To install your WordPress theme, you have a few options which we will take you through the different options below. Whether you are installing a free theme, child theme, or a premium theme, the process will be the same.
Method 1 : Using the WordPress Theme Installer
This is the most common and easiest of methods.
- Log into this site and go to Members >> Purchase History >> View Details and Downloads
- Click on the linked theme name to download the theme’s zip file.
- Go to Appearance > Themes
- Click on the “Add New” button, then click on the “Upload Theme” button
- Upload the theme’s zip file that you previously downloaded
- Activate the theme (screenshot below)
Method 2 : Using FTP
If for some reason you are unable to install a theme with the WP theme installer, you can use the FTP (File Transfer Protocol) method. You will need an FTP program to do this, such as the one I use, called WS_FTP Professional, or, you can use a free one called FileZilla.
- Log into this site and go to Members >> Purchase History >> View Details and Downloads
- Click on the linked theme name to download the theme’s zip file.
- Double click the zip file to extract it (sometimes referred to as unzipping a file). This will create a folder named after the theme and will contain all of your theme files in it. You will know by looking inside and finding the style.css file in it.
- Open and connect to your server via FTP
- Go the the WordPress root folder on your server where your WordPress files are located and then go to a sub-folder called “themes” which is located here: /wp-content/themes/
- Upload the theme folder that you extracted from the zip into the “themes” folder. You might see other theme folders there too, such as the twentyseventeen, twentysixteen, etc.
- Login to your WordPress admin, go the Appearance > Themes
- You should see all the uploaded themes. Click on the “Activate” buttonĀ to activate the theme (see screenshot below)