WordPress questions, answered

Yes. The theme builder and the themes in our catalogue are free to download and use, on as many sites as you like. We ask for an email address before downloads, which you only enter once on each device, and you choose separately whether to get our newsletter. Open the builder.

In WordPress, go to Appearance › Themes › Add Theme › Upload Theme, choose the .zip file, click Install Now and then Activate. Upload the file as it is; don't unzip it first. Step-by-step guide.

Usually the file is bigger than your host's upload limit. Ask your host to raise the PHP upload_max_filesize and post_max_size settings, or upload the unzipped theme folder to /wp-content/themes/ by FTP or File Manager. More fixes.

Yes, on a paid WordPress.com plan. WordPress.com allows theme uploads on its Personal, Premium, Business and Commerce plans; free sites need to upgrade. WordPress.com vs WordPress.org.

Themes from our builder need WordPress 6.6 or later and are tested with the latest release before we publish them (WordPress 7.1.4 as of November 2026). Each theme page shows its requirements.

Yes. All our themes are block themes, so you can change the header, footer, templates, colours and fonts in Appearance › Editor without code. You can also go back to the builder, change your choices and upload the new version.

A block theme builds the whole site from blocks you edit visually in the Site Editor. A classic theme uses PHP templates, with design options in the Customizer and widgets. Block themes became available with full site editing in WordPress 5.9. Full comparison.

No. When you use the public builder, your logo and photos are resized in your own browser and packed straight into your theme file. They are not uploaded to our server.

No. Your posts, pages, images and products are stored in the WordPress database, separately from your theme. Changing theme changes how they look. Take a backup first on a live site, because menus, widgets and Site Editor changes can be tied to a theme.

Only if you plan to edit a theme's files and that theme gets updates from someone else. Changes made in the Site Editor are stored in your database, so they survive theme updates without a child theme. Child themes explained.

Check at least monthly, and install security updates as soon as you can. Since WordPress 5.5 you can switch on automatic updates for individual plugins; update important ones, such as shop plugins, by hand after a backup. Safe update routine.

Check the admin email inbox for WordPress's recovery mode email, use the link to log in, and deactivate the plugin. With no email, rename the plugin's folder in /wp-content/plugins/ by FTP. How to fix common errors.

WordPress's handbook suggests weekly backups for smaller sites and daily backups for busy sites, plus a fresh backup before every update. Keep three to five copies in different places. Backup guide.

WordPress.org recommends PHP 8.3 or greater. WordPress still runs on PHP 7.4, but that version is past its end of life and may expose your site to security problems. Choosing hosting.

Look for the email WordPress sends to the site's admin address. It names the problem and includes a link to recovery mode, where you can deactivate the plugin or theme causing it. Step-by-step fixes.

The WordPress software from WordPress.org is free and open source under the GPL. You pay for your domain and hosting, and for any premium themes or plugins you choose. How to start a WordPress website.

The themes are licensed under the GPL, version 2 or later, like WordPress, and the bundled fonts use the SIL Open Font Licence, which allows bundling. Give your theme your own name, and don't present it as an official WordPress product.

Not to start with. WordPress already makes XML sitemaps (since version 5.5), readable addresses and page titles. An SEO plugin helps when you want custom search titles, descriptions and social images. SEO basics.