Unlocking the Mystery: How to Remove Theme Name from WordPress Footer

WordPress has become the go-to platform for web developers and bloggers due to its easy customization options and numerous features. One of its advantages is the availability of multiple themes, enabling site owners to give their website a unique look and design.

Premium WordPress Themes and Attribution

While using themes, most premium WordPress themes come with an option to include the theme name (attribution) in website footers. However, some website owners may find the theme’s attribution in the footer undesirable, distractive or giving away the website’s design secrets.

The 4 Methods to Remove Theme Name from WordPress Footer

Method 1: Use WordPress Customizer

To remove the theme name from the footer in WordPress, first, use the WordPress Customizer. Most premium WordPress themes come with a setting to customize the website’s appearance. Follow the steps below:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Click on the “Appearance” link on the left-hand side of your dashboard.
3. Select the “Customize” option from the dropdown list.
4. Look for the “Footer” or “Copyright” section in the customization panel, depending on your theme.
5. Uncheck the “Include Attribution” or “Enable Attribution” option.
6. Click on the “Save & Publish” button to update the website footer.

Method 2: Edit the Theme’s Code

Another method of removing the theme name from the WordPress footer is by editing the theme’s code. Although this method requires some familiarity with the WordPress platform, it is simple to execute. Follow the steps below:

1. Connect to your website’s FTP client.
2. Navigate to your WordPress theme folder, usually located in /wp-content/themes
3. Locate the footer.php or copyright.php file in the theme folder.
4. Open the footer.php or copyright.php file in a text editor.
5. Search for the theme attribution code, which usually contains the theme name or a link back to the theme’s website.
6. Delete the theme attribution code or comment it out by adding two forward slashes (//) before the code.
7. Save your changes and refresh your website to confirm that the attribution has been removed.

Method 3: Install a Plugin

WordPress plugins offer a simple way of adding new functionality to a website. They are easy to use and do not require any coding knowledge. Several plugins exist that can remove the theme name from the WordPress footer. Follow the steps below to use a plugin:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Click on the “Plugins” link on the left-hand side of your dashboard.
3. Click on the “Add New” button on the top of the plugins page.
4. Search for the “Remove Footer Credit” plugin.
5. Click on the “Install Now” and “Activate” buttons to install and activate the plugin.
6. Locate the “Remove Footer Credit” menu item under the Appearance section.
7. Configure the plugin settings by adding the text or code to be removed from the footer.
8. Save your changes.

Method 4: Contact the Theme Developer

Finally, if none of the above methods works, you can contact the theme developer for assistance. While most theme developers are willing to help, some may require payment for customization services. Check the theme’s documentation or website for support resources or contact details.

Bottom Line

WordPress themes offer a simple way to design and customize websites. However, they often include attribution in the footer. While this attribution is usually intended as a form of acknowledgment for the theme developer’s hard work, some website owners may prefer to remove it. This article has highlighted four methods of removing the theme name from the footer in WordPress, giving website owners options that range from easy to advanced.