AFFLOVE On The Internet

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.