How To Install A New WordPress Theme
When I was trying to install a new theme for my WordPress.org sites (for example, the site you’re looking at now) the only instructions that I could find were “upload it to your wp-content folder and extract it”. The problem was, I couldn’t find the folder! More than that, once I was able to find the folder for my main site (yet to be built), it didn’t automatically install on all of my WordPress accounts. It took several more days for me to find the correct folders. So here’s a simple step-by-step on how to install new WordPress themes on your WordPress accounts through HostGator’s CPanel.
Note: For step-by-step instructions on installing WordPress itself through HostGator click here.
#1- Download a theme you like. It doesn’t matter if it’s a free WordPress theme or if you paid for it, just make sure that you download it to a folder that you can easily find later. Tip: I make a new folder for Wordpress, and then a folder inside that labeled “themes”.
#2- Open your HostGator CPanel and sign in. There should be a link provided in your welcome email.
#3- Open “File Manager”. It should be the second from the left on the second line. The icon has a kind of landscape look to it.
#4- Open the folder marked “www”. The folder should be just above the file marked “create new file”.
#5- Click on the folder marked “wp-content” if you’re installing the WordPress theme on your main domain. If you’re installing the theme on a secondary domain, open the folder for that domain first and then open the wp-content folder.
#6- Open the folder marked “themes”.
#7- Click on “upload file(s)”. It’s marked with a big arrow pointing upwards.
#8- Use the browse button to find the theme download. Click upload.
#9- Click on the theme file that you just uploaded and click “extract”. The extract link is on the far right in the upper corner. Close the window that pops up.
#10- Open WordPress and go to the dashboard. Click on “Presentation”. You should see your new theme as one of the selections. Click on it. Your theme should now be activated.
If you need more help building your WordPress website, try these tutorial videos or click here to read the rest of my step-by-step articles on WordPress.
thanks man. simple and easy to understand.
Comment by becoming minimalist — October 2, 2008 @ 4:25 am
You’re welcome- I hope it was a help.
Comment by afflove — October 3, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
Thank you so much, I was struggling and having problems,I was told to extract the file first, which wasn’t working with trying to install it, I was getting so frustrated, thank you so much, I am book marking your site for sure :))
Comment by Tash — October 31, 2008 @ 1:03 am
Thank you so, so much…I spent way too much time trying to figure this out! Now I can move on and start bloggin!
Comment by Jean — September 30, 2009 @ 1:34 am
Thanks, but you forgot to mention that the theme has to be in zip file format, otherwise it can’t be uploaded (because you only have the option to upload 1 file, not a folder full of files, as would be the case if you had unzipped it at some point, say).
Comment by mike — April 3, 2010 @ 2:14 am
Tash- I know what you mean, I went through the same problem myself! Someone told me to unzip the file then upload it, when HostGator unzips it for you. Glad this helped!
Jean- You’re welcome, and I’m so glad it helped! I understand how frustrating it can be when all you want to do is write.
Mike- You’re right, and thank you for including that information here. It’s not so much that I forgot as it is that at the time, I didn’t know the difference. I haven’t updated this post since it was written, even though I know a lot more about using it now.
Comment by afflove — April 3, 2010 @ 3:40 am
Thanks so much for these clear and simple instructions! I will visit your site often!
Comment by Karen — April 18, 2010 @ 12:31 am
you rock!!!
Comment by k — May 19, 2010 @ 12:53 am
Thank you very much. I’ve been trying figure it out. finally i find it here it’s easy and clear understand..
Comment by eechond — June 12, 2010 @ 3:29 am
Thank you so much for the information. You saved me tons of time and got my site set up in minutes!
Comment by Bahamas Airport — October 25, 2010 @ 8:01 pm