How To Change WordPress Themes - Switch Without Destroying Your Website
Вставка
- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Learn how to change WordPress themes, all the gotchas, and things to consider. Know fully what's involved with this video tutorial.
MY Advice
Switch to a theme and page builder combo that will be timeless so that you are not locked into a style.
Elementor www.wpcrafter....
Astra www.wpcrafter....
GeneratePress www.wpcrafter....
Hosting with staging: www.wpcrafter....
Siteground www.wpcrafter....
A2Hosting www.wpcrafter....
Kinsta www.wpcrafter....
WPEngine www.wpcrafter....
Install WordPress On Your Computer
local.getflywh...
laragon.org/
Migrate To Staging & Back
wordpress.org/...
updraftplus.co...
Other Tutorials
Install Local • How To Install WordPre...
EXCLUSIVE WORDPRESS DEALS 2023
🟡 SureCart -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 50% Auto Applied)
🟡 SureMembers -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 50% Auto Applied)
🟡 Presto Player -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 33% Auto Applied)
🟡 Astra Theme -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 10% Coupon WPCRAFTER)
🟡 CartFlows -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 40% Auto Applied)
🟡 Cloudways -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 20% Coupon WPCRAFTER)
🟡 BuddyBoss -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 10%)
Want to offer a discount to WPCrafter subscribers, contact me on my website
BEST WORDPRESS PAGE BUILDERS
🟡 Spectra -- www.wpcrafter....
🟡 Elementor -- www.wpcrafter....
🟡 Beaver Builder -- www.wpcrafter....
🟡 Divi -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 20%)
BEST WORDPRESS HOSTING
🟡 Full List -- www.wpcrafter....
🟡 Cloudways -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 20% Coupon WPCRAFTER)
🟡 Hostinger -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 75%)
🟡 NameHero -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 70%)
🟡 SiteGround -- www.wpcrafter.... (SAVE 70%)
CONTACT WPCRAFTER
☑ Website -- www.wpcrafter.com
☑ Facebook Group -- / wpcrafter
☑ Twitter -- / wpcrafter
☑ Twitter -- / adampreiser
All of the opinions expressed in this video are my own, I was not paid to make this video. Whenever there is a link in any of my videos, if there is a referral program available, please assume that you are clicking on a referral link.
![How To Overhaul An Old Website To New Website The Right Way [5 Step Process]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/P7gWoUXNKUc/mqdefault.jpg)
![How To Overhaul An Old Website To New Website The Right Way [5 Step Process]](/img/tr.png)
OMG! The perfect timing! I was just strategizing on how to switch theme without destroying the database or starting over. Thanks, Adam!
Too much intro. We are here coz we want to change themes man
I have no idea what you're talking about most of the time but I'm trying to learn and you are TELLING THE TRUTH! So many youtubers make you watch hours and hours before they actually tell you oh well then you have to buy this and oh yeah, and this too - you are being so honest and straight forward - I really appreciate that. #inovermyhead LOL
Hi Adam... I need to basically move my current A2 Hosted website to a subdomain area on the site so I can install a fresh copy of WP and a new theme on the url. My current site is a WoodMart theme, WP and Elementor Pro. I paid basically a consultant to help me build it , and I like the site (his site sucked so I built my own with his assistance). I chose dark theme however, and used some older website styles...but am told it really needs to be a more modern site, my nav as somewhat confusing, and the dark would have to go. This would probably involve a different theme etc....and if it is a better site would need switched out to make it live. The current site is live, unfinished and the product cannot be downloaded yet.
that was a general talk about changing themes not "How To Change WordPress Themes",, but many thanks for your tech guides.
Thanks for the heads up, bye.
Yeah same here, I came here looking to learn HOW to change wordpress themes... answer: have someone else do it for you using their 3rd party software... jeez
Thanks very nice Video
I have one question
If I change the website theme like this, will I lose SEO?
My answer was to hire someone! You are exactly right in 3 years my site looked "old", but this move themes scared me (aka- non techy).
same!
Fanny packs are back! Except now they're called "belt bags". 😅
Yep you are so right...Fanny Packs are back. LOL
Your channel has really helped me with WP! Thank you so much and hope you and yours are staying safe! Happy Holiday!
Any tips on changing from custom theme to Divi Theme builder? I am scared of 4GB of media library and over 2000 posts and pages 😥
Nice tut! There are themes that requires to install them on a fresh wp even you have an old theme already. We can't save all the files like database, plugins etc with updraft plus or with wp dashboard-tools - export without the older theme' folder, upload them on local and then upload the new theme on it? I just wonder that is really mandatory to cater the old theme in the process of changeing it with the new one?
Hi I love your videos very helpful. Pls how did you achieve your wonderful background?
Great video. I have Astro and Elementor
Thanks so much chief. God bless you. This was very useful.
Thanks for the video and the amazing tips!!
I love generate press, have used it for multiple websites, but now I need to add bookings and payments for my bed and breakfast.
Great Video Adam. Your recommendations also have lots of widgets. I am using Dante right now and want to switch to something that loads faster and easier to find with SEO. What do you suggest?
Will I have to buy a lot of tokens if I switch several themes out to find the best one.
17:24 - ok - so, I really like your channel - just subbed the other day - you are very very clear - but that's why I am asking... when are we gonna get to how to switch themes?
Thank you. I found this by searching for a problem that came up NOT when changing themes but when integrating a Printful WooCommerce Storefront onto my existing GeneratePress (free child) blog page. Once completed, instead of putting the storefront as just another page on my dropdown menu, the Storefront replaced my Blog Homepage AND the drop down menu disappeared from all pages (as did the footer). My original homepage is still in the backend (WordPress/Elementor) as a page and my dropdown menu and footer are there too BUT when I go in to Appearance Menu or Customize and set the old menu to "Primary", I get a "Fatal Error" so have to unselect it. Help?
Thanks Bro, perfect way of teaching, a question, which theme should I use for pet related website?Thanks again.
Adam, another great video and as always helping me a lot, thank you
We're doing a WordPress redesign, this is good information. Newbie question: Can themes be used on WordPress independently of page builders / theme builders like Elementor, Divi and Beaver Builder?
Yes, of course, you can use themes alone without page builders, but you will need to do the job of page builders when you are building the website.
Do you suggest updraft Plus before switching to another theme?
I build my website with elementor hello theme and I can’t get the stars on my product category pages I tried some codes and that didn’t work. What can I do to add some false stars before customers add their reviews
Fany packs over the shoulder are a massive come back
Your videos are top quality. Thanks so much! You are a great person also- i can just tell
Great video dude, I've started learning WordPress a couple of days ago and I feel like I have gotten a pretty nice foundation on the importance and the basics of themes.
Hello, i want to edit a estate theme but i see some problems. They made the theme using page builder plugin and this plugin not enough for complete all elements. For this they made another plugin called home core. This plugin adding new elements to page builder. So the home core plugin is including special handmade elements. The real question is this. How can i edit the addon plugin elements? Thanks
What do you think about just creating a subdomain, install WordPress, then migrate or clone your current site to the subdomain? That becomes your developmental site. After you are happy with the results, you can migrate/clone the new site to your main domain. My Cpanel has a clone feature.
Hi, Adam. As usual, another home run. Thank you so much for your amazing tutorials.
im trying change Stratus theme to Hello Elementor, website is created in Elementor but after switch my homepage is destroyed, groovy menu and footer as well. What I suppose to do ? Rebuild?
Does changing themes leads to traffic loss ? If yes , could you please advise how to be cautious while doing the same
Will you please do a review video on Flatsome theme and how to utilize their Flatsome Studio? What are pros and the cons, their coding, and ease of switching to another theme if need to later on, etc. I was looking into purchasing this theme but later came across your video for Astra, I thought I can benefit using their built-in features like advertising banners and marketing campaigns for advertising automation. With Astra, how can I have the slider options for preview featured products? What are your recommendation for Woo-cart plugins on product management, inventory tracking, sales, taxes, and marketing ( holiday sales banners etc. )? Thank you!
Great video. Thanks!
Confirm, how we can search theme, because to select required theme, I installed many themes, now even after installation unable to see the installed theme, it is not changing, share what is the problem, how it can be solved ?
Hey dear
I need help can you help me?
My web pages showing in header(manu) and same time at also in footers, i want pages only in headers (manu) area can show not in footers.
Please help me.
I spent money buying a really bad theme...messed up my website :( Wish I would've seen your video sooner.
so in the end just do a fresh install of Wordpress and then install the new theme and copy and paste text in the staging area?
WPCragter, Adam; thank you for the video. I find WP extremely complicated particularly since the WP updates with a huge learning curve. I am an author not a computer person. There must be a simpler way. Any suggestions for a theme for writers?
Thank you for this video, super helpful! I am praying to switch my theme soon. But what if I want to change menu and category items, will this break my website? Thank you :)
When doing the theme change via staging, lets say it takes 2 days to set it up but in the mean time you take 20 orders on the live site. When pushing the staging to live will the 20 new order be still there after the staging has gone live?
Yea thats called versioning and there is no easy answer to it. There are some pricy options to help deal with it. One is named wp merge, but I have no experience in using it.
@@WPCrafter Thanks for the reply. At the moment my site is on Flatsome theme and I have a local site that has the new design made from Elementor and OceanWP. I think I will wait for the summer when our site is at the quietest and put a maintenance page on the front of the website and make a backup (just in case it goes wrong) whilst I change the themes and then copy the pages from the local to the website (which I think will be quicker) and then make it live again. This way I think it will be less complicated, safer and I can test each page to make sure everything goes across and I keep all the old orders, customers, loyalty points earned and other programs that is needed to work in the background.
Great tutorial. I had no idea of (or maybe forgot about) the Elements feature of GeneratePress. I've been using GP for years and I feel like they snuck in some enhancements while I was using the other features! Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
How can I get through to you. I need you to help me migrate my wordpress 2013 theme to another theme without losing my data. doing it myself seems like an overwhelming task
Question mate..I have the astra theme installed but I can't find where it allows me to edit the default background image on the homepage? When I click on Appearance > Customise it doesn't give me the option of Layout. I'm wondering do I need to add a pro version of something to do this or it's just something obvious that I'm missing?
I just set up another GCP or AWS server from marketplace WordPress bitnami. Both are free for a year but they're highly complex environments.
Great video....Question:
I am only a few days into building my site with Wordpress and Elementor free version. Being as I am new to both, I have very little content on my photography website. I would like to switch the theme from the current theme, Photoway, to Astra because Astra looks a lot easier to design a site.
The only thing I really built so far is a home page with only one photo and a menu and another page with a slideshow (13 images) using the plugin Prime Slider. (Both of those pages are unfinished).
Is it likely I will lose that slideshow feature if I switch? Even if I do lose it and loose my partially built home page, I would imagine it is better to lose it now while very little content on my website. Thanks for your input in advance. Gave you a sub as your video is very well done. Thanks.
Phil
Uptown Photography
Do you guys think it’s possible to switch from Chaplin / Gutenberg to generate press / elementor?
Will it be looking super funny or am I able to tidy up easily? Thanx in advance 🙏
Hey Adam, good content as usual. Could you give me the app name you are using to make your video?. I have the screencast-o-matic and feeling kind of incomplete. Thanks.
My live site is in staging now, so, the URL is different and the Elementor Pro License wants activated for the staging site. In fact, whatever has a license wants activated to the staging URL. Any suggestions? Thanks.
How do you use both a Page Builder like Elementor full width AND still retain the speediness of a native theme like Astra?
I have a question for Adam or anyone that can answer it.
I have an amazon affiliate website built using Wordpress and wanted to switch themes because it looks boring. 😁 Will I loose all of that content if I switch themes? Thanks
I really love your videos. Im building a website at the moment and my customer wants to upload news himself. it would be the easiest way to do it with a plugin but i cant find one that is not ugly, useless or does not work well with elementor. Can you help out? Greetings Sam!
BRO! Did you get a new camera?!
I have been using the same one for about a year. I have new lights though.
Thanks Mr. Evil
I purchased theme. That one one licence. I used theme on my website but some reason I shot down . can I used that theme on my new domain. How to change licence .Please reply
Hi Adam, I have an issue when I migrated my website to local hosting. I used laragon, however, I noticed that some codes have error because some data on my website are self encode by a person who worked on our website before. I really want to change my website theme but I don't want to lose my website data also. What can you suggest? Thank you.
Thank you very much
Def informative but centered more on the Why's rather than the How's. As in I already know why I want to do it... Good overall however.
Hi Adam. As I am new to this, i have one question - Do we need to take re-authentication from google analytics if we change the theme, in my previous theme. For my previous theme i did the basic google analytics setting like in header.php i paste the code but after switching theme, in new theme that code is not there. Do this has any impact ?
Divi has expired cant I just charge to something similar ?
Astra has apparently been blocked by WP.....any thoughts?
Great video once again. Initially confusing but that means I need educating. Maybe I will try doing the staging thing first and try Astra free version to see how my site is affected. My question is, how does Divi (which I have purchased) fir into all this? Once again thanks a million.
The only challenge with Divi is that if you're leaving Divi you need to make sure that you install the Divi builder plug-in. If you don't you will see a bunch of content wrapped in shortcodes that will look like a gibberish of text.
I have WP Twenty Fourteen and would like to upgrade to WP Twenty Nineteen---your take?
i tried to switch without all that staging bs and it all good really easy to put content back up took me 10 mins
True. Fanny packs are back in by the way.
Thank You Adam for this great video. I have a client who is going to need to change their theme. The current theme came with a ton of bloat and the developer has dropped the ball.
I am mid theme swap and am mostly settled on genesis. Do you not like genesis?
I am looking for seo and speed.
Fanny packs actually made a comeback...
Great video. Could you recommend a company for malware removal? When I set up my website using the Tesseract theme, I got malware which I can't remove. Thanks
First comment:-) great content Adam
Today I used WP Staging plugin to copy my website. As you say in this video ( that I have watched many times) all the old GT3 page builder blocks will make most of the site useless. My question : Can I redo the site from the present clone or will it leave tons of code remnants js, css etc? Great videos!
Thank you Adam
I need you advice was using astra theme with elementor pro but i install oceanwp bcuz have a few more option for woocommerce site .Everything is fine exept on my main page below header i see other header it show "home" with words i call home my home page thats why and i cannot find way to remove that home not to show ,same happen when i click on shop page under the header i see another header it says products-here you can add more product in your shop.
Thats it a small and anoing issue i dont want my page visitors to see this any sedgestions?🤔
In each page there should be an option to hide the title.
@@WPCrafter Ty i do it text its gone but the space still there i think i must create new main page start from 0
@@intech7863 Maybe reach out to Nick to get that fixed. Maybe there is an issue.
Watch this video in 1.75 speed.. you're welcome.
Nice.
2022 fanny packs are coming back
Is there a way to change my page builder
Fanny packs are now back haha!
Yes they are
thanks great video. god bless you
Nice Overview one remark all in one migration is a one time fee - migrator needs to renewed yearly - and it seems to me all in one migration doesn't gzip the sql part of the export leading to bigger files… never tried migrator though ^^
Same with migrator. But yea most people don’t do a ton of migrating and the $30 will work after the 12 months just fine. But yea the other one does have lifetime updates :-)
do you lose SEO ranking when switching themes?
Nope not at all.
@@WPCrafterthank you for answering! does this apply also when changing the design of the web without changing themes?
@@diegocastaneda2326 If you are changing the words on the page, yes there is a potential change.
Is it possible to lose SEO because of removal Widgets or plugins linked to the previous theme ?
I find Wordpress is bloated and not very good. Html and css is better.
Thank you Sir.
I really wish Automattic just made this process a breeze. But it's not Shopify or Webflow. Maybe Gutenberg will resolve this.
Thanks Adam. Am going to switch themes and this video brought it into perspective.
sir i want to add a option where user can upload second hand things , i already have a e-commerce website
I would like to switch themes on my website, but I was wondering can I contract you to do it for me?
I activated a demo which I thought was just a demo but changed my mind. Now I can’t reverse it
Hello Sir how u doing?do u teach online sir?
are you fan of james bond ? i am ! ;-) really agree with you to recommend the add-on "migrator" for updraft plugin. really fantastic, a must have.
Since I was a small kid. I'm sure I resemble a bond villain haha. I mostly get called Dr. Evil, which is fine with me :-). And yea that migrator addon has never once let me down.
@@WPCrafter LOL you know I almost made this joke but I did not dare, i see that you have a lot of humor :-) , if I had known I would have dared ahah seriously I am like you an absolute fan of james bond since "only for your eyes" (i was 8 years old). you're not a movie star but already a youtube star, and you deserve it :-) and you have nothing of a villain, because I know real bad guys on youtube LOL thanks for your answer that made me laugh hard. hurry the next james bond !!!
Haha. Yea I am totally cool with any joking around. I have also been called Varys from Game Of Thrones haha.
@@WPCrafter I have not seen a single episode of GOT but I will think of you when I finally discover the series 😄 ahah
For Staging just create a subdomain
Nowadays most hosts are including staging feautres.
speed up to 1.75 - you're welcome
I hate how much work it is to make a new page in WordPress, why can't it be as easy as Medium. :(
Just go with the root Gutenberg builder. Don't see why there would be any problems there.
OK, why?
watch it in 1.75 speed
Elementor full canvas option?
My theme is no longer alive:(( .... im waching :)
start from 17:00 if u want to skpi. dont hav to b so much talking man just do it .
I hate how many themes still use VC/WP Bakery, it's so dated.
WHAT!? IS FANNYPACKS NOT THE SHIT ANYMORE!?
Sorry to break the news :-(.
@@WPCrafter Btw i was about to order Siteground hosting because i wanted to move from a2hosting . I used your link of course. But it seems there is a setup fee that i didnt expect so will be a couple of days before i can order it. But i will! Just wanted to let you know Adam
@@WPCrafter Will also buy Astra theme soon because i tried oceanwp but certain things i dont really like in oceanwp so its gonna be Astra for me going forward. I will use your link
@@michaelhofby That's odd. Were you trying to pay month to month? Usually, that is when they would charge a setup fee. And that's for the support. And yes, I am still in love with the Astra theme after 2 years. Really, its the longest I have ever used a theme for.
@@WPCrafter Yeah month to month cuz i cant pay for 1 year at one time atm.. Its ok with the fee i just need to put some cash into my account then i order it. And Astra pro too.