How To Install And Activate WordPress Theme [ cPanel ]

When we install WordPress from our hosting cPanel we get a default WordPress theme. This default theme can be used to build a basic website.

But if you want to switch this theme then you have to install a new WordPress theme either from the themes directories or after buying from a developer.

In this tutorial, I will show you how to install or change the default WordPress theme.

How To Install WordPress Theme Manually

Installing WordPress themes manually is a very easy process. Just follow the basic step-by-step guidelines.

Step 1. Go to WordPress Dashboard

First of all login to your WordPress dashboard at https://www.yourdomain.com/wp-admin.

Step 2. Find Appreance Click on Themes

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• As shown in the diagram just click on appearance.
• It will show you furthermore options.
• Just click on themes.
• Now you will be able to see your current activated theme and the option for searching and install the new theme.

Step 3. Click on Add New Theme Button

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• In this area, all installed and activated themes will be in front of you.
• Twenty-Twenty is the default WordPress theme.
• Now You have to click on Add New Theme button.

Step 4. Search & Select Theme

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In the first box, you will see the Featured, Popular, Latest, and Favorite option for WordPress themes selection. Click on any one option and select your desired theme.

Suppose you know about a particular theme and want to install that. Then go to option 2.

Here enter your keyword or theme name and search for that particular theme. Once you will find that theme click on that as shown in the image.

It will reflect Install option .

Step 5. Install & Activate Theme

As shown in the above image bring your mouse cursor to the desired theme.

It will reflect the install and preview option. If you want to check how your website will look like then click on preview.

Otherwise, just click on the Install button. After installation, it will show you activate the button.

Just click on activate button and your theme will be applied successfully on your website or blog.

So this was the basic simple process of how to install WordPress themes manually from the WordPress dashboard.

How To Install WordPress Theme From Zip File

In above steps you learn WordPress theme installation. But in this case you are not uploading any .zip file to WordPress dashboard.

Suppose you brought theme from the developer. Then developer will provide you a .zip file.

So, how you will install a .zip file WordPress theme to your site. See the guide.

First of all Go to the Dashboard>Appearance>themes. This complete process is describe in step 1 to 3.

1. Now you have to click on the upload theme button.
2. Select your .zip file stored in your computer folder.
3. It will be uploaded to the WordPress click on install.
4. After installation clicks on install and then activate.
5. Processes are similar as stated above.

1. Click on Upload theme Button

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2. Choose Theme .zip file

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.zip file is provide by the theme developer.

Supose you downloaded theme from themeforest.net site which is the most popular name in WordPress theme and plugins provider.

Then they will provide you a download link and you will download the .zip file of that theme.

3. Install & Activate .zip File

When you will choose downloaded .zip file, Install Now button will be activate.

• Just click on Install now button.
• After installation, it will show activate button in front of you.
• Click on Activate button.

Your theme will be installed and activated. Now you can start customization. Customization is a process in which we update Initial WordPress settings and change the website’s overall design for a better user experience.

How To Install WordPress Theme in cPanel

Installing WordPress theme from cPane is quite risky process. So, I will suggest you to perform this task very carefully.

Let’s start:-

Login to Hosting cPanel

Hosting cPanel login details are provided by your hosting company just open your email and check details like Username, Password, Login URL.

Open File Manager

After this you will be redirected to the cPanel Dashboard. Under this section select file manager and open it.

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Go to Public html and your Domain Folder

As you will click on File Manager you will see a public html folder in your cPanel.

If you are hosting only 1 website then find WP-Content folder otherwise click on your domain name folder.

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When you will click on your domain name folders multiple folders and files will be in front of you.

1. Click on the WP-Content folder.
2. This will redirect to other folders and files.
3. Just click on the themes folder.
4. Here you will see all your activated themes.
5. Here you can upload your new theme.

Select Wp-Content folder

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Choose themes folder

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Upload WordPress theme

Click on Upload button to upload your theme folder here.

• Save

Dear viewer if you are uploading your .zip file here then please extract it here and delete your .zip file after upload.

Otherwise you may extract your .zip file and directly upload your theme folder. Both process are quite simple and easy.

So, this was the process how to upload a WordPress theme from the cPanel. But my dear friend your theme is not active yet.

For taking this theme in effect just activate it.

Simple step by step process of Uploading theme from cPanel

1. Go to cPanel Dashboard
2. Click on File Manager
3. Find Public_html
4. Choose your domain (If multiple websites are added)
5. Choose WP-Content folder
6. Go to the themes folder and open it
7. Click on the Upload button under the menu bar
8. Upload your zip file
9. Extract your zip file
10. Zip extraction will give you the Theme folder and zip file.
11. Delete your themes zip file and keep the theme folder.
12. Your theme is uploaded.
13. Go to WordPress Dashboard and activate your theme.

You will see multiple default themes uploaded already just keep 1 default theme and delete the rest of the themes otherwise they will occupy unnecessary space that will make slow your website.

How to change WordPress theme Without losing content?

Friends as a beginner start with the free WordPress theme. But later as we know the actual benefit of premium products. Then we try to switch from a free theme to a premium theme.

But we become a little confused about our posts and images. We generally think does my post will get deleted or I will miss some content from my websites.

So, try to get a proper guide from the expert before changing our WordPress theme.

Read our article from the beginning and follow the steps carefully.

Here in this post explain the complete process of How to install and activate the WordPress theme.

Dear viewer when we install WordPress it gives us a default theme pre-installed.

So, in this complete article how to install WordPress theme manually and how to install WordPress theme from cPanel.

I teach you the complete process of how to change WordPress theme. Actually the process of Installing new WordPress theme is the process of changing your existing WordPress theme.

In other words you can say that when you will upload a new theme and will activate it. Then it will automatically override the existing WordPress theme.

All theme will remain install with your website but one one will remain active.

You should delete all remaining inactive WordPress themes otherwise they will occupy your server space. And your loading speed will become slow.

How To Keep Posts Safe While We Change WordPress Themes

Take Backup

My top most opinion for keeping your content safe is take backup before doing anything.

If you have some cPanel knowledge then take a backup from the cPanel. It is the best and fastest method.

Otherwise, take a backup from the WordPress dashboard by installing the Updraft plugin.

If anything goes wrong just restore you original website.

Keep 1 Default Theme

While changing your default WordPress theme, it is necessary to keep a default theme.

Suppose your new them has some missing files like css, java script, etc. then your new theme will not open perfectly.

In this case you default theme will keep your content safe.

Don’t Delete Previous theme Before Testing New One

Your theme keep the data related to site logo, identity, basic SEO setting, etc. If you will delete old theme before uploading a new theme.

All data will be lost. So, always first try to install new theme and then delete the old theme.

So, finally this was the complete process of how to install a WordPress them manually from cPanel and WordPress dashboard as well.