---
title: "How to Install a WordPress Theme: From the Dashboard or via FTP"
description: "**In short:** Update WordPress first. Then in the dashboard go to Appearance, then Themes, then Add New, then Upload Theme, choose the theme .zip file, click Install Now and then Activate. Or upload the unzipped theme folder via FTP to…"
url: "https://www.hyyat.com/en/knowledgebase/install-wordpress-theme/"
updated: "2026-10-21"
category: WordPress explanations
---

# How to Install a WordPress Theme: From the Dashboard or via FTP

**In short:** Update WordPress first. Then in the dashboard go to Appearance, then Themes, then Add New, then Upload Theme, choose the theme .zip file, click Install Now and then Activate. Or upload the unzipped theme folder via FTP to wp-content/themes and activate it from Appearance, then Themes.

Whether you use a free or a premium theme, this guide shows you step by step how to install a WordPress theme.

## 1. Download the theme

If you bought or downloaded a theme, you will usually have a .zip file.

## 2. Make sure WordPress is up to date

Update WordPress fully before installing a theme. Always run the latest version; otherwise your whole site is exposed to security threats.

## 3. Install the theme from WordPress or via FTP

There are two ways to install a theme: directly from the WordPress dashboard, or via FTP.

### Install the theme from the WordPress dashboard

Log in to your WordPress site and go to **Appearance**, then **Themes**, then **Add New**.

![Add a new WordPress theme](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Add-New-Wordpress-Theme.png)

On the next page click **Upload Theme**; the theme upload box appears.

![Upload a WordPress theme](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Upload-Wordpress-Theme.png)

Click **Browse** and select the theme .zip file you downloaded, then click **Install Now**. Installation may take a minute or two, depending on the theme size and your internet speed.

When the installation finishes, click **Activate** to activate the theme.

![Activate the WordPress theme](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Browse-Wordpress-Theme.png)

### Install the theme via FTP

First you need an FTP program on your computer. FTP is a protocol for transferring files from your computer to your website's folder on the server. Good free options are [FileZilla](https://filezilla-project.org/) for Windows and Mac, and Fetch for Mac.

![FTP program](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/FTP1.png)

**Your hosting FTP account:** you need three things from your hosting account: the FTP server address, a username and a password. See [how to upload files via FTP](https://www.hyyat.com/en/knowledgebase/upload-files-via-ftp/).

![FTP account details](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/FTP2.png)

**Upload the theme:** connect to your server, go to the **wp-content/themes** folder and upload the unzipped theme folder there. Upload the whole folder, not its files one by one.

![Upload the theme folder via FTP](https://www.hyyat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/FTP3.png)

**Activate the theme:** in the WordPress dashboard go to Appearance, then Themes, and click Activate on your new theme.

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