Prefer to upload your theme manually? You can install a WordPress theme via FTP when the standard dashboard upload is not an option, for example when the theme file is too large for your server limit. This guide walks you through the whole process step by step, using the NEOVANTAGE theme as an example.
To get started, you will need an FTP client such as FileZilla. When you download the theme, you will get an archive in .zip format. You need to unzip that archive first. Once done, you should see a folder named neovantage (the folder name can change from version to version). If you would rather use the dashboard method instead, see our guide on how to install a WordPress theme by upload.
How to Install a WordPress Theme via FTP
Follow these steps to upload and activate the theme:
- Log in to your hosting space (server) via your FTP client.
- In the extracted archive folder, find the neovantage folder.
- Upload the neovantage folder to your server in the path …/wp-content/themes/.
- Confirm the uploaded path looks like this: …/wp-content/themes/neovantage/.
- Log in to your WordPress Dashboard, go to Appearance > Themes, and activate the NEOVANTAGE theme.
- After activating, a notice should appear at the top of the screen. Click Begin installing plugins.
- Select all the plugins, change the Bulk Actions dropdown to Install, then click Apply.
- You are ready to use NEOVANTAGE. Check the First Steps section of the documentation to see what to set up before you start editing your site.
When to Use FTP Instead of the Dashboard
The FTP method is the most reliable choice in a few situations. Use it when your theme file is larger than your server upload limit, when the dashboard upload keeps failing, or when you need to replace theme files manually. If you hit an upload size limit with the dashboard method, you can also raise it by following our guide on the recommended PHP configuration limits for WordPress.
Troubleshooting a Theme Installed via FTP
If the theme does not appear under Appearance > Themes, double-check that you uploaded the folder to the correct path and that the folder contains the theme files directly, not a nested subfolder. If you see a blank screen after activating, the cause is usually a memory or plugin conflict. Our article on the WordPress White Screen of Death walks through how to fix it.