ThemeForest and access your account.

Once you have it downloaded, go to Appearance → Themes → Add new → Upload theme . Click Choose File and select the ZIP file for your theme as explained above.

Click Install Now to install it, and then activate it.

If you receive an error message, unzip the original ZIP file you downloaded. Some developers put the actual ZIP file you need inside. Finally, you will have to activate the license of the theme you have purchased.

This allows you to track who has active licenses so you know which sites to distribute updates to. Make sure to activate your license key so you can enjoy regular theme updates. You can find it in your account on the official website of the theme.

Install a WordPress theme via FTP

The way to install a WordPress theme via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) will depend on your hosting. Some hosts have a file manager that you can use from your server control panel.

You can also install a WordPress template via FTP using an FTP client like FileZilla , to manage and access your files from your computer. You will need your site’s SFTP/FTP credentials. This is a server IP address, a username, password, and a port number.

If your hosting has its own file manager, find the folder that contains your WordPress files. They are usually in a folder called “public_html” .

Enter them in FileZilla’s top menu and click QuickConnect to connect to your site’s file system. You will find it in the lower right panel.

You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see folders called “wp-content” and “wp-admin” .

Open the “wp-content” folder and then open the themes folder . You will see that the theme files are not compressed. This means that you will have to unzip the theme’s .zip file. It will be alone and with the name of the theme.

Upload this file to the Themes folder. If you’re in FileZilla, you’ll find your computer’s file system in the bottom left panel. Drag the file to the Themes folder to install it.

Next, go back to your WordPress admin area and navigate to Appearance → Themes to activate the theme.