How to manage WordPress themes in WordPress Manager

The Plugins & Themes tab in WordPress Manager provides a streamlined interface for discovering, installing, and managing WordPress themes directly from your hosting control panel. In particular, this feature allows you to browse thousands of themes from the WordPress.org repository, view ratings and reviews, and install themes with a single click. Furthermore, you can manage your installed themes without logging into your WordPress admin dashboard.

Accessing the WP themes section

To access theme management in WordPress Manager, navigate to the Plugins & Themes tab from the top navigation menu. Once there, you’ll see two main sections:

• Installed Themes: Shows all themes currently installed on your WordPress site
• Discover Themes: Browse and install new themes from the WordPress.org theme repository

Identifying your active WP theme

In the Installed Themes section, each theme card shows important information including the theme name, version number, and current status. Your active theme is clearly indicated by a green Active status badge displayed below the theme name. For instance, if “Twenty Twenty-Five” shows a green “Active” label, that’s the theme currently controlling your website’s appearance.

All other installed themes will display an Inactive status badge instead. Moreover, the theme card also shows the WordPress version compatibility and the theme version number, helping you ensure your themes are up to date.

Changing your active theme

To switch to a different theme, locate the theme you want to activate in the Installed Themes list and click the three-dot menu icon (⋮) in the top right corner of that theme’s card. From the dropdown menu that appears, select Activate. The theme activates immediately, and your website begins using the new design.

After activation, the selected theme’s status changes to “Active” with a green badge, while your previous theme becomes inactive. Additionally, you can visit your website to see the new theme in action. However, remember to clear your cache using the overview tab if you don’t see changes immediately.

Deleting unused themes

You can remove themes you no longer need by clicking the three-dot menu icon on any inactive theme card and selecting Delete. Note that you cannot delete your currently active theme—you must first activate a different theme before deleting the one you’re currently using. Consequently, WordPress always requires at least one theme to remain installed on your site.

Browsing and installing new themes

The Discover Themes section lets you search through thousands of free WordPress themes. Each theme displays a preview image, star rating, and an Install button for quick deployment.

How to search for themes

Use the search bar at the top of the Discover Themes section to find themes by name or keyword. For instance, you can search for “blog,” “portfolio,” or “e-commerce” to find themes suitable for your website type. Moreover, the search results update instantly as you type, making it easy to find exactly what you need.

Installing a theme

To install a new theme, simply click the orange Install button below the theme preview. The installation happens immediately, and the theme will appear in your Installed Themes section. However, remember that installing a theme doesn’t automatically activate it—you’ll need to activate it separately from your WordPress admin panel or through the Installed Themes section.

Managing installed themes

The Installed Themes section displays all themes currently available on your WordPress installation. This includes your active theme and any inactive themes you’ve installed for future use or testing.

Understanding theme ratings

Each theme shows a star rating based on user reviews from the WordPress.org community. These ratings help you evaluate theme quality before installation. Generally, themes with 4 stars or higher indicate solid quality and user satisfaction. Nevertheless, always preview themes on your staging environment before activating them on your production site.

Popular themes to consider

Some widely-used themes available through WordPress Manager include:

• Astra: Lightweight and highly customizable, excellent for business websites
• Hello Elementor: Minimal theme designed for use with the Elementor page builder
• Twenty Twenty-Five: The latest default WordPress theme with modern block editing features

Best practices for theme management

When managing WordPress themes through WordPress Manager, keep these recommendations in mind:

Test WP themes on staging first

Always test new themes on your staging environment before activating them on your live site. This prevents potential conflicts with plugins or custom code. The WordPress Manager staging feature makes this process straightforward and safe.

Remove unused WP themes

Delete themes you’re not using to reduce your website’s attack surface. Inactive themes can still contain security vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit. Consequently, maintaining only the themes you actively need improves your site’s security posture.

Check WP theme compatibility

Before installing a theme, verify it’s compatible with your WordPress version and required plugins. Most theme descriptions in the Discover section include compatibility information. Additionally, check when the theme was last updated – recently maintained themes are more likely to be secure and compatible with the latest WordPress features.

Keep WP themes updated

Regularly update your installed themes to get security patches and new features. You can configure automatic theme updates through the Auto Updates section of WordPress Manager, ensuring your themes stay current without manual intervention.

Switching between production and staging WP themes

If you’re working with both production and staging environments, you can easily switch between sites using the site selector at the top of WordPress Manager. This allows you to manage themes separately for each environment. For example, you might install and test a new theme on staging while keeping your proven theme active on production.

Troubleshooting common WordPress theme issues

Theme installation fails

If a theme fails to install, check your available disk space in the hosting. Additionally, temporary connectivity issues with the WordPress.org repository can cause installation failures – simply try again after a few minutes.

Theme appears broken after activation

Some WP themes require specific plugins to function correctly. Check the theme’s requirements and install any necessary companion plugins. Similarly, clear your site cache using the Overview tab’s cache clearing feature if the theme doesn’t display correctly.

Need more help?

Explore more WordPress Manager guides and hosting tutorials in our knowledgebase. The WordPress Manager is included free with all hosting for WordPress plans at JetHost.

For additional support with theme customization or WordPress development, our team is here to help you create the perfect website.