Are you trying to figure out how to change a WordPress theme ? The actual process for switching WordPress themes is fairly simple - but there are some additional steps that you should take to ensure that the process goes smoothly.
To help with that, I’ll give you a beginner-friendly tutorial on the best way to change WordPress themes while preserving your site’s existing content and functionality. But before I get to the tutorial, let me start with a quick discussion about what happens to your content when you switch WordPress themes.
Most of your regular site elements will not be affected by changing themes. That is, beyond the new styling that they might get from your new theme, nothing will change with:
In a nutshell, the vast majority of your content will come through unscathed when you switch WordPress themes. But if you’re using any functionality that’s unique to your theme, rather than part of a plugin or the core WordPress software, you will probably lose those things when changing themes.
But in general, we recommend that you: Back up your site Create a staging site (if possible) Once you have a backup (at a minimum), you’re ready to move on.
To help with that, I’ll give you a beginner-friendly tutorial on the best way to change WordPress themes while preserving your site’s existing content and functionality. But before I get to the tutorial, let me start with a quick discussion about what happens to your content when you switch WordPress themes.
Change a WordPress Template
Will you lose any content if you change WordPress themes? Before I get into how to change a WordPress theme, I think it’s important to quickly highlight what happens to your existing content when you change themes.Most of your regular site elements will not be affected by changing themes. That is, beyond the new styling that they might get from your new theme, nothing will change with:
- Your posts and pages. Nothing bad will happen to your posts and pages when you switch themes.
- Any core WordPress settings. For example, if you’re using a static homepage, that will stay the same even after you switch WordPress themes.
- Any plugins that you’re using. As long as they aren’t tied to your current theme, these plugins should continue to function normally.
- Basic site information. Your site name and description will stay the same.
- Theme-specific shortcodes. If you’re using shortcodes that came with your theme (rather than a standalone shortcode plugin), those shortcodes will cease to function once you change themes.
- theme-specific homepage. Some themes, like our Neve themes, come with special homepage sections that function outside the normal WordPress page system in order to offer more flexibility. If you use such a theme, your custom homepage will disappear when you change themes.
- Themes-specific widgets. Like shortcodes, some themes come bundled with custom widgets. If you’re using such widgets, they will cease to function when you change themes.
In a nutshell, the vast majority of your content will come through unscathed when you switch WordPress themes. But if you’re using any functionality that’s unique to your theme, rather than part of a plugin or the core WordPress software, you will probably lose those things when changing themes.
How to change a WordPress theme the right way
Download Free Themes Wordpress
In this section, I’m going to focus entirely on the “how” part of how to change a WordPress theme. But we’ve also already written a post with some steps to take before changing your WordPress theme. I encourage you to read that post for more details.But in general, we recommend that you: Back up your site Create a staging site (if possible) Once you have a backup (at a minimum), you’re ready to move on.