Not too long ago, one in all our readers requested us the way to correctly change a WordPress theme on their web site with out breaking something.

WordPress makes it tremendous straightforward to vary and handle themes. Nevertheless, that you must do not forget that altering the looks of your reside web site is a serious occasion. It’s good to hold sure issues in thoughts earlier than and after you modify a theme so that you don’t lose any information and web site visitors.

On this article, we’ll present you the way to change a WordPress theme with a step-by-step guidelines.

Why Change a WordPress Theme?

You might need to change the theme in your WordPress web site to make it higher match your area of interest.

For instance, should you run a trend weblog, you then may need to change to a theme with the type of an expert trend web site.

Switching to a special theme may also give your web site a contemporary look, improve the person expertise, and even enhance your web site’s Search engine optimization by making it simpler for serps to crawl and index your content material.

Plus, some WordPress themes include built-in options that you could be want in your web site. As an illustration, some themes embody options for eCommerce, membership websites, and portfolios.

Having stated that, let’s see the way to correctly change a WordPress theme in your web site. Right here’s a fast overview of what you’ll study on this article:

Issues to Do Earlier than Altering a WordPress Theme

When you can simply change a theme with just some clicks, it’s essential to take some precautionary steps earlier than beginning this course of.

We advocate that you just undergo the next guidelines to make sure that the method of fixing your WordPress theme goes easily and that you just don’t find yourself dropping essential information.

1. Copy Snippets from Your Present Theme

Some intermediate WordPress customers wish to customise their web site by including code snippets on to the theme’s features.php file.

Since these modifications had been made as soon as, individuals often overlook about them.

When you or your internet developer made these modifications, then be sure that to undergo the information of your present theme and notice all the extra code you’ve added beforehand. This can mean you can add these snippets later into your new theme’s features.php file or a site-specific WordPress plugin.

For extra particulars, simply see our information on the way to correctly add customized code in WordPress.

2. Check Load Time

Earlier than altering your theme, it is best to examine the load time of your web site. This may help you simply examine the variations within the web page load time after you make modifications to your web site.

Bear in mind, WordPress pace is a vital consider person expertise and Search engine optimization, so that you must be sure that the brand new theme is quicker than your earlier one.

You may examine your web site pace by utilizing a WordPress speed test tool. For extra directions, see our information on the way to run a web site pace take a look at.

Just remember to take a look at the load time of the homepage and likewise a few of your inside pages.

3. Don’t Lose Any Monitoring Code

Some customers add their analytics monitoring code on to their theme information. Additionally, some WordPress themes mean you can add AdSense or Analytics code of their settings panels.

One of the vital frequent errors newcomers make is to miss these code snippets.

It’s good to just be sure you copy all of the monitoring code so you possibly can add it to your new web site after altering the theme.

To future-proof this, we at all times advocate customers set up Google Analytics utilizing a plugin like MonsterInsights. This plugin allows you to view the analytics and reviews instantly out of your WordPress dashboard with out having so as to add any monitoring code to the theme information.

However, for different monitoring codes like adverts, we advocate utilizing WPCode. For detailed directions, see our tutorial on the way to correctly add Google AdSense to WordPress.

4. Make a Full Backup

It’s at all times really helpful to again up your posts, photographs, plugins, and the database earlier than altering your theme.

You should use a WordPress backup plugin like Duplicator to create a backup of your whole web site. Just remember to obtain this backup to your laptop earlier than transferring ahead.

This step will guarantee that you could recuperate your web site simply if something goes improper.

For extra data, you possibly can see our newbie’s information on the way to again up your WordPress web site.

5. Sidebar Content material

Sidebars are used for including totally different widgets together with social hyperlinks, ads, subscription varieties, or a contact type.

Make a remark of those modifications. If there’s any customized code added to a widget, then ensure you copy and paste this code in your laptop so to reuse it in your new theme.

6. Preserve Your Website in Upkeep Mode

It’s follow to place your web site in upkeep mode if you find yourself making modifications to it. This will forestall customers from seeing an incomplete web site and guarantee a easy transition to a special theme.

We advocate utilizing SeedProd for this goal.

It’s the greatest WordPress web page builder in the marketplace that permits you to simply create coming quickly and upkeep mode pages to your web site.

First, that you must set up and activate the SeedProd plugin. When you need assistance, then observe our step-by-step information on the way to set up a WordPress plugin.

Notice: You should use SeedProd’s free plan to allow upkeep mode. Nevertheless, upgrading to the premium model will unlock extra options like pre-built templates, superior customization options, and e mail advertising and marketing instrument integrations.

Subsequent, head over to the SeedProd » Touchdown Pages display out of your WordPress dashboard and click on the ‘Arrange a Upkeep Mode Web page’ button.

After that, it’s essential to choose a template to your upkeep mode web page. You may as well use a clean template and create a web page from scratch.

To decide on a template, merely hover your mouse over a thumbnail after which click on the examine icon.

Now you can use SeedProd drag-and-drop web page builder to customise your web page. Merely add new blocks by dragging them from the menu in your left.

SeedProd allows you to add normal blocks for textual content, photographs, buttons, and headlines. It additionally presents superior blocks, together with contact varieties, giveaways, social sharing choices, and far more.

Don’t overlook to save lots of your modifications by clicking the ‘Save’ button within the prime proper nook.

After that, head over to the ‘Web page Settings’ tab and alter the Web page Standing by toggling it to ‘Publish.’

When you do this, click on the ‘X’ icon on the prime left nook of the display to exit the drag-and-drop builder. This can open a immediate on the display asking you to activate the upkeep mode.

From right here, merely click on the ‘Sure, Activate’ button to show the upkeep mode to the customers visiting your web site.

When you want extra inspiration to create a upkeep mode web page, then you possibly can see our listing of upkeep web page concepts that you should utilize in your WordPress web site.

The right way to Set up a WordPress Theme

After following the above precautions, the subsequent step is to put in a theme that you just need to use in your web site.

When you’ve chosen a theme, that you must set up it in your WordPress web site. You should use any of the next 3 strategies to put in a WordPress theme:

• Utilizing the WordPress theme search possibility
• Importing a theme out of your WordPress dashboard
• Putting in a theme utilizing FTP

For extra data, you possibly can examine our newbie’s information on the way to set up a WordPress theme.

There are millions of free and paid WordPress themes accessible so that you can decide from. The truth that you might be studying this text means you’ve doubtless discovered theme to your wants.

Nevertheless, should you haven’t already chosen a theme, then we are able to extremely advocate the next WordPress themes:

1. Astra

Astra is a light-weight and speed-optimized WordPress theme that’s appropriate with standard web page builder plugins like SeedProd, Beaver Builder, Divi, and Visible Composer.

It’s a translation and RTL-ready theme. It permits you to begin your web site in any language and even create a multilingual web site.

Astra may also be built-in with the WooCommerce plugin, so you possibly can simply create a web based retailer with out a lot problem. You may even customise the header, footer, format, and extra utilizing the WordPress Theme Customizer.

Our favourite factor about Astra is all of the starter web site templates it comes with. It has greater than 250 choices for every kind of niches, together with enterprise web sites, on-line shops, and private blogs.

2. Divi

Divi is without doubt one of the hottest WordPress themes in the marketplace. It’s powered by the drag-and-drop Divi Builder, which lets you simply construct any type of web site.

It comes with over 2000 pre-built layouts and 200 totally different content material parts. You may simply customise every component of your web site and see the modifications in actual time.

Plus, Divi can be tremendous Search engine optimization-friendly and may help your web site rank greater in Google and different serps.

3. SeedProd

SeedProd is the very best WordPress theme builder in the marketplace, with over 1 million energetic customers.

We already talked about you should utilize it to create a upkeep mode web page. However you may also use it to create a customized WordPress theme with out writing any code.

SeedProd comes with a drag-and-drop builder and 300+ professionally designed templates to get you began. You may simply customise your theme with ready-made blocks, good sections, and WordPress template tags.

It additionally exhibits a real-time preview of all of the modifications on the best aspect of the display, so you possibly can see how your web site will seem to customers earlier than it’s even revealed.

4. StudioPress Genesis

Genesis is the preferred WordPress theme framework constructed by the StudioPress group. You may create wonderful web sites utilizing the Genesis framework and different StudioPress themes.

In case you don’t know, StudioPress is part of WP Engine, the preferred managed WordPress internet hosting firm.

The very best half is you’ll get 35+ StudioPress themes without spending a dime should you join any WP Engine internet hosting plan.

5. OceanWP

OceanWP is a responsive and multi-purpose WordPress theme. It presents a number of demo templates which have been constructed with totally different professions and companies in thoughts.

It’s appropriate with the key web page builder plugins. You may as well use totally different extensions to take your web site to the subsequent stage.

The right way to Change WordPress Theme With out Going Reside

When you’ve put in your new theme, you might be prepared to change themes.

Nevertheless, it’s at all times really helpful to check a theme earlier than switching to it in your reside web site.

This fashion, you’ll be capable of examine the compatibility of the brand new theme together with your current plugins and be sure that the whole lot is working correctly.

There are 3 ways that you could change your WordPress theme with out going reside.

1. Reside Preview Choice

By default, WordPress permits you to preview a theme in your web site with out altering it.

To do this, head over to the Look » Themes web page from the WordPress admin sidebar.

On this web page, you’ll see all of the put in themes in your web site. Go forward and hover your mouse over the theme you need to preview and click on on the ‘Reside Preview’ button.

This can open your new theme within the WordPress Theme Customizer.

Now you can take a look at your new theme and be sure that the whole lot is working correctly.

2. Theme Switcha Plugin

Another choice is to make use of the Theme Switcha plugin. It permits you to preview your new theme with out activating it.

First, that you must set up and activate this free plugin. For detailed directions, see our step-by-step information on the way to set up a WordPress plugin.

Upon activation, go to the Settings » Theme Switcha web page from the WordPress dashboard and examine the field subsequent to the ‘Allow theme switching’ possibility.

When you do this, scroll to the underside of the web page to click on the ‘Save Adjustments’ button.

This plugin will now show all of your put in themes on the backside of this web page.

From right here, merely click on in your new theme to preview it in a brand new internet browser tab.

3. Check Your Theme on a Staging Website

You may as well take a look at your WordPress theme with out making it reside by making a staging web site. This web site is a clone of your reside web site and is used for testing any type of modifications.

You may simply do that by utilizing your internet hosting supplier’s built-in staging web site characteristic. For this tutorial, we will probably be utilizing Bluehost.

First, it’s essential to go to your Bluehost cPanel and click on the ‘My Websites’ button. When you do this, change to the ‘Plugins’ tab and activate the The Bluehost Plugin.

Subsequent, go to your WordPress dashboard and head to the Bluehost » Staging web page.

From right here, click on on the ‘Create Staging Website’ button to proceed.

Bluehost will now put together the staging setting for you.

After that, it is going to show the ‘Staging Website’ part the place it’s essential to examine the ‘Not at the moment modifying’ field.

This can open a immediate on the display asking you to change to your staging web site.

From right here, click on the ‘Swap’ button.

When you do this, you possibly can head to the Look » Themes web page from the dashboard and activate any theme that you just need to take a look at with out worrying about it affecting your reside web site.

Then, when you’re pleased with the theme, you possibly can simply push the modifications reside.

For extra particulars, you possibly can see our newbie’s information on the way to simply create a staging setting for a WordPress web site.

The right way to Change WordPress Theme on a Reside Website

After you could have examined your new theme, it’s time to start out the method of switching the theme in your WordPress web site.

To do that, go to the Look » Themes web page from the WordPress admin sidebar.

As soon as you might be there, simply hover the mouse cursor over the theme you need to use after which click on the ‘Activate’ button to vary the WordPress theme.

Now, you possibly can go to the homepage of your web site to see the brand new theme in motion.

The right way to Change WordPress Theme Manually

Generally, an error could make your WordPress admin space inaccessible. In that case, you gained’t be capable of change the theme utilizing the above technique.

To recuperate your web site, that you must restore it from backup or troubleshoot the WordPress error inflicting the issue.

Nevertheless, should you don’t have a backup, then you possibly can change the theme manually with the assistance of phpMyAdmin.

This technique permits you to inform WordPress which theme to make use of by altering the data within the database.

First, that you must connect with your web site utilizing an FTP consumer and go to the /wp-content/themes/ folder.

Right here, you’ll be capable of see all of the themes which might be at the moment put in in your web site. You may as well set up a WordPress theme by way of FTP should you don’t see it.

Subsequent, you need to write down the folder title of the theme you need to use as a result of you have to it later.

After that, head over to the cPanel of your WordPress internet hosting account. For this tutorial, we will probably be utilizing Bluehost. Nevertheless, your cPanel could look totally different relying on the internet hosting service that you just use.

On this web page, scroll all the way down to the phpMyAdmin part and click on the ‘Handle’ button subsequent to it.

As soon as you might be in phpMyAdmin, you’ll see a listing of databases on the left aspect of the display. From right here, click on on the database that you’re utilizing to your WordPress web site.

This can open all of the database tables in the best column of the display. Now, go forward and click on on the wp_options desk to open it up.

Notice: By default, WordPress makes use of wp_ because the prefix for the desk names. Nevertheless, it’s potential to have a special database prefix, as proven within the picture.

This can open a listing of different information that had been saved within the wp_options desk.

From right here, it’s essential to find the template and stylesheet rows in the best panel.

When you do this, click on on the ‘Edit’ hyperlink within the template row to open the editor.

Right here, that you must change the worth within the option_value area to the theme title that you just need to use.

It’s often the identical because the folder title within the /wp-content/themes/ folder that you just copied earlier.

As soon as you might be accomplished, click on on the ‘Go’ button to save lots of the modifications. Subsequent, go forward and repeat the identical course of for the stylesheet row.

After making modifications to each rows, you possibly can go to your web site to see the brand new theme in motion.

Issues to Do After Altering Your Theme

When you’ve modified the theme in your web site, that you must care for sure issues earlier than turning off upkeep mode.

You may take a look at the next guidelines of issues to do after altering your WordPress theme.

1. Check Your Web site

First, that you must be sure that all of the functionalities, plugins, and widgets are working correctly in your web site.

It is best to make investments a while to check your web site and take a look at various things together with the posts, remark part, photographs, and get in touch with type.

As soon as you might be glad with how your web site appears and works, you possibly can transfer to the subsequent step.

2. Cross Browser Compatibility

Browsers generally tend to point out sure issues in another way.

To be sure that your web site appears good in each main browser, it is best to take a look at your web site in numerous internet browsers, together with Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Web Explorer.

3. Add Monitoring Code

After you’ve examined the options and the cross-browser compatibility, it is best to add your analytics and AdSense monitoring code to your web site.

You should use the MonsterInsights plugin so as to add the Google Analytics monitoring code. This can mean you can correctly arrange analytics and think about detailed web site stats proper inside your WordPress dashboard.

For extra particulars, see our information on the way to set up Google Analytics in WordPress.

For including Google AdSense monitoring code, you possibly can learn our information on the way to correctly add Google AdSense to your WordPress web site.

4. Flip Off Upkeep Mode

Now you can disable upkeep mode in your web site to make it go reside.

If you’re utilizing the SeedProd plugin, merely go to the SeedProd » Touchdown Pages display out of your WordPress dashboard and click on the toggle to ‘Inactive’ to show off the upkeep mode.

5. Check Loading Time

Upon altering your theme, we advocate utilizing the IsItWP Website SpeedTest Tool once more to check the loading time of your homepage.

Subsequent, examine it to the load time when your outdated theme was put in. When you see any main variations, then you possibly can observe our information to enhance WordPress pace.

6. Monitor Bounce Fee

After switching themes, it is best to monitor the bounce charge of your web site.

In case your new theme shouldn’t be user-friendly and troublesome to navigate, then it could improve the bounce charge and drive guests away out of your web site.

You may add associated posts, standard posts widgets, and breadcrumbs to scale back the bounce charge and improve web page views.

7. Ask for Suggestions

You may as well ask your customers for suggestions and options on the way to enhance your web site design. You should use survey varieties or on-line polls to collect person enter.

For instance, you may use person suggestions so as to add a two-question survey immediate in your web site. For detailed directions, see our tutorial on the way to create a survey in WordPress.

You may share the brand new design together with your subscribers utilizing an e mail advertising and marketing service and ask them for his or her options. This can assist you to get concepts for what they wish to see improved.

Bonus: Replace a WordPress Theme With out Shedding Customization

Upon getting switched to a special theme and customised it based on your liking, you’ll want to hold that theme commonly up to date to the newer variations.

Nevertheless, if you replace a theme, you possibly can lose a few of the customization settings. For instance, you’ll lose all of the code that you’ve got added to the theme’s features.php file, stylesheet, or templates.

Nevertheless, you possibly can simply replace a WordPress theme with out dropping all of your customization by creating a baby theme.

This theme will inherit the dad or mum theme’s performance, options, and magnificence. You may then customise the kid theme with out making any modifications to the unique one.

Subsequent, it’s essential to establish the entire modifications you made to your theme and duplicate them over to the kid theme. The simplest means to do that is by evaluating your outdated and new theme information utilizing software program like WinMerge or Kaleidoscope.

When you make the modifications, merely export the customizer settings from the dad or mum theme and import them to the kid theme.

Upon doing that, you possibly can preview your modifications within the customizer and click on the ‘Save & Publish’ button to make these modifications reside.

For extra detailed directions, see our tutorial on the way to replace a WordPress theme with out dropping customization.

One other method to replace your theme with out dropping any customization is to at all times add your customized code with WPCode. It’s the greatest WordPress code snippet plugin in the marketplace that makes it tremendous straightforward and secure so as to add customized code to your web site.

When utilizing this plugin, you gained’t have to fret about dropping the customized code in your features.php file, stylesheets, or templates if you replace your theme.

It is because the code will probably be saved in WPCode and can routinely be executed in your web site. For particulars, see our full WPCode assessment.

We hope this step-by-step information helped you correctly change your WordPress theme. You might also need to see our newbie’s information on the way to use the WordPress theme customizer and our prime picks for the must-have WordPress plugins for enterprise web sites.

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