How to Install a WordPress Theme

Ready to install a WordPress theme?  Great!  There are tons of resources online when it comes to themes. We recommend themes from the WordPress.org Theme Directory or a Premium theme from the WordPress.org Premium theme Directory.

If you plan to purchase a Premium theme for your WordPress site, see if the author has a free version you can try before purchase. Or, if this is not available, look for videos, screenshots, and user reviews.

 Step 1: Access Theme Menu

To install a theme from the WordPress.org Theme Directory or Upload a theme log in to the WordPress Dashboard. Next, visit Appearance > Themes. This path will lead you to the Theme menu, where you can get started.

Note: if you have installed a theme, activating it will change the way your content is displayed and your sites functionality.

Step 2: Select Add New

Once you’ve clicked on Themes you’ll be brought to the Theme Menu.  Here you can select Add New and you’ll then be able to choose from featured WordPress themes, search for themes that have certain features, or browse the most popular WordPress themes to see if they fit what you’re looking for.

Step 3: Search and Re-search

Not a type-o, really do some research on your theme! Before purchasing a theme that might display the way you want your site or WooCommerce store to look, read up on the features and see if it’s the right solution for your needs.

Step 4: Install the Theme

To install a theme from the WordPress Theme Directory use the search box on the right to find your theme. For this tutorial we’ll install “Twenty Twelve”. Once you’ve found your theme, click on the Install button to begin the install process.

If you downloaded a theme from another location use the Upload Theme button to start the install process.

Now click the  Browse button to select your .zip file from the theme author.

Your theme will now be installed, you’ll see a success message when the download concludes. You will see something similar to the image below:

Note that this is just a notification of the download progress, your theme is not activated and displaying on your site yet.

Step 5: Activate the Theme

When you’re ready to change your theme and update your site— you’ll have to select Activate.  Once you’ve downloaded the theme, you’ll have in listed in your Theme Menu and you’ll be able to view all of your downloaded themes there.

Once you’ve clicked on the Activate button, you’ve successfully installed and activated your new theme!  The next step is to ensure that all of your site’s content is in working order, you may need to reconfigure some settings depending on your theme.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to log into your MyPressable account and submit a ticket to our Customer Support Experts or check out our blog post titled Top 10 Beginning WordPress Tips for Building a WordPress Website.

Amanda Nadhir

With over a decade of experience in the tech industry, Amanda's experience demonstrates her sales expertise. Her commitment to building, training, and guiding high-performing teams has been instrumental in driving Pressable's success. Amanda's extensive background in sales and marketing, coupled with her sharp business acumen, has made her an invaluable asset to the tech community. Her ability to identify and foster talent, combined with her passion for developing winning sales strategies, has propelled her to the forefront of the industry. When she's not expertly navigating the tech sales landscape, she loves spending quality time with her family, loves travel and adventure, lounging pool/beach-side, playing tennis, working out, and meeting people/making friends all along the way!