Change a WordPress theme with SSH

You can change the currently active theme from within SSH. This is a more advanced method, but can be more efficient for developers who manage multiple WordPress sites.

1. You should always backup your site before performing any changes.
2. Connect to your server or shared hosting account with SSH

3. Connect to MySQL using the following command:

   mysql -u username -h host database -P port -p

   Enter the database information from your database as follows:

   • username is your database username
   • host is your database hostname or IP address
   • database is the database name
   • port is the port MySQL is running on (by default this is 3306)
     
4. When prompted, enter the password for that MySQL user.

5. Once connected, enter the following command to check your current theme and child theme:

   select * from wp_options where option_name = 'template' or option_name = 'stylesheet';

6. To change the template, enter the following command

   update wp_options set option_value = 'themeName' where option_name = 'template';

   Update the command as follows:

   • themeName is the name of the new theme

7. To change the stylesheet, enter the following command

   type update wp_options set option_value = 'themeName2' where option_name = 'stylesheet';

   Update the command as follows:

   • themeName2 is the name of the new theme or child theme

8. After changing the template and stylesheet, type exit; to close out of SSH.

More info

• Return to Install or activate a theme in WordPress
• For more information about our premium support for WordPress, please visit our WP Premium Support Catalog.