How to Update Your WordPress Theme via FTP

The Importance of Updating Your WordPress Theme

Keeping your WordPress theme updated is crucial for maintaining your website’s security and performance. Every update offers new features, bug fixes, and security patches that improve your website’s functionality and protect it against potential threats.

However, updating your theme through the WordPress platform can sometimes fail, especially if there are file permission or size issues. In such cases, updating via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a recommended option.

The Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Create a Backup

Prior to making any significant changes to your website theme, it’s always advisable to create a backup of your data files. This ensures that you have a precautionary measure in place in case anything goes wrong during the update process. You can easily create a backup of your website through various WordPress plugins such as UpdraftPlus and WPvivid Backup Plugin.

Step 2: Download the Latest Theme Version

To update your theme through FTP, you need to download the latest version of the theme from the provider’s website or repository. Review the changelog to understand the improvements you can expect from the updated version.

Step 3: Connect to the FTP Server

To connect to the FTP server, you need to have an FTP client such as FileZilla or Cyberduck installed on your computer.

Step 4: Access the Theme Directory

After you’ve successfully logged into the FTP server, navigate to the “wp-content/themes” directory where your WordPress themes are stored. Locate the folder with the name of the theme you want to update and select it.

Step 5: Delete the Old Theme Folder

Before uploading the new theme version, delete the old theme folder. This ensures that the core files of the old theme won’t conflict with the new version’s files, which can cause errors and persistent website problems.

Step 6: Upload the New Theme Version

Once you’ve deleted the old theme folder, upload the new theme version to the “wp-content/themes” directory. Ensure that you upload the correct theme version that matches your website’s theme. You may have to unzip the theme file once it’s uploaded to access its contents.

Step 7: Activate the New Theme Version

After uploading the new theme version, activate it by logging into your WordPress dashboard, clicking on “Appearance,” then “Themes,” and selecting the newly uploaded theme. Click on “Activate,” and your website will now run the latest version of the theme.

Final Thoughts

Updating your WordPress theme is essential to keep your website secure and functional. If the WordPress automatic update option fails, updating via FTP is a reliable alternative that you can use. This step-by-step guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to complete the process. Always create a backup before making any changes to your website’s core files to ensure your website’s safety.