Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation when you click on links to products in this post. For an explanation of my Advertising Policy, visit this page. Thanks for reading!
Can you change a WordPress theme and still keep the content?
People often ask if they can change the WordPress theme and keep the content. The short answer is yes, you can change your WordPress theme without losing any of your content.
Before we start, it must be said to always have a backup of your site as well as your site’s content.
Try UpdraftPlus to backup your entire site. It was made for situations just like this and to give you peace of mind in case your site is hacked.
However, with the above being said, changing themes may still cause some minor changes to your content nevertheless, but only in formatting. That’s why in this post, we will explain all that and how you can avoid those issues.
WordPress is great! It allows bloggers to easily change themes without knowing any programming or web design languages.
There are hundreds of free and paid WordPress themes to choose from, and it’s easy to switch between them.
For the purpose of this FAQ, we will assume you already know how to add a new theme in your Dashboard.
Changing a WordPress theme without losing content, FYI.
When you upload a new theme, usually the widgets remain unchanged. If this is not the case, try saving your widgets again by clicking on ‘Screen Options’ at the top of your Dashboard and tick ‘Save Sidebar’.
If your widgets were saved and still do not show up, then the theme is probably correct and it’s the code that needs fixing.
If widgets are not saved (i.e., you cannot see them), then your widgets will be lost when the theme is changed.
If you are using widgets for your social media buttons, menus, or advertisements (i.e., anything not included in the original theme), they will be lost when changing themes.
There is no easy fix for this; the best way to restore them is by looking at the code of the former theme and manually adding it into your new theme.
Moving your content to a new theme will not affect your SEO or search engine rank, How Search Engine Optimization Works.
However, if you have edited any of the code in your current theme, moving to a new theme will reset these changes because the editing was done specifically for that theme’s code. This can result in your site looking different to you and other users.
The following are some situations when changing themes will not affect your content:
– Adding a new theme
– Changing fonts, colors, or backgrounds in the current theme
– if widgets were saved (i.e., you can see them)
The following are some situations when changing themes WILL affect your content:
– Using widgets for social media buttons, menus, or advertisements (i.e., anything not included in the original theme)
– Changing any of the code in your current theme (even if it doesn’t affect how the site looks).
How to change a WordPress Theme without Losing Content FAQs.
How can I save my widgets when changing themes?
Usually, widgets remain unchanged when you upload a new theme. If this is not the case, try saving your widgets again by clicking on ‘Screen Options’ at the top of your Dashboard and ticking ‘Save Sidebar’.
What will happen to my social media buttons, menus, or advertisements if I change themes?
If you are using widgets for your social media buttons, menus, or advertisements (i.e., anything not included in the original theme), they will be lost when changing themes.
There is no easy fix for this; the best way to restore them is by looking at the code of the former theme and manually adding it into your new theme.
How can I move my content to a new theme without losing anything?
Moving your content to a new theme will not affect your SEO or search engine rank.
However, if you have edited any of the code in your current theme, moving to a new theme will reset these changes because the editing was done specifically for that theme’s code.
This can result in your site looking different to you and other users.
What will happen to my widgets if I change themes?
Usually, widgets remain unchanged when you upload a new theme. If this is not the case, try saving your widgets again by clicking on ‘Screen Options’ at the top of your Dashboard and ticking ‘Save Sidebar’.
If you are using widgets for social media buttons, menus, or advertisements (i.e., anything not included in the original theme), they may be lost when changing themes, if you don’t manually try to save them.
What changes to my site will happen when I change themes?
If you have edited any of the code in your current theme, moving to a new theme will reset these changes because the editing was done specifically for that theme’s code.
This can result in your site looking different to you and other users.
How do I save my sidebar?
Click on ‘Screen Options’ at the top of your Dashboard, and then click on ‘Save Sidebar’. If the option is grayed out, this means there are no widgets in your sidebar.
In this case, you will need to add some widgets before being able to save your sidebar.
How to Change a WordPress Theme without Losing Content, Conclusions.
Changing themes can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be if you take the time to save your content. In this post, we’ve outlined two methods for doing so- one for widgets and one for social media buttons, menus, or advertisements.
So, if you’re still worried about losing content when changing themes, don’t be!
WordPress is an awesome platform that gives you the opportunity to create your own website.
If you’re looking for a new theme, but don’t want to lose any content or customizations on your site, there are some things you need to be aware of before making the change.
Finally, always make sure you have a backup of your entire site including its content. Check out UpdraftPlus for backing up your site. They have free as well as paid plans.
As you can see, it’s not easy to maintain functionality when changing themes in WordPress.
However, if you are careful with what changes you make in your theme files or in its widgets, there shouldn’t be any problems.
