Installing a WordPress theme is just as quick and easy as installing WordPress. (If you haven’t installed WordPress already, you can do so by following the official WordPress guide.)
Themes Kingdom WordPress themes can be installed in two different ways:
- using the upload method from the WordPress admin,
- using FTP.
Installing a WordPress theme using the upload method
If you want to install a theme using the WordPress admin, be sure to follow these six steps:
1. Log in to your site’s WordPress admin panel. You can do so by typing “/wp-admin” after your site’s URL. Now, type in your username and password, and you’re in.
2. In your site’s admin panel, navigate to Appearance → Themes.
3. Once the themes window is opened, click on the Add New button at the top of the page.
4. On the next screen that appears, click the Upload Themes button.
5. Click on the Choose File button and search your computer for the themename.zip file you downloaded earlier.
When it comes to the theme .zip file, there are a few things you need to know.
Once you download a Themes Kingdom theme and unpack the .zip file, you’ll end up with two additional .zip files – a Parent theme .zip file and Child theme .zip file. In most cases, the Child theme .zip file is named after the theme you’ve purchased.
Why is this the case?
In WordPress, you can create a Child theme–an entirely independent WordPress theme that takes the functionality of a Parent theme. This means that you can modify a Child theme while keeping a Parent theme intact and, more importantly, that you can update the Parent theme without fearing losing all your changes.
To build an up-and-running WordPress website, you will need to install both themes and activate a Child theme.
In this step, upload the Parent theme first.
6. Once the file is uploaded, click on the Install Now button and wait for the theme to upload.
Once the Parent theme is installed, you’ll need to repeat the process for the Child theme. Once the Child theme installation is completed, you’ll get a message containing information about your theme. Below that message, you’ll see the links to activate and preview the theme. Click on the Activate link, and your theme installation is completed.
Setting up a WordPress theme
Once a Child theme is activated, you will be taken to the setup process. The setup process requires installing plugins, importing content, and setting up your theme.
Here are a few guidelines that can help you during the setup process:
Start: In the first step, you will be notified of which theme is active. Click the Start button to initiate the setup process.
Plugin installation: In the second step, the Installer will install all the required plugins. If you click the Advanced button, you will get a list of plugins that will be installed. Click the Install button to start the plugin installation process.
Demo content import: Click the Advanced button to see what content will be imported. Click the Import button to start the demo content importing process. Depending on your chosen theme and hosting provider, the import process can take a few minutes.
The final step: When the content is imported, you can preview your website or return to the WordPress Dashboard. Clicking the Advanced button will reveal two more links:
– Explore WordPress, which leads to the WordPress.org support where you can learn more about WordPress and explore its possibilities.
– Start Customizing, which leads to the Customizer of your site.
We strongly suggest you return to the Dashboard. The Installer will install the Jetpack and/or WooCommerce plugin, so you don’t have to (depending on the theme you have purchased). However, there’s still work you’ll need to complete一you’ll need to connect the Jetpack plugin and set up WooCommerce pages and your online store.
Installing a WordPress theme using an FTP client
Installing a WordPress theme using FTP is a bit more advanced than the upload method.
An FTP, short for File Transfer Protocol, is a protocol that allows you to transfer files from your computer to your site’s hosting account. This protocol comes in handy when you want to manually upload a theme or plugin file, meaning that if you want to upload files to your WordPress site, you’ll need to install an FTP client on your computer. An FTP client is nothing more than an app that helps you transfer files using a protocol.
If you are wondering which FTP client you should choose, we recommend you check out FileZilla or WinSCP. Our advice is to choose FileZilla, as this FTP client is free and works well on any operating system.
Now that you know what an FTP is, here’s how you can install a WP theme using an FTP client:
Note: Before you install a theme using an FTP client, you first need to install and set your FTP program. To do so, using the FileZilla client, be sure to check the official, in-depth video on FileZilla installation and configuration.
The first step is using an FTP client to access your web host server.
Unzip the theme file you previously downloaded. On the left side, you will see folders on your local machine, and on the right side, you will see the server content. On the right side, locate your WordPress installation folder and upload the theme folder into the ..wp-content/themes/.
Now that you have access to your WordPress installation files, transfer your unzipped theme to your server in the ..wp-content/themes/. Transfer the Parent theme file first, then the Child one.
When the upload is complete, access the WordPress admin panel by going to http://www.example.com/wp-admin, navig
ate to Appearance → Themes, and activate the Child theme. And that’s it! You have successfully installed a theme.
Are you ready to start building your website?
Now that you have installed and set up your theme, you can start building your website. If you are unsure where to begin when making a website, allow us to give you a hand: we will gladly assist you in creating a complete, ready-to-use site. If you want to do it all by yourself, but are stuck on an issue, feel free to contact us; our prompt support is there to answer all your questions.
