How To Update WordPress Themes

Learn how to easily update WordPress themes inside your dashboard …

Updating Your ThemeIf you are new to WordPress, make sure you read our introduction to WordPress themes. This comprehensive article explains what themes are and how using themes can be cost-effective and time-saving for website owners.

In this step-by-step tutorial, you will learn how to easily upgrade your theme to a new version inside your dashboard.

Upgrading WP Themes – Best Practices Checklist

Updating Themes - Best Practices Checklist

We recommend going through the checklist below before attempting the upgrade process, to make sure that no settings or customizations are lost and your upgrades go smoothly.

1. Back Up Your Website Fully

Backing up your files and data before making any changes to your site is vital. Whenever something doesn’t go as planned, you can always restore everything to its former configuration.

If you don’t want to perform manual backups, there are a number of WordPress plugins you can use. You can read about a WordPress backup plugin that can automate your backup process here:

2. Check The Changelog

When WordPress upgrades its software to a new version, this can affect the functionality of certain themes. Depending on the theme you are using, there may be a changelog file accompanying an update which provides an overview of new features, improvements, security fixes or important information pertaining to the new theme version.

If the changes seem irrelevant or unimportant, you can skip the update. Otherwise, you should update.

3. Test The Theme

If you can, it’s a good idea to check the theme before installing it on your site.

Useful Tip

Typically, web service providers will set up a test site where they can test the latest version of the theme, track any bugs and make sure that all plugins are working fine with the new theme before applying it to a live site.

If you manage your own website, you can install a test WordPress site on a subdomain or a separate domain using the same plugins and configuration settings and test new theme versions on your test site before applying it to your live website.

4. Search Online

Before updating your theme, it’s a good idea to search online to see if other theme users have reported any serious problems with the new theme version.

You can enter the theme name and version into Google, and search the theme developer’s support forum (many developers provide forums for premium WordPress themes, and even for some free plugins).

5. Is Your WordPress Theme Customized? Use A Child Theme

If you have made extensive customizations to your existing WordPress theme files, upgrading your theme could result in your custom modifications being overwritten. To prevent losing your theme modifications, therefore, we recommend you learn how to create “child themes”.

A WordPress child theme is a theme that inherits the functionality of another theme, called the parent theme, and allows you to modify, or add to, the functionality of that parent theme. When you update the “parent theme”, all modifications get preserved through the “child theme.”

If you plan to customize your theme files, then we recommend becoming familiar with the use of child themes, especially if you use a theme that gets regularly updated. You can learn more about child themes by searching online, or visit the WordPress Codex child theme page here:

Practical Tip

As you will see below, the actual process of updating a WordPress theme is fairly simple. The bit of this process that takes the most time and effort to complete is the precautionary work involved prior to upgrading.

Some people don’t upgrade their themes regularly, while many upgrade without going through all of the steps listed in the section above. As mentioned earlier, the above are recommended “best practice” methods for ensuring problem-free upgrades. Ultimately, it is your responsibility as a website owner to protect your online assets.

Upgrading Your Theme – Step-By-Step Tutorial

Updating your themes in the WP dashboard is easy.

Log into your WordPress admin area …

Updating A Theme In WordPress

Depending on which theme(s) you have installed on your website, you may receive an occasional notification in your WP Dashboard that new theme versions are available and require updating …

How To Upgrade A Theme In WordPress

Updating a WordPress theme from the dashboard is easy. You can update your WordPress themes using the “Themes” area, or the “Updates” screen.

Updating Your Theme Via The “Themes” Screen

You can see which themes require updating by going to your Themes page.

Choose Appearance > Themes in your WordPress admin menu …

Theme Management: How To Update Your WordPress Themes

This brings you to the “Themes” screen …

Upgrading Your Theme

WordPress Themes with new versions display an “Update Available” message over their thumbnail image …

How To Update A Theme In WordPress

Locate the theme you want to update and click on the “Update Available” notice.

When the theme details window opens up, click on update now

How To Upgrade Themes In WordPress

WordPress automatically updates the theme …

WordPress Theme Management: Upgrading Your Theme

Your WordPress theme is now up-to-date …

Theme Management: Upgrading Themes In WordPress

Repeat the above process to update all of your out-of-date themes, or use the method described below to update multiple themes.

Updating WordPress Themes From The “Updates” Screen

Update your themes via the “Updates” page as shown below:

To view all themes installed in your website that need updating, click on Dashboard > Updates

Theme Management: Updating WordPress Theme From Your Dashboard

This brings up the Updates screen. Scroll down to the Themes section …

Theme Management: How To Update Your WP Theme

Check the box next to all the themes you want to update and click on Update Themes to complete the bulk upgrade process …

Upgrading WP Theme From Your Dashboard

WordPress will automatically update all of your selected themes …

Theme Management: Upgrading WordPress Themes In The WP Dashboard

Congratulations! Now you know how to update your theme in your admin dashboard.

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