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Discover how easy it can be to install a new WordPress theme you’ve purchased from ThemeForest. Learn some of the most common errors folks run into when installing a theme for the first time.
By Envato
Posted 6 Oct 2021
So, you’ve chosen to build a WordPress based website – congratulations on making an awesome decision! WordPress isn’t only easy to use for blogging, it also offer tons of fantastic options for design. Most notably, it offers thousands of awesome free and premium themes which allow you to customize the look of your website with just a few clicks.
In this article, we’re going to show you how easy it can be to install a new WordPress theme you’ve purchased from ThemeForest. We’ll also be highlighting some of the most common errors folks run into when installing a theme for the first time. So, grab a theme and let’s get started!
First you need to choose your perfect domain name. Then, select a good web host such as SiteGround, Bluehost or Cloudways, which offer affordable hosting options with WordPress installation that many people love. We personally prefer and use Managed WordPress hosting from WP Engine where WordPress is already installed and configured for you (plus they manage your server side settings for you).
Option 1: Install Your Theme Through WordPress
If you’ve purchased your theme at Themeforest, you’ll need to download the theme file before you try and install it. Simply log into your account, go to your downloads and locate your theme. Click on the download button and select the “Installable WordPress file only”. This will download the zip file for your theme.
Common Error: Downloading the Wrong Theme Zip File
Make absolutely, positively sure you select the “Installable WordPress file only” option. If you select “All files & documentation” by mistake, you will not be able to install this zip as is. Instead unzip the file and then locate the installable theme file within it. Luckily most developers clearly label their files, so it should be pretty easy to find.
Common Error: Stylesheet Is Missing
If after clicking “Install Now” you see an error that “The package could not be installed. The theme is missing the style.css stylesheet,” then you probably didn’t follow our instructions from step 1. You more than likely downloaded the “All files & Documentation” instead of the the installable theme. Go back and double check that you’ve downloaded the correct file.
Common Error: Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
After browsing for your theme and clicking the “Install Now” button, it’s possible your WordPress installation will ask “Are you sure you want to do this?” This could be due to the fact that you are trying to install the wrong zip file (remember – you want the “Installable WordPress file only”) or it’s possible the upload limit on your server isn’t large enough.
If it’s the latter, you’ll need to contact your hosting company to have them increase it, or do it yourself by accessing your PHP.INI file via FTP and increasing the upload_max_filesize value.
Common Error: White Screen
If you attempt to install your theme, and end up on a white screen of death (you know, the WordPress version of the Windows blue screen of death) you probably need to make a tweak to your server. The most common cause of this error is that your server’s memory limit to PHP is too low. To solve this either:
- Contact your hosting provider to have them increase your memory limit
- Or, access your hosting cPanel to increase your memory limit, here are a few quick links to popular hosts:
- Increase your memory limit yourself via FTP by adding the following code to the bottom of your wp-config file (right before “That’s all, stop editing!”): define( ‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’ );
For a more detailed explanation, you can see our own Total theme troubleshooting doc that walks you through the steps. But, if you go with a managed WordPress host you shouldn’t ever run into this problem.
Still looking for your perfect theme? Check out some of these top WordPress themes from ThemeForest!
Option 2: Install Your Theme via FTP/SFTP
If you’d prefer to install your theme via FTP/SFTP you can. It’s still super easy, there are just couple important steps you don’t want to miss.
First, you need to install a FTP (file transfer protocol) solution – we like Transmit or FileZilla (this second one is free – woot!). Once you’ve got it installed, open up your app to connect to your server. You will also need to be logged into your hosting account to gather the following information:
- Name: Give your server a nickname that you’ll remember (especially if you plan on connecting to multiple sites)
- Where: Choose a location for your server (favorites just happens to be my default FTP/SFTP folder).
- Protocol: This will depend on which options your host provides for you to connect to your server. Go to your hosting account and locate your FTP/SFTP settings. This will vary based on your host (WP Engine’s can be found on your installs overview page, GoDaddy’s is in the SSH & SFTP tab for site Settings) so you may have to poke around a bit. Select the option that your host offers.
- Server: Enter your domain name (the server url address) here.
- Username & Password: This will either be provide by your host in the FTP/SFTP settings or you’ll have the option to create your own new ones. Copy and paste them over.
- Port: Be sure you’re set to use the same port as specified by your host – you may not need to change this.
Once you’ve added all your info save your server, then click to open it and browse to your wp-content/themesfolder.
Next, you’ll need to download your WordPress theme which we covered in detail up above in the “installing your WordPress theme via WordPress” section. Please make sure you’re downloading the “Installable WordPress file only.”
With FTP/SFTP you’ll need to unzip the file you just downloaded from Themeforest (it should look like an open folder icon). Then upload the extracted theme file.
Now log into your WordPress installation and navigate to Appearance > Themes and click to activate your theme. See – not too hard, right?
Common Error: Wrong Theme File/folder
When installing via FTP, it’s very important to be sure you upload only the theme file onto your server. A zipped file won’t work this time! Check that you’ve remembered to unzip your download. And, also double check that you’re uploading the correct theme only folder. You may have accidentally downloaded the theme plus docs and anything else.
Option 3: Install (And Update) Your Theme With the Envato Market Plugin
After installing and activating your theme is super easy if you simply install the Envato Market plugin. The best part about WordPress plugins is that they give you access to all of your Themeforest and Codecanyon purchases right from your WordPress dashboard! This makes it even easier to install new purchases as well as keep them up to date so you always have the latest feature additions, bundled plugin updates and any theme security patches.
To get started first, download the plugin zip file from github, then log into your WordPress installation and navigate to Plugins > Add New.
Click on the “Upload Plugin” button at the top left of the screen, browse for the envato-market zip file and then click “Install Now.” When prompted click the “Activate Plugin” link.
Once the plugin is installed and active, you’ll need to sync it with your Envato account to have access to all of your WordPress theme and plugin purchases right from your dashboard. To do this, click on the “Generate A Personal Token” link on the Envato Market plugin page with your WordPress dashboard. This will take you to the EnvatoAPI page where you can generate an authorization token.
To generate your token simply log into your Envato account (unless you’re logged in already), check the box that you have read and agreed to the terms (but don’t uncheck any of the select options – the Envato Market plugin needs access to this info to work properly) and click the green button for “Create Token.” You should see a green success screen next. Copy your token code and go back to your WordPress dashboard.
Paste the code into the Token field on the Envato Market plugin page then Save Changes. If you see an error that says “You do not have sufficient permissions to delete transients” don’t worry – just click your browser’s back button and try adding your token again.
Once your token is saved you should see all of your purchases. Just click the blue button to install your theme, and that’s it. The Envato Market plugin will also show if there is an update available with a banner notice over the item. All you have to do is click to update – it’s that easy!
Common Error: Token Won’t Validate
If your token will not validate it could be one of two problems. You could be entering the wrong code. For the Envato Market plugin to work you MUST generate a token for the EnvatoAPI. Your purchase invoice number, theme license or any other code from your Themeforest dashboard will not work.
The second possibility is that you’ve un-checked some of the required API permissions when generating your code. If this is the case go back and generate a new code without removing any of the pre-checked permissions.
Aaaaand theme!
That’s it! We’ve covered three very different but also very easy ways to install your Themeforest WordPress theme, so now you should have your theme installed and ready to go. Of course, you may want to take the time to customize your theme using any Customizer options built-in, page builder plugins that have been included, or even custom CSS, but that’s a whole other blog post. For more great WordPress related content, check out how to use , 10 Best Comparison Table Plugins for WordPress and how to . And don’t forget to check out some of these awesome WordPress themes from ThemeForest!
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FAQs
How do I activate my ThemeForest theme? ›
...
It's really simple!
- Go to the theme activation page.
- Select your theme and write the Item Purchase Code.
- Click "Activate theme".
- Log in to your WordPress account. ...
- Navigate to Appearance > Themes. ...
- On the Themes page, select Add New at the top of the page. ...
- Choose a theme. ...
- Click Download to begin the installation process. ...
- Click Activate once complete.
You can upload your new theme by adding it to this 'wp-content/themes' folder. Select your unzipped theme folder from your computer. You can then drag and drop this theme folder into your website's 'themes' folder. Once you have uploaded the theme, switch back to your WordPress dashboard.
How do I upload a theme from Envato to WordPress? ›- Selecting 'Appearance' on the left pane.
- Select 'Themes'
- Select 'Add New'
- Select 'Upload themes'
- Select 'Choose file'
- Navigate to your downloaded file and select it, then select 'Open'
- Once the upload has completed, you will be presented with an 'Install Now' option.
Option 1: Install Your Theme Through WordPress. If you've purchased your theme at Themeforest, you'll need to download the theme file before you try and install it. Simply log into your account, go to your downloads and locate your theme. Click on the download button and select the “Installable WordPress file only”.
What is ThemeForest in WordPress? ›ThemeForest is part of Envato Market. At ThemeForest you can buy and sell HTML templates as well as themes for popular CMS products like WordPress, Joomla and Drupal. Items are priced on the complexity, quality and use of the file; the total price also includes a Buyer Fee.
Why can't I install a theme on WordPress? ›This can happen because of a missing file or a corrupt zip file. A theme or plugin is successfully installed if WordPress finds all the necessary files for installation. To avoid the issue, you might want to unzip the file and review what it has inside. If the zip file is not corrupt, it will unzip without any issue.
Why can't I add new theme to WordPress? ›The most common reason for not being able to see the “Add New” button when you are trying to install a new theme or a plugin on your WordPress website is that you are using a WordPress Multisite.
Can I upload my own theme on WordPress? ›This is the easiest way to upload and install your custom theme. Log into your WordPress account. Find Appearance on the left sidebar, and then Themes, and then go to Install Theme. Click Upload, and find your theme zip file.
How do I manually update a WordPress theme from ThemeForest? ›- Log into FTP Account using FileZilla or similar program.
- Go to wp-content/themes directory.
- Move to the theme directory that you want to update.
- Now, download the latest version of theme from ThemeForest.net/downloads.
How do I install Envato on WordPress? ›
- Download the ZIP file from here.
- Login to your WordPress Dashboard.
- Go to Plugins > Add New.
- Click “Upload Plugin” at the top.
- Upload the envato-market.zip file.
- Once installed, click “Activate Plugin”
- Visit the new “Envato Market” menu item.
- Save your main file(s) Organize your file and documentation so that it is easy to view, edit and understand. ...
- Check your assets: Licenses: ...
- Create your help file documentation. ...
- Choose an Item Title. ...
- Final Steps. ...
- Upload your file to ThemeForest!
Open files app and go to settings > appearance. From the drop-down menu labeled “color scheme“, select your newly installed theme. Restart Files when prompted and your theme will now be loaded in.
Can I reuse ThemeForest themes? ›No. The Extended License only allows for a single end product. By allowing your users to download their own customized versions, you're allowing the item to be used in multiple end products.
Are ThemeForest themes safe? ›Although ThemeForest has put guidelines in place for a theme's code, security and more, ThemeForest still has a bit of a reputation for bloated, poorly coded themes. You can minimize the chance of running into such a theme by following the tips from above, such as checking out the ratings and last-updated date.
Is ThemeForest a one time payment? ›For all other themes, you pay the Regular License cost one-time for each website you install the theme on at a time. (If you have 2 websites using the theme simultaneously then you need 2 licenses, but if you take the theme off one site and move it to a new site you don't need to buy another license).
How many WordPress themes are there in ThemeForest? ›Browse 2,546 modern WordPress themes from $13 sorted by best sellers. All created by our Global Community of independent Web Designers and Developers.
Does ThemeForest have free themes? ›A Theme for everyone
There are new free WordPress themes to download every month, and they come from one of the widest, highest-quality collections around. ThemeForest features all kinds of themes and templates: from e-commerce to blog, from creative to business—and more.
What Is the Difference Between a WordPress Theme and a Template? In its simplest form, the difference between WordPress themes and WordPress templates is the number of pages each one pertains to. Themes affect the design of your entire site, and templates affect the layout of a single page on your site.
Why does Theme installation fail? ›The “Theme installation failed” error is caused by uploading the wrong file. The error message states that 'style. css stylesheet' file is missing. The file is missing because the uploaded file most likely contains other files instead of the required theme files.
Which Theme builder is best for WordPress? ›
- SeedProd. SeedProd is one of the most popular theme builders for WordPress. ...
- Divi Theme Builder. Divi Theme Builder is a plugin that comes bundled with the popular Divi theme. ...
- Beaver Builder. ...
- Themify. ...
- Elementor Theme Builder. ...
- Thrive Themes Builder. ...
- JetThemeCore. ...
- Brizy Pro.
You need to have the Business plan in order to upload the custom theme. Alternatively, you can have a self-hosted site with WordPress.org software if that custom theme is necessary for your blogging.
Can I upload my own Theme in WordPress free? ›WordPress.com is a great free resource for building your own website. One major drawback, however, is that you cannot upload a custom theme. If you want to use a custom theme, or if you want to use a theme that you purchased on another site, you'll need to host your WordPress site with a different service.
Do WordPress themes expire? ›WPZOOM's WordPress themes come with lifetime licenses but one year of updates and support. That means you're free to use the theme you've purchased for as long as you like, but you'll only receive new updates and support for a year after your purchase.
How do I install a WordPress theme update? ›Updating your theme in WordPress is made very simple for you. Just go to Dashboard > Updates and select your theme, then click the Update Themes button.
How do I edit a WordPress theme without publishing it? ›- From the WordPress dashboard, go to 'Appearance'.
- Select the 'Theme' option and look for a new theme using the search bar.
- Having chosen a theme, click the 'Live Demo' option to test it out.
- If satisfied with the chosen theme, click 'Install'. Users can now customize their new WordPress theme.
- Click the “WP File Manager” tool from the left panel.
- By default, WP File Manager connects to your WordPress installation. ...
- Double-click the “themes” folder.
- Select the theme you want to duplicate by clicking it once. ...
- Click the “Duplicate” button.
Our ThemeForest market is one of the top collections of premium themes and plugins out there. And now, many of the best premium themes and plugins are available with an Envato Elements subscription.
Does Envato include WordPress themes? ›In addition to all that, your Envato Elements subscription gives you access to unlimited WP themes, so it's easy to switch if you change your mind later, or if your needs change as your site grows.
How do I install a premium WordPress theme for free? ›- Log in to your WordPress admin page, then go to Appearance and select Themes.
- To add a theme, click Add New. ...
- To unlock a theme's options, hover over it; you can either choose Preview to see a demo of the theme or install it by clicking the Install button once you're ready.
Can you import HTML into WordPress? ›
To convert an HTML site to WordPress, you can either use a plugin/app, manually convert your files, or utilize a child theme and transfer over the HTML files into that child theme. The first is manually converting that HTML to make a WordPress theme.
How do I add a HTML file to WordPress? ›Create a New Folder and Upload an HTML File to WordPress
Then click New Folder. Name your new folder and click Create New Folder. Double click on the folder you just created then click Upload to select your HTML file. Once this is done, you'll see your zipped HTML file in the folder.
For example, you can add a nofollow link, change the style of your text, or add other code. If you want to edit the HTML of your entire post, then you can use the 'Code Editor' in the WordPress block editor. You can access the code editor by clicking the three-dots option in the top right corner.
› watch ›How to upload WordPress Theme on Themeforest
How to update WordPress themes bought from ThemeForest ...
- On your Android device, open Google Chrome .
- At the top right, tap More Settings. Themes.
- Choose the theme you'd like to use: System Default if you want to use Chrome in Dark theme when Battery Saver mode is turned on or your mobile device is set to Dark theme in device settings.
- From the WordPress dashboard, go to 'Appearance'.
- Select the 'Theme' option and look for a new theme using the search bar.
- Having chosen a theme, click the 'Live Demo' option to test it out.
- If satisfied with the chosen theme, click 'Install'. Users can now customize their new WordPress theme.
No. The Extended License only allows for a single end product. By allowing your users to download their own customized versions, you're allowing the item to be used in multiple end products.
Where is the ThemeForest purchase code? ›- Step 1 – Log in to ThemeForest with your Envato account.
- Step 2 – Navigate to the Downloads tab. ...
- Step 3 – Locate your item, and click the Download button.
- Step 4 – Choose between License Certificate & Purchase Code (PDF) or License Certificate & Purchase Code (Text).
- Upload and activate the theme/plugin. ( ...
- After activation, navigate to Settings->General and scroll down until you see the theme or plugin license input.
- Insert the license key into the field and click Activate.
- To make sure that your license key was properly activated, check its status.
Open files app and go to settings > appearance. From the drop-down menu labeled “color scheme“, select your newly installed theme. Restart Files when prompted and your theme will now be loaded in.
Why my theme is not working? ›
Just head over to Settings > Additional Settings and change region to India. If nothing changes, try rebooting the device. Hopefully, the Themes app will work just fine following this.
How do I find my downloaded themes? ›Settings. Under "Appearance," click Themes. You can also go to the gallery by visiting Chrome Web Store Themes. Click the thumbnails to preview different themes.
Where are themes stored in WordPress? ›WordPress stores your theme files in /wp-content/themes/ folder. You can edit a theme file, but it is generally not recommended.
Can you change your WordPress theme without losing content? ›When switching WordPress themes, you can rest assured that all of your content, including media, pages, posts, and comments will remain safe throughout the process. You will not lose any of that information and you do not need to do anything to move the content, as it will remain intact in your dashboard.
How do I activate a WordPress plugin from a database? ›- Visit your WordPress admin login page and refresh it, then log into WordPress.
- Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins. ...
- Activate a plugin.
- Go to your website and refresh the page.
Free themes lack a lot of the features and customizability found in premium themes. Free themes are often poorly coded, leaving them open to security vulnerabilities and making them more difficult to localize. Poor coding also slows down loading and performance, decreasing search engine optimization.
Do I have to pay to install a theme on WordPress? ›You can find free themes in the WordPress directory or install premium themes from third-party sites. Many free themes are ideal for those who want to tinker with their code, but paid themes offer extra support and more features for a website tailor-made to your needs.
Is it legal to remove copyright from WordPress theme? ›Is it legal to modify paid WordPress themes? Short answer, yes. It's GPL code, you own a license to the code and pay for support and updates.