Since most visitors judge the credibility of a brand based on the design of your website, it’s important to create a visually appealing site from the start. Fortunately, changing the appearance of a WordPress site only requires the installation of a theme, a set of files responsible for the appearance of a website.
There are plenty of free and premium WordPress themes available on the official theme directory and various marketplaces. Those on a tight budget might go for a , while more performance-oriented users might look for a .
This article will show you how to switch themes in WordPress without losing anything as well as showing you the prerequisites for the process. We will also explore different problems that changing themes can solve.
Before I change the subject
Before changing your WordPress theme, make sure to save the following data from the old theme:
- code snippets: Includes all code that is not part of your plugins or WordPress core. You can also install a plugin to keep track of existing code with a few clicks.
- tracking code : This practice is especially important if you have added parsing code to the current theme. Otherwise, you won’t be able to track your site’s performance after changing themes.
- Sidebar content and – Each theme has different sidebar and widget areas, so switching WordPress themes can alter their visibility or positioning. This step includes taking note of any custom code previously added to these areas.
- Website backup file: Not required if you’re working in a staging environment.
Also, check the current loading speed and performance of your website to make sure that the new theme performs better than the old one.
pro tip
We recommend testing your new theme in a staging environment before installing it on a live site. In addition to providing a space for trial and error, a WordPress staging site allows you to discover and resolve critical bugs without compromising the functionality of the live site.
4 steps to change a WordPress theme
Once you’ve taken care of the prerequisites, follow this step-by-step guide to changing your WordPress theme.
Step 1. Activate maintenance mode
Al indicates to visitors to the site that the site is unavailable due to ongoing maintenance. This status helps preserve your brand’s credibility during the transition, especially if the changes cause some of the features to not work.
The easiest way to do this is by using a plugin like . You can also create a maintenance mode page with a page builder plugin or enable maintenance mode from your web hosting control panel. These methods do not require coding.
pro tip
If you choose to change themes using a staging site, feel free to skip this step.
Step 2. Install the new WordPress theme
This tutorial is for installing free themes available in the . For , you will need to upload the theme files manually.
- Enter the WordPress administration dashboard, go to the section of Appearance and select Topics. You are now on the page that shows you the themes you have installed on your WordPress. Press the button Add new that appears at the top of the screen.
- Find your desired theme using the WordPress theme search option.
- Another way to limit your options is to use the Filter by features. Press apply filters after specifying the criteria.
- Hover over the chosen theme and select Install.
Step 3. Preview and activate the theme
Once the installation process is complete, you will see the buttons Preview Y Activate when you mouse over the topic.
Clicking Preview The theme will open in the WordPress theme customizer, allowing you to preview how your website will look with it. To use the theme right away, select Activate.
pro tip
Switch between your installed themes by navigating to Appearance -> Themes from your WordPress admin panel.
Step 4. Fix the bugs and re-add the custom code snippets
Since the new theme will remain unchanged, you will need to restore all data, custom code, and settings from the old theme. The following list will ensure that you do all the necessary configuration before publishing the changes to the site.
- Code– Add code snippets, theme-specific shortcodes, tracking code, and sidebar content. The layout of the sidebars can also change, so check and readjust the position of the widgets accordingly.
- pages– Review and readjust the layout and formatting of widget areas throughout the WordPress site.
- favicon: Make sure the is working properly. If not, add it back through the WordPress customizer.
- Schema markup: If you have used a plugin to add and manage the data, the theme transition should not affect the Schema markup. Otherwise, you will have to reconfigure the new theme manually.
- plugins– Since some themes come with pre-installed plugins and theme-specific features, you’ll want to make sure they don’t conflict with your existing plugins.
- Website content: Changing the theme shouldn’t affect existing content on the site, but you should make sure everything is in place.
- Cache– Open your WordPress website in multiple browsers and clear the cache. Doing so will remove any static files from the site before the theme change, ensuring a good user experience once it’s up and running.
pro tip
If you have tested the new WordPress theme without publishing it, remember to copy the test site to the main website and then publish it.
What problems can changing the topic solve?
Installing new WordPress themes can give your site more than just a new look. This method is also effective in solving the following problems:
- outdated design: There are more and more themes with new designs on the market, allowing you to stay up to date with the latest UX trends and keep a fresh look throughout the site.
- Theme Limitations: The currently installed theme may not have the functionality the site needs, requiring a new one.
- slow charging time: installing an optimized WordPress theme can and the performance of the site.
- Security issues: Switching from a revoked theme to a licensed one is a good practice for . Avoid unregistered themes as they often contain malicious code that creates vulnerabilities upon installation.
- WordPress and PHP version incompatibility– If updating the active theme does not resolve compatibility issues, WordPress users are advised to switch to a theme that is compatible with su and PHP.
conclusion
Sticking with the same WordPress theme for an extended period of time can be easy, but switching to a new theme will bring many benefits to your site. In addition to giving your site a fresh look, a new theme can solve a number of problems and provide new functionality.
For example, changing your WordPress theme can optimize the performance of your site. Make sure you also optimize your site speed using high quality.
We hope this article has helped you understand how to change your WordPress theme correctly. Good luck.
Deyi is a digital marketing enthusiast, with a background in web design, content creation, copywriting, and SEO. She is part of ‘s SEO & Localization team. In her free time, she likes to develop projects, read a book or watch a good movie.