How to Install a Theme on WordPress

In this article, we'll guide you through the process of downloading your theme and getting it installed and activated on your WordPress site. These instructions assume that you’ve already set up your WordPress environment with the most recent version of WordPress.

Technical support is not provided for any items on Envato Elements by either by authors or by Envato. Downloaded items include file documentation only. If you’re stuck, we recommend using these resources to find a solution.

• How to download your WordPress theme?

  When you have found the theme you want, or if you are downloading it again for a new specific project, in either case, you can simply click the “Download” button on the item page to download the theme, or download the theme via “My Downloads” and a new license will be created for your new specific project.

  Your download contains all files and documentation. Note: Technical support is not included with Envato Elements downloads. You will need to extract the files provided in the zip file to locate the installable WordPress file.

  Check your downloads folder, you should see something similar to the example below.

  

  Now that you’ve downloaded the zip file, you will need to extract the files from the zip folder in order to locate the installable WordPress zip file.

  

  Make sure you select the zip file which has the title of the theme you’ve purchased. You can find this file by searching for the file which has your theme name and the zip extension. For example, if you’ve downloaded the ‘Krobs - Personal Onepage Responsive WordPress’ theme, the file is titled ‘krobs.zip’ (themename.zip).

• How to install your WordPress theme?

  We’re almost there! It’s time to install your theme on your WordPress site.

  Once you’ve logged into the administration area of your WordPress site, you’ll need to navigate to the theme menu by:

  1. Selecting ‘Appearance’ on the left pane.
  2. Select ‘Themes’.
     
  3. Select ‘Add New’.
     
  4. Select ‘Upload themes’.
     
  5. Select ‘Choose file’.
     
  6. Navigate to your downloaded file and select it, then select ‘Open’.
     
  7. Once the upload has been completed, you will be presented with an ‘Install Now' option. Proceed to install now.
     
  8. Once the installation has been completed, you will be presented with a successful message. You can also activate the theme by selecting ‘Activate’.

  And that’s it! You have now installed your WordPress theme. You can now explore the theme’s settings and begin to create your very own website.

• How to upload your theme via FTP?

  Some hosting environments allow you to upload your theme via FTP or a user interface. You will need to upload your theme and extract the contents in the folder /wp-content/themes/. Check out the guide on WordPress.org for more information.

• What to do if the theme is missing the style.css stylesheet?

  If you’ve come across an error such as a stylesheet missing, you’ve most likely selected the wrong package to install.

  

  It’s an easy fix and all you need to do is make sure you've uploaded the installable WordPress file from your downloads. Check the how to download your theme instructions above and learn how to download the installable WordPress file.

• How to handle WordPress PHP upload file size limitation?

  By default, WordPress allows you to upload files with a maximum size of 2MB. Some themes can exceed this limitation so you will need to configure your PHP settings to allow for larger file uploads.

  There are a few ways you can achieve this:

  Create or edit an existing PHP.INI file

  On some shared hosting environments, you may have access to create or edit a php.ini file. If you have an existing php.ini file or you need to create a new one, add the following code:

  upload_max_filesize = 32M
post_max_size = 32M
max_execution_time = 300

  You can find or create a php.ini file inside your root folder.

  Create or edit an existing .htaccess file

  If you were unable to find or edit your php.ini file, you can use the .htaccess file to increase your max file size for uploading. You can locate the .htaccess file in your root directory. If your hosting provider allows you to make changes, you can insert the following code:

  php_value upload_max_filesize 32M
php_value post_max_size 32M
php_value max_execution_time 300
php_value max_input_time 300

  Ask your hosting provider

  Some hosting providers may not support php.ini or .htaccess file changes. Try contacting their support team to check if they can make these changes for you.