Need to safely change your WordPress theme?
At first glance, changing a WordPress theme may seem harmless. It's so easy, it's hard to imagine that it could hurt. You can even do it from the dashboard, with no manual FTP downloads required. It's fast, transparent and perfectly safe, is not it ? But it depends on how you have configured your website.
The thing about a WordPress website is that it often becomes more than a puzzle over time. You have your WordPress theme, the plugins and any small (or major) changes you might have made. They all come together to create a beautiful, functional website that meets your needs.
And that's why it's important to be careful when changing your theme (or even updating WordPress on your website). If you take out the wrong room, the whole structure could collapse. And then you will end up having to go through a long recovery process. Or you could end up having to replace a lot of plugins that you have come to know and love.
But, there is a way that you can use to change your WordPress theme with less effort., and luckily, we cover that in the article that follows.
But before we get started, if you've never installed WordPress, find out How to Install a WordPress Blog in 7 Steps et How to search, install and activate a WordPress theme on your blog
Then let's go to why we are here.
Step 1. Select a new WordPress theme
If you haven't already, find a new WordPress theme that you like. If you are not a developer, try to find one that looks more or less like what you want. A great place to look for premium WordPress themes is Themeforest.
You will find many WordPress themes that have several color options, many features, and even some page builders to make it easy to use for non-coders.
Of course, if your budget does not allow for a premium WordPress theme, you can go to WordPress.org where new free WordPress themes are added all the time.
When selecting a new theme, it's important to make sure that it supports the plugins you feel are necessary. If you've built an online store with WooCommerce, you probably need to keep using WooCommerce in your new WordPress theme. So, just check out the plugin's compatibility and the main features of the theme before committing.
Of course, if you are a developer, you don't have to worry about finding the "perfect" WordPress theme. You probably have the knowledge to create or customize it yourself. Once you've found a WordPress theme that meets your needs, move on to step two.
Step 2. Create a backup of your WordPress website
It is a good idea to save your WordPress website before you change your WordPress theme, and there are a number of ways to go about it. In this post, we're going to focus on two different methods: using backup plugins, and backing up your WordPress website manually. Both are fairly easy processes (even for new users).
Method 1: Using a plugin to backup WordPress
The best backup plugin (in our opinion) is VaultPress. It is easy to use and takes a full backup of your website. Plus, it starts at just $ 39 per year (for a Personal JetPack plan). A low price considering that it offers automated backups, 30 day backup archiving, and 1-click restore. But wait… there are more! Since VaultPress is part of the JetPack packages, you will also have the option to activate the premium Akismet and JetPack features on your website.
The biggest advantage of having a backup plugin is that you don't have to worry about it.
Some other solid premium options are https://wpvivid.com/ et BackupBuddy.
And if your budget is limited, a great free alternative is Updraft More. Updraft not only backs up your website, but uploads it to multiple “cloud” locations, all with just one click. And it also allows you to restore it with one click.
That said, if your website is the engine of your income, or incredibly important in other ways, you will do well to do a manual backup every now and then. Just to cover your back.
Method 2: Manual WordPress Backup
While backing up your WordPress website manually might seem tedious, complicated, repetitive, overwhelming to a new user, it really is quite simple.
# 1 Log into your website's webhosts control panel (be it cPanel or something else).
Most web hosts offer the option of logging into your account or entering the control panel through their website, so go to your web host's website and log in.
# 2 Find the FTP login details or create a new account.
To do this, click on one of the options inside the control panel menu that says something like "FTP users / accounts" or "FTP access" or "FTP settings". If you don't see any users, or if you don't know the password, you can quickly create a new user by clicking “add new user” and then create one.
# 3 Log in and copy all relevant files to the correct directory.
At this point, many people would advise you to have an FTP client like FileZilla, but you can effectively access your website through your web browser's ftp, or even from good old Windows Explorer.
To do so, simply type "ftp://yoursite.com" in the explorer, and login with the information you found, or the user you just created. I like to use my file browser because it makes saving as easy as the copy / paste functionality. Just copy and paste your files and folders to the desired directory, then check in that folder.
# 4 Go back to the control panel and open phpMyAdmin.
For many control panels this just involves scrolling down (look at the logo pictured below).
# 5 Pick the right database.
If you have multiple WordPress websites running at the same web host, many databases will be in the same phpMyAdmin. You must therefore verify that you are choosing the correct table to back up. One way to do this is to simply go to the databases and check what is written in the messages under the " wp_posts ».
Another way to find out is by checking your wp-config.php file on the relevant website. You can do this either through the WordPress dashboard or by opening the backup copy of the file in a text editor. (Be careful not to modify it.) Just search for “ db_name And you will find it instantly.
# 6 Export the database of data
Just click on Export, then on the radio button custom then select the correct database, scroll down and click on Execute. It's as easy as it sounds. Another good news is that it's just as easy to import a table. If something is wrong… and you already know how to do it!
Step 3. Clone your website for testing
There are two easy ways to clone your website for testing, either by using a test website that comes with your hosting plan, or by setting up a local server.
Clone your WordPress website to a test website
Many WordPress web hosting plans offer access to creating a test website. We will cite among others GoDaddy et WPEngine. These are great options because they're online, so you can log in to test a WordPress theme on different devices (something you can't do with your localhost because it's confined to your computer).
If you are using WPEngine this process is extremely straightforward (as is the case with most web hosts). All you have to do is log into the WordPress website you want to duplicate, click on the menu item WPEngine at the top of your dashboard, click on the tab Staging and click on the big blue button to "Copy real website" And that's it.
Clone your WordPress website on Localhost
Setting up a localhost is also a great option, as a local version is accessible even without an internet connection (which makes it very useful). And just like backing up your website, you can use a plugin to help or manually clone your website.
Method 1: Using a plugin to clone your WordPress website
Depending on your operating system, there are a few options for setting up a local server.
# 1 Install local & WordPress server software.
You can choose from XAMPP, WAMP, MAMP and others. What this software does is recreate the environment of a web server on your computer. Not only does it allow you to test new WordPress themes, plugins and updates on your WordPress website. It also allows you to take tests completely ready to be published on the actual website.
Remember to activate Apache and mySQL once the installation is complete. Once your localhost is ready, you need to install WordPress locally as well.
# 2 Install a plugin on the actual website and export the content.
As an example we will use All-in-One WP Migration here. But you can use any plugin you prefer. Among other free plugins, Duplicator seems to be the most desired. Just install and activate it, then export your website accordingly.
# 3 Install the plugin on your local WordPress website and import.
It's pretty straightforward. Log into your locally hosted WordPress website, install and activate the plugin, then import.
# 4 Wait and enjoy your new clone.
Wait a while for the plugin to import your website copy (this may take a while, depending on the size of your website). Then open it and enjoy it once it's done. It's so easy.
Method 2: Manually Clone Your WordPress Website
Manually copying your website just includes a few extra steps.
# 1 Prepare your local server or test website
Whether you use a plugin or not, this step is always the same. You need to configure your localhost and install WordPress locally.
# 2 Copy and paste WordPress backup
If you plan to create the local clone manually (and you're already halfway there), you just need to copy the backup of the files you took earlier. Just paste them in the appropriate folder (ampps / www / folder if you are using AMPPS, or mamp / htdocs if you are using MAMP).
Make sure you put the files in a separate folder. This is to avoid problems with the "server simulator" software (must be placed in eg ampps / www / wpclone / if you are using AMPPS). If you haven't done a manual backup already, follow the steps above.
# 3 Open phpMyAdmin and import the database.
First open the local server dashboard. From there open phpMyAdmin (if you are using AMPPS you can just type 'localhost / phpmyadmin' in your web browser). Click on Import. Then select the SQL backup file that you saved earlier, during the manual backup (again, if you haven't done the manual backup, follow the steps listed above).
# 4 Find the correct database user / password information and create a user in phpMyAdmin.
First open your wp-config.php file in a text editor, like Notepad, and search for DB_USER and DB_PASSWORD. Then take these values, and create a new user with this name and password in phpMyAdmin, then clicking on Check Privileges next to the name of the database, then finally by clicking on add a user account.
# 5 replace some urls
So, so that your new local website doesn't go crazy thinking it's located somewhere else, you need to edit two fields in the database. the siteurl et home, under wp_options (if they display only 25 lines per page, home will be displayed on the 2nd page). Modify them to https://localhost/wp or whatever you chose to name your folder, and your cloned website will be ready to use.
Step 4. Testing and Troubleshooting Your WordPress Theme on Your Clone Website
This is as easy as logging into the admin area on your local clone or test website. Install and activate the theme to see what happens. Not all of these steps are necessary. They are just a few of the many features of the theme that you want to try out if you have changed themes.
Activate wp_debug
This is a great way to test if there are any errors in your WordPress theme. For activate wp_debug, open your wp-config.php file and set wp_debug to true, like this:
define ('WP_DEBUG', true);
This will show all your php errors and notices on the frontend of your WordPress website. Keep in mind that not all posted reviews will break your website, but it's always a good idea to correct them.
Custom post types
If your old WordPress theme used one or more custom post types and your new WordPress theme does not, your content might not display normally. But don't worry, it's still in your database.
You can use a third party plugin, like Post Types Unlimited, to save your old custom post types in your new WordPress theme. If you are not sure what the names of your custom post types are, you can ask the developer of the old theme, or search the old WordPress theme for the function register_post_type and locate the names of your old custom post types.
Widgets
It's a good idea to also look at widget options, ads, footer columns, sidebar width, and any other widget areas available. This way there will be no surprises later.
If a Widget is missing, you can always add a plugin. for example social candy for social links, or the plugin More Widgets for announcements, newsletter, cards and more.
Menus
Check the locations and menus in your new WordPress theme. Maybe there are more menu locations, or vertical navigation. Just take a good look at the WordPress theme so that you know where your menus will be when you activate the theme on your actual website.
Post Formats
Many WordPress themes use custom fields. So if you are using one to define a specific video / audio / gallery / etc… you might have to change the display of your post formats in your new WordPress theme. This can be done via the Child theme so that you can continue to use the old meta on the old articles, or you might be able to use the add_post_meta ()
Plugins
We mentioned earlier that if you are not a developer you should find a new WordPress theme that is compatible with all of your required WordPress plugins. Just to be sure it's a good idea to test your plugins to make sure they really work with your WordPress theme.
If you are a developer who has created or customized a WordPress theme, this is also a good time for you to make sure that the plugins will not affect your theme.
Check browser console
Open your browser to check for javascript errors. If some things are not working correctly (javascript), such as sliders, drop-down menus, carousels, etc… you can check the browser console for errors. Just open your console to see your javascript errors, and hover over them to see exactly where the error is located.
Here are links to where you will find your console for different browsers:
See the size of the featured images
You might need to upload or edit your featured images when switching to your new WordPress theme. Once you have cleaned the house you need to crop all of your images to the correct dimensions.
Some WordPress themes dynamically crop images, so you don't have to do anything. But, if your WordPress themes don't do that for you, use the Regenerate Thumbnails WordPress plugin to regenerate all your images in the appropriate sizes.
Check SEO
Unfortunately, there are some WordPress themes that have SEO options built in, and if you're using them, you probably won't be able to port them to your new theme. Instead, you need to install a SEO plugin on your real website and fill in the options before updating.
M testobile / Navigator
If you chose to create a website test online via your WordPress host, you have the possibility to do some tests on mobiles. Grab your tablet and phone to see how your new WordPress theme looks on it. Or, if you chose to install your new WordPress theme on your localhost, you should try a responsive feature simulator like the Responsinator ou Cross Browser Testing.
Make sure to check your posts, pages, and check that everything is in working order. Once you've confirmed that there are no issues, it's time to take the final step.
Step 5. Install and activate your new WordPress theme on your real website
Now that you have thoroughly tested your new WordPress theme, log into your WordPress dashboard and install it on your real website. Before activating the WordPress theme, just do a quick double check using the Realtime preview option. You can use it to click on a few of your pages just to make sure everything looks good.
An optional step would be to install a Coming Soon plugin on your website before activating your new WordPress theme. This way, if you need to make any settings after activating your new theme, your visitors will see a nice page. Coming Soon.
Once you're ready, just navigate to Appearance> Themes and click on the button Enable To set your new WordPress theme as the default theme.
Summary
To someone who hasn't experienced the nightmare of an incident on their website, this may seem like overkill. Think of it as "having great health insurance" but for your WordPress website. Working hard to fix your WordPress theme locally minimizes the risk of something going wrong on your real website.
Discover also some premium WordPress plugins
You can use other WordPress plugins to give a modern look and optimize the grip of your blog or website.
We offer you here some premium WordPress plugins that will help you do that.
1. Live Search and Smart AutoComplete
Live Search and Smart AutoComplete is a premium WordPress plugin that will enrich the search bar of your website. This plugin does not need coding or insertion of shortcode. It works right after you activate and click on the first initialize button.
It also has few parameters if you want to change the type of indexed publication, taxonomies, etc.
Do not hesitate to read also 10 WordPress plugins to optimize the search function
It works perfectly with WooCommerce and all popular WordPress themes and recent.
Download | Demo | Web hosting
2. Visual Restaurant Reservation
Create the system online booking of your restaurant or cafe website, thanks to this excellent premium WordPress plugin. With the latter, you will have the possibility to create tables and seats by yourself on the grid that this plugin offers and let your customers reserve the free ones, this is the main feature of this plugin and what sets it apart of the other plugins in this list.
Using Drag & Drop, you can drag different types of tables onto your restaurant's grid and calculate the maximum number of seats for each table as well as the number of tables. Visitors to your restaurant will be able to choose the shape of the table they prefer and the location of the latter in relation to the other tables in the grid.
here for you 5 WordPress plugins to optimize category descriptions and labels
The customers of your restaurant will be delighted to make this choice directly on the internet instead of traveling. With this plugin they will be able to get an idea of what will await them today.
It offers among other features: support for Drag and Drop, 3 types of reservation system, a fairly intuitive handling, complete customization of its layout, and much more.
Download | Demo | Web hosting
3. Ninja Forms
When many people think of lead generation, they automatically think of lavish and exciting popups that can grab visitors' attention at the right time. But lead generation is more than that.
Sometimes the simplest of contact forms - like a subscription field to the newsletter on the footer of your website - is what will get more subscriptions than others.
So before you do anything else, make sure you have a plugin of Contact form trustworthy as Ninja Forms to add lead generation features to your website content.
Download | Demo | Web hosting
Recommended Resources
Find out about other recommended resources to help you build and manage your website.
- How to Disable Comments in WordPress
- Internal Links in WordPress: Best Practices to Use
- Some WordPress plugins to engage visitors
- How to clear a cache in WordPress
- How to create a multi-step form with lottie animation
Conclusion
Here ! That's it for this tutorial. We hope this one has made you discover how to change your WordPress theme safely. Did you find this guide useful? Or do you have something to add? Let us know in the comments section.
However, you can also consult our resources, if you need more elements to carry out your projects of creation of Internet sites, by consulting our guide on WordPress blog creation.
Do not hesitate to share with your friends on your favorite social networks.
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