Installing New Themes
A WordPress theme controls the templates and visual presentation of the website. Changing the theme should keep pages and posts, but layouts, menus, widgets and theme-specific features can appear differently.
Before installing a theme
- Confirm that the theme comes from WordPress.org or another trusted source.
- Check its current WordPress and PHP requirements.
- Review whether it supports the editor, ecommerce plugin or page builder used by the site.
- Create a current backup and use staging for a significant redesign.
Install and preview the theme
- Open Appearance > Themes and select Add New.
- Choose a theme from the directory or use Upload Theme for a trusted ZIP file.
- Install the theme, then preview it before activation when that option is available.
- Activate it only when you are ready for the public site to use the new design.
Check the website after activation
Review the home page, navigation, page templates, blog, forms and mobile layout. Reassign menus or widgets where required. Theme-specific blocks or page-builder layouts may need separate adjustments. See Page Builder Issues if editing or layouts stop working.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing themes delete my pages and posts?
No. Content remains in the database, but its layout can change when the old theme supplied templates, blocks or shortcodes.
Can I install a theme without activating it?
Yes. Installing adds the theme files, while activation makes it the theme used by the public website.
Why did my navigation change after activating a theme?
The new theme may use different menu locations. Open the navigation or menu settings and assign the existing menu to the appropriate location.
Should I delete the previous theme immediately?
Keep it until the new theme has been tested and any customisations have been accounted for. Retain one current default theme as a troubleshooting option.