how to properly change a wordpress theme - WordPress & Front-end Developer

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How to Properly Change a WordPress Theme (Ultimate Guide)

Changing your WordPress theme can be a daunting task, especially if you’re new to the platform. You might be worried about losing your website’s data, customizations, or even breaking things. But with a little planning and the right approach, switching themes can be a smooth and successful process.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve helped countless website owners navigate the world of WordPress, and theme changes are a frequent topic. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through every step of the process, from pre-change preparations to post-change optimizations. You’ll learn how to:

Prepare your website for the theme change
Safely install and activate your new theme
Test your new theme before going live
Minimize the risk of data loss or functionality issues
Optimize your website after the theme switch
And more!

So, whether you’re looking for a fresh look, improved functionality, or simply want to better match your niche, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to make the change successfully.

Why Change a WordPress Theme?

There are numerous reasons why you might want to switch to a different WordPress theme. Some of the most common include:

Better Alignment with Your Niche: As your website grows and your content evolves, you might find that your current theme no longer accurately represents your niche. A new theme can help you present your content in a more visually appealing and relevant way.
Modernized Look and Feel: Design trends are constantly evolving, and your current theme might feel outdated. Switching to a modern theme can give your website a fresh look and keep it relevant to your audience.
Enhanced User Experience: A well-designed theme can significantly improve the user experience on your website. This can include better navigation, faster loading times, and a more engaging layout.
SEO Improvements: Some themes are specifically designed to be SEO-friendly, making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your content. This can lead to higher rankings and more organic traffic.
New Features and Functionality: WordPress themes often come with built-in features that you might need for your website. These could include features for eCommerce, membership sites, portfolios, or other specific functionalities.

Whatever your reasons, changing your theme can be a valuable investment in your website’s success. But remember, a theme change shouldn’t be taken lightly. Proper planning and preparation are crucial to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

Things to Do Before Changing a WordPress Theme

Before you start changing your theme, it’s essential to take some precautionary steps. These steps will help you avoid data loss, functionality issues, and other potential problems. Here’s a checklist to follow:

1. Copy Snippets from Your Current Theme

Many experienced WordPress users customize their websites by adding code snippets directly to their theme’s functions.php file. These customizations might include:

Adding custom functions
Modifying theme behavior
Integrating third-party services

It’s easy to forget about these snippets once they’re added. Before switching themes, it’s crucial to:

Locate and Document: Thoroughly review the files of your current theme, especially the functions.php file. Make a note of any custom code you’ve added.
Backup the Code: Save a copy of the custom code snippets on your computer or in a secure cloud storage service.

Expert Tip: Instead of adding custom code directly to your theme files, consider using a dedicated WordPress code snippets plugin like WPCode. WPCode is a fantastic plugin that provides a clean and organized way to manage your code snippets. It also allows you to easily transfer your code snippets when switching themes.

2. Test Load Time

Website speed is a crucial factor for user experience and SEO. Before you switch themes, it’s essential to check your website’s current load time. This will serve as a baseline for comparison after you’ve implemented the new theme.

You can use a WordPress speed test tool like GTmetrix or Pingdom to measure your website’s load time. Make sure to test your homepage and a few other key pages to get an accurate picture of your website’s performance.

3. Don’t Lose Any Tracking Code

Many website owners add their Google Analytics tracking code or other tracking scripts directly to their theme files. Some themes also offer built-in options for adding tracking code within their settings panels.

It’s easy to overlook these code snippets during a theme change. Make sure you:

Find and Save: Locate all tracking code snippets in your current theme files and your theme settings. Copy and paste them into a text editor or a secure storage location.
Use Plugins for Reliability: For Google Analytics, consider using a dedicated plugin like MonsterInsights. MonsterInsights simplifies the process of setting up Google Analytics and allows you to view detailed website stats right from your WordPress dashboard. For other tracking code, WPCode can help you manage them effectively.

4. Make a Full Backup

Before making any major changes to your website, it’s always a good idea to create a full backup. A backup is a safety net that allows you to restore your website to its previous state if anything goes wrong during the theme change process.

You can use a reliable WordPress backup plugin like Duplicator or UpdraftPlus to create a complete backup of your website. Make sure to download the backup files to your computer or store them securely in the cloud.

5. Sidebar Content

Your website’s sidebar often contains essential widgets, such as social media links, advertisements, subscription forms, or contact forms.

Before changing themes, it’s crucial to:

Document Widget Configuration: Make a note of all the widgets you’re using in your sidebar and their settings. This will make it easier to reconfigure them in your new theme.
Save Custom Code: If any of your widgets contain custom code, copy and paste that code into a secure location for later use.

6. Keep Your Site in Maintenance Mode

While you’re making changes to your website, it’s a good practice to put it in maintenance mode. This will prevent visitors from seeing an incomplete or broken website and ensure a smooth transition to the new theme.

I highly recommend using the SeedProd plugin to manage your website’s maintenance mode. SeedProd is a fantastic WordPress page builder that lets you create professional-looking coming soon and maintenance mode pages.

Here’s how to use SeedProd to keep your website in maintenance mode:

Install and Activate: Install and activate the SeedProd plugin. You can follow our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin for detailed instructions.
Create a Maintenance Mode Page: Navigate to the SeedProd » Landing Pages screen in your WordPress dashboard and click the “Set up a Maintenance Mode Page” button.
Choose a Template: Select a template for your maintenance mode page or create a custom page from scratch.
Customize Your Page: Use SeedProd’s drag-and-drop page builder to customize your maintenance mode page. Add text blocks, images, buttons, headlines, and other elements to create a visually appealing page.
Publish and Activate: Save your changes and set the page status to “Publish.” Click the ‘X’ icon to exit the page builder and activate the maintenance mode.

SeedProd offers various pre-built templates and customization options to create a visually appealing and informative maintenance mode page. This way, your visitors will be informed that your website is under construction while you work on the theme change.

How to Install a WordPress Theme

After you’ve taken the necessary precautions, you’re ready to install your new WordPress theme. You can install a theme using one of three methods:

Using the WordPress Theme Search: This is the most straightforward method. Go to Appearance » Themes in your WordPress dashboard and click the “Add New” button. Search for your desired theme using the search bar. You’ll find a vast collection of free and premium themes in the WordPress Theme Directory.
Uploading a Theme from Your WordPress Dashboard: If you purchased a theme from a third-party provider, you can upload it directly from your WordPress dashboard. Navigate to Appearance » Themes and click the “Add New” button. Then click the “Upload Theme” option. Select the theme file from your computer and click the “Install Now” button.
Installing a Theme Using FTP: If you’re more comfortable with FTP, you can install a theme manually. Connect to your website using an FTP client like FileZilla. Navigate to the /wp-content/themes/ folder and upload the theme’s compressed file. Once uploaded, extract the theme’s files using the FTP client.

Once you’ve installed the theme, it will appear in your WordPress dashboard. You can then preview it or activate it.

How to Change WordPress Theme Without Going Live

Before you activate your new theme on your live website, it’s a good idea to test it thoroughly. This will help you identify any potential issues or incompatibilities before they affect your live site. Here are three ways to change your theme without going live:

1. Live Preview Option

WordPress provides a convenient “Live Preview” option that lets you view your new theme without activating it.

To use this feature, follow these steps:

Go to Themes Page: Navigate to Appearance » Themes in your WordPress dashboard.
Hover and Click: Hover your mouse over the theme you want to preview and click the “Live Preview” button.
Test and Explore: The WordPress Theme Customizer will open, allowing you to explore and test your theme’s features and settings.

The Live Preview option provides a valuable opportunity to check how your content looks within the new theme and make adjustments to the theme’s settings before activating it on your live site.

2. Theme Switcha Plugin

The Theme Switcha plugin is another excellent tool for testing themes without going live. It allows you to preview your new theme in a separate browser tab without activating it on your website.

Here’s how to use the Theme Switcha plugin:

Install and Activate: Install and activate the Theme Switcha plugin.
Enable Theme Switching: Navigate to Settings » Theme Switcha and check the box next to “Enable theme switching.” Save your changes.
Preview the Theme: On the Theme Switcha page, you’ll see a list of all your installed themes. Click on the theme you want to preview. This will open the theme in a new tab.

The Theme Switcha plugin is a fantastic option for quickly testing multiple themes without affecting your live website. It’s a handy tool for comparing different themes and making an informed decision about which theme to choose.

3. Test Your Theme on a Staging Site

The most comprehensive way to test your theme without affecting your live website is to create a staging site. A staging site is a copy of your live website where you can make changes and test them before publishing them to your live site.

Most web hosting providers offer staging site features. For example, if you’re using Bluehost, you can easily create a staging site using the following steps:

Go to Bluehost cPanel: Log in to your Bluehost cPanel.
Activate the Bluehost Plugin: Click the “My Sites” button, then navigate to the “Plugins” tab and activate the Bluehost Plugin.
Create a Staging Site: Go to Bluehost » Staging in your WordPress dashboard and click the “Create Staging Site” button.
Switch to Your Staging Site: Once the staging site is ready, click the “Switch” button to access it.

Now, you can activate your new theme on the staging site, test its functionality, and make any necessary adjustments. Once you’re satisfied, you can easily push the changes to your live site.

How to Change WordPress Theme on a Live Site

Once you’ve thoroughly tested your new theme, you’re ready to activate it on your live website. Here’s how to do it:

Navigate to Themes Page: Go to Appearance » Themes in your WordPress dashboard.
Activate the Theme: Hover your mouse over the new theme you want to activate, and click the “Activate” button.
View Your Website: Visit your website’s homepage to see the new theme in action.

That’s it! You’ve successfully changed your WordPress theme. But before you disable maintenance mode, make sure to follow the post-change checklist below.

How to Change WordPress Theme Manually

In rare cases, you might encounter an error that makes your WordPress admin area inaccessible. If this happens, you won’t be able to change your theme using the methods described above. In such situations, you can manually change your theme with the help of phpMyAdmin.

Here’s how to change your theme manually:

Connect via FTP: Connect to your website using an FTP client. Navigate to the /wp-content/themes/ folder.
Locate the New Theme: Identify the folder name of the theme you want to use. You’ll need this information in the next step.
Access phpMyAdmin: Log in to your cPanel and click the “Manage” button next to the phpMyAdmin section.
Open the WordPress Database: Click on the database that you’re using for your WordPress site. This will open a list of database tables.
Edit the wp_options Table: Click on the wp_options table. (Note: The default prefix for database tables is wp_. However, you might have a different prefix.
Locate Template and Stylesheet Rows: In the right panel, find the rows named template and stylesheet.
Change the Theme Name: Click the “Edit” link next to the template row. In the option_value field, enter the folder name of the new theme you want to use. Click “Go” to save changes. Repeat the same process for the stylesheet row.

Once you’ve saved the changes in the wp_options table, your website will start using the new theme.

Things to Do After Changing Your Theme

After you’ve switched themes, it’s important to take a few steps to ensure that everything is working correctly and that your website is optimized for performance and user experience. Here’s a post-change checklist:

1. Test Your Website

After activating your new theme, it’s essential to test all your website’s functionalities. Check your posts, pages, comments, images, forms, and any other features to make sure they’re working correctly in the new theme.

2. Cross Browser Compatibility

Web browsers display websites differently. To ensure your website looks and functions correctly across all major browsers, test your site in Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer (or Edge).

3. Add Tracking Code

Once you’re confident that your website is working correctly, it’s time to add your tracking code back to your site.

If you’re using MonsterInsights for Google Analytics, the plugin will automatically transfer your tracking code to the new theme. For other tracking code, you can use WPCode to manage and add the scripts back to your site.

4. Turn Off Maintenance Mode

Now that your website is fully functional in the new theme, you can disable maintenance mode. In SeedProd, you can do this by navigating to the SeedProd » Landing Pages screen and clicking the toggle to “Inactive.”

5. Test Loading Time

After switching themes, it’s a good idea to run a speed test again. This will help you compare the load times before and after the theme change and identify any potential performance issues. If your website is loading slower, you can follow our guide to improve WordPress speed.

6. Monitor Bounce Rate

Keep an eye on your website’s bounce rate after switching themes. A high bounce rate might indicate that your new theme is not user-friendly or that visitors are finding it difficult to navigate. You can add elements like related posts, popular posts widgets, and breadcrumbs to encourage visitors to explore more content on your site and reduce the bounce rate.

7. Ask for Feedback

Finally, don’t hesitate to ask your users for feedback on the new design. You can use survey forms or online polls to gather their opinions. You can also share the new design with your email subscribers and ask for their thoughts. This feedback will help you identify areas for improvement and ensure your website is appealing to your target audience.

Bonus: Update a WordPress Theme Without Losing Customization

After you’ve customized your new theme, you’ll want to keep it updated to the latest version to enjoy new features, security patches, and performance enhancements. However, updating a theme can sometimes overwrite your customizations.

Here are two effective ways to update your theme without losing your customizations:

1. Create a Child Theme

A child theme is a separate theme that inherits the functionality, features, and style of its parent theme. This means you can customize the child theme without directly modifying the parent theme files.

When you update the parent theme, the child theme remains untouched, preserving your customizations.

Here’s how to create a child theme:

Navigate to Themes: Go to Appearance » Themes in your WordPress dashboard.
Create a New Child Theme: Click the “Add New” button, then click the “Upload Theme” option. Select the child theme’s compressed file from your computer and click “Install Now.”
Activate the Child Theme: Once installed, activate the child theme.
Copy Customizations: Identify the customizations you’ve made to your parent theme. You can use a file comparison tool like WinMerge or Kaleidoscope to compare the files of your parent and child theme. Copy the necessary code from the parent theme to the child theme’s corresponding files.
Export and Import Customizer Settings: Export the customizer settings from the parent theme and import them into the child theme. This will ensure your theme’s appearance is preserved.
Save Changes: Preview your changes in the Theme Customizer and click the “Save & Publish” button.

Creating a child theme is a crucial step in protecting your customizations and making theme updates a seamless process.

2. Use WPCode

If you’re using WPCode to manage your code snippets, you won’t have to worry about losing your customizations during theme updates. WPCode saves your code snippets separately from your theme files, ensuring they are preserved even when you update the theme.

Conclusion

Changing your WordPress theme can be a powerful way to improve your website’s design, functionality, and user experience.

By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully switch themes without losing your data, customizations, or functionality. Remember to:

Prepare your website thoroughly before making changes.
Test your new theme thoroughly before activating it on your live website.
Optimize your website after the theme change to ensure optimal performance and user experience.

And don’t forget to create a child theme or use a plugin like WPCode to protect your customizations when updating your theme.

I hope this comprehensive guide has provided you with the knowledge and confidence to change your WordPress theme successfully.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments below.

FAQs

What is the best way to change a WordPress theme?

The best way to change a WordPress theme is to use a staging site, which allows you to test the new theme thoroughly without affecting your live website. However, if you can’t use a staging site, you can test the theme in a live preview mode or using a plugin like Theme Switcha.

Will changing my WordPress theme affect my SEO?

Changing your WordPress theme can affect your SEO, especially if the new theme is not SEO-friendly or if you make changes to your website’s structure or content. It’s essential to choose an SEO-friendly theme and carefully review your website’s SEO settings after the theme change.

Can I change my WordPress theme without losing my customizations?

Yes, you can change your WordPress theme without losing your customizations by using a child theme or a dedicated code snippets plugin like WPCode. These methods protect your customizations even when you update your theme.

How do I update my WordPress theme without losing customizations?

To update your theme without losing customizations, use a child theme. This way, you can customize the child theme and update the parent theme without affecting your customizations.

What happens if I change my WordPress theme and it doesn’t work?

If you change your theme and it doesn’t work, you can restore your website from a backup or troubleshoot the issue by checking the theme’s documentation or contacting the theme developer.

Is it safe to change my WordPress theme?

Yes, it’s safe to change your WordPress theme if you follow the proper steps and take the necessary precautions. It’s essential to test the theme thoroughly before activating it on your live website, create a backup, and use a child theme or a code snippets plugin to protect your customizations.

How do I choose the right WordPress theme for my website?

When choosing a WordPress theme, consider your website’s purpose, content, target audience, and design preferences. Look for an SEO-friendly theme that offers the features and functionality you need.

What are the best WordPress themes for beginners?

There are many excellent WordPress themes available for beginners. Some popular choices include Divi, Astra, OceanWP, and SeedProd. These themes are user-friendly, customizable, and offer a wide range of features.

How often should I change my WordPress theme?

There’s no set schedule for changing your WordPress theme. However, it’s a good idea to review your theme every year or two and consider updating it if it’s outdated, no longer aligns with your niche, or doesn’t provide the features you need.

Can I use a different theme for different pages on my website?

No, you can’t use a different theme for different pages on your website. WordPress only allows one theme to be active at a time.

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