If I change the name of my WordPress theme, will it affect how my website works?

Changing the name of your theme doesn’t affect your website’s work. However, it disables automatic updates, which will require manual updates in the future.

When I rename my WordPress theme, can I go back to its original name if something goes wrong?

Yes, to revert to the original name, simply repeat the steps used for renaming, replacing the new name with the original one.

When renaming my WordPress theme, are there any restrictions on the characters I can use?

Spaces and special characters should be avoided when renaming your WordPress theme. Stick to lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens.

What contribution does changing the name of the theme make to my brand’s online presence?

You can change the theme name to create a custom site that is different from competitors', improving your brand’s online presence.

How to Change a WordPress Theme Name

Lee Stanton March 18, 2024

If you want your website to be unique or related to your brand, you may need to change the name of your WordPress theme. The default theme name may be generic and not reflect your brand. Whether you’re just starting or are an experienced WordPress user, changing the theme name can be a unique way of setting up WordPress for your business.

This article will explain how to change your theme name on WordPress. Note that changing the theme name differs entirely from changing your WordPress username.

How to Change or Adjust the WordPress Theme Name

Whether you’re rebranding or need a new look, WordPress makes it easy to change your theme name and customize your website. However, the process involves renaming folders, editing files, and changing database settings to ensure your website is correctly referred to by its initial theme name.

You shouldn’t rename your theme if you hope to receive automatic updates, as renaming it will force you to make future updates manually.

Log into your WordPress dashboard.
On the left pane, click Appearance, then click Themes.
Ensure the theme you want to rename is not the active one. You may activate a different theme.
Navigate your WordPress installation to the path below:
wp-content/themes
Here, you should see a bunch of themes; rename your current theme.
Open the theme folder you want to rename.
Find and open up style.css file located inside this new theme’s folder.
Look for the old theme’s name at the top of the style.css file, then change it to the new name.
Save the changes made.
Log into your WordPress dashboard.
On the left pane, click Appearance, then click Themes.
Find and activate your theme under its new name.
- If you’re using a child/parent theme, update the parent theme path in the child theme’s style.css.

Renaming your WordPress theme will break automatic updates. So, if you want to update your WordPress version in the future, you’ll have to do it manually since the theme files and folder have been edited.

WordPress searches for the default theme name and files when checking for updates. It won’t identify the theme as eligible for automatic updates if the name has been changed.

To update a renamed template in the future, follow these steps:

Get the latest version of this template from the developer’s site.
Replace theme files on your server with those that have been updated manually.
Check that site’s look and see if it works properly.

If you rely on regular updates of themes for security patches or new features, be aware of this extra step. Even though manual upgrading may require more effort than usual, it allows full customization of names and folders associated with any given design.

Think Twice Before Changing the Name

One crucial aspect of customizing your website and standing out from the competition is to modify the name of your WordPress theme. This will help you establish your own identity within your industry and make it easier for visitors to remember your brand. Moreover, choosing a theme name that aligns with your company’s personality and message can leave a lasting impression.

The drawback you may be concerned about is that the WordPress update process may be more stressful.

FAQs

What is the effect of renaming a WordPress theme on automatic updates?

WordPress relies on theme names for updates. When you change the name of the theme, updating automatically becomes impossible since WordPress will no longer recognize it as the same theme. So, you must take manual action to update the theme.

When I rename my WordPress theme, can I return to its original name if something goes wrong?

To return to the original name, repeat the renaming steps, replacing the new name with the original one.