Can You Have Different Wordpress Templates On One Website?

February 02, 2022

Amanda B.

7min Read

How to Use Multiple Themes on Your WordPress Pages

Choosing the correct theme for your WordPress site is crucial since it serves every bit a visual representation of your make and directly impacts user feel.

However, sometimes the expect and the features of a single WordPress theme aren't enough to fulfill the site's overall needs.

If that's your case, consider using multiple themes on your WordPress website to brand it more than attractive and improve its functionality.

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Luckily, anyone tin utilize multiple themes on one WordPress installation without getting assistance from a website programmer – all they need to practice is actuate a plugin called Multiple Themes.

In this tutorial, we'll show you how to use and manage multiple themes in WordPress.

one. Prepare for the Installation

Before you lot install and use Multiple Themes, make sure to create a fill-in of the site. This way, you'll be able to restore the WordPress website to its original version in case any content is lost during the process.

If you apply Hostinger, the process to support a site is simple. Log in to the hPanel, then navigate to Files -> Backups.

hPanel menu showing where to find backups.

To back up a WordPress site, you'll need to download the MySQL database and website files.

First, click Select under Files backups. After that, select the backup appointment and click on Prepare to Download.

Screenshot from hPanel showing where to click to select Files Backups and the Prepare to download button.

The system will showtime the process and transport a notification once the backup is ready to download.

Next, striking the Select button under Database backups. Option the backup data you want to download, click Evidence databases, and choose the nigh recent backup date. So, select Download.

Screenshot from hPanel showing the most recent backup and where to click on the Download button.

Once a notification appears, click on information technology to download the database file.

If your hosting plan doesn't come with a backup function, consider using a backup plugin such as Full Upkeep, Duplicator, or VaultPress.

In addition to backing upward your site, turning off caching plugins like WP Super Cache and W3 Total Cache earlier using a new theme is crucial. Since caching plugins relieve and display older spider web pages, disabling them lets you see the contempo changes made on the WordPress website.

Also, make sure to install the new themes you lot want to utilize in WordPress before using the Multiple Themes plugin.

2. Activate the Multiple Themes Plugin

After backing up the website and deactivating all caching plugins, next comes installing Multiple Themes. It'southward a plugin that lets users install more than than i theme for WordPress pages and posts.

This tool lets you lot set a different theme for the homepage or a specific URL and lucifer the look of all links that start with the same characters or prefix URL. Likewise, it allows changing the theme for URLs containing a item query keyword without changing the currently agile theme.

When utilizing this plugin, it's better to utilise themes from the WordPress theme directory instead of paid themes. That's because any problems that may occur while using premium themes will be challenging to diagnose. For the same reason, it's besides recommended to avert using paid plugins.

Moreover, this plugin tin't aid ready a theme for users' admin panel as no template in the WordPress theme directory alters the advent of the WordPress Admin panels.

To install the WordPress plugin, log in to your WordPress admin panel and navigate to Plugins -> Add New. Then, enter Multiple Themes in the search bar and click Install At present.

A screenshot from the WordPress dashboard showing the Multiple Themes plugin and where to click to install it.

Wait for the installation procedure to complete, then click Activate.

3. Set Up Multiple Themes

It's time to set upward the plugin and start adding multiple themes to your site.

There are several options on how to employ multiple themes in the plugin'south settings page, and users are costless to add theme option entries based on their preferences.

Allow'south see three dissimilar means to install different WordPress themes with this plugin:

1. Select a Unlike Theme for the Homepage

To use a detail theme for the site'south homepage, access the plugin'southward setting page past going to Appearance -> Multiple Themes plugins.

On the Settings page, scroll downward to Site Domicile. Then, choose a theme from the Select Theme for Site Dwelling drop-downwards card. In this example, nosotros selected Twenty Nineteen.

Multiple Themes plugin's site home page where we choose the Twenty Nineteen theme.

One time you're done, click Salve All Changes. Now you have the Twenty Nineteen theme set for the homepage, while the rest of the website uses a different theme.

The appearance of a WordPress site's homepage using the Twenty Nineteen theme.

two. Select a Different Theme Using a Specific URL

The next method is to set a theme to a item folio based on its URL. This is an excellent option for using a specific layout on an opt-in or landing page.

To do this, navigate to the For An Private Page, Mail service or other non-Admin folio section on the plugin's Settings page.

On the Select here if URL is a Prefix option, choose URL. Then, click on the Theme drib-downwardly menu and option i of the bachelor themes – we accept chosen Twenty Twenty. Afterwards that, blazon your site URL in the URL of Page, Post, Prefix or other field.

Choosing the WordPress Twenty Twenty theme and typing your site URL in the URL of Page, Post, Prefix or other field.

Click Save All Changes to add together the theme entry. Visit the page to see the new changes.

Screenshot illustrating how the new theme has changed the WordPress site's appearance.

To choose a theme for a group of pages with the same URL prefix, go to the same section on the plugin's Settings page and select the URL Prefix option.

Then, pick one of the theme options and type the prefix URL of the pages. Let'southward say you want to have the same theme for all blog posts, so enter yoursite.com/web log here.

Choosing the Twenty Sixteen theme and typing only your site's URL for blog posts in the URL of Page, Post, Prefix or other field.

Once you lot're done, click Relieve All Changes.

3. Select a Different Theme Using a Query Keyword

With the Multiple Themes plugin, you can also employ different themes for specific web pages based on the query keyword found in the URLs.

To use this method, go to the For A Query Keyword on any Page, Mail or other non-Admin page section on the plugin'south Settings page.

And then, select a theme in the drop-down menu and fill in the Query Keyword box. We used the 20 Twenty-One theme and "test" as the keyword here.

A screenshot from the Multiple Themes plugin's dashboard showing examples of the theme - Twenty Twenty-One, and query keyword - test,

Finish by clicking Save All Changes. At present any site links containing the keyword you entered will use the theme defined in this setting.

A screenshot showing how the Twenty Seventeen theme looks on a page.

This option tin can also be used to add theme selection entries based on a query keyword and value in the URLs.

To exercise this, navigate to For A Query Keyword=Value on any Page, Post or other not-Admin page and choose an option from the Theme drop-down carte du jour.

Afterwards that, type in the keyword and value in the Query Keyword and Query Value fields. Hit the Salvage All Changes button to proceed.

A screenshot from the Multiple Themes plugin's dashboard showing examples of the theme - Twenty-Seventeen, query keyword - author and query value - John.

Now whatever pages with URLs that incorporate that query keyword and value will display the active theme defined in this setting.

Showing how the WordPress theme looks on the page that has the query keyword.

To see all the theme rules you lot've set up with this plugin, caput to the Current Theme Selection Entries on the Settings page.

A screenshot from the Multiple Themes plugin's settings showing current theme selection entries.

If y'all desire to delete any entry, simply tick the box next to Delete and click Relieve All Changes.

4. Customize the Theme

After choosing different themes for specific pages, it's time to finish designing your website.

To customize a specific theme, first, y'all'll need to activate it temporarily.

Start the procedure past heading to Appearance -> Themes from your WordPress dashboard. Hover over the theme you desire to customize and click Activate. In this example, the active theme is Twenty Twenty, and the 1 we'll change is Twenty Xix.

A screenshot from the WordPress dashboard showing an active theme and the one we will customize,

After activating the theme, get to Appearance -> Customize and modify the template to your liking. Once complete, click Publish to save the changes.

A screenshot showing the menu to customize and modify the WordPress theme.

Become dorsum to Appearance -> Themes and reactivate the previous theme.

Note that when choosing this method, the residuum of your site will display the aforementioned theme as the one yous're currently customizing, except for pages with the specific themes that you've determined in the plugin'southward settings.

If y'all want to modify a specific page without irresolute the other pages' themes, caput to Appearance -> Multiple Themes plugin. So, click the Advanced Settings tab.

A screenshot showing Multiple Themes plugin's advanced settings.

On the Advanced Setting page, scroll downward to the Theme for Everything section and select your WordPress active theme from the drop-down menu.

A screenshot from the Multiple Themes plugin's settings showing how to select the theme Twenty Twenty for everything.

Click Salvage All Changes to continue, then get to Appearance -> Themes. At present you tin activate and customize any theme y'all desire without affecting the other pages' themes. Information technology'due south also unnecessary to reactivate the previous theme.

A screenshot showing an active Twenty Nineteen theme and the Customize button on it.

Once y'all're finished, leave the setting as information technology is or go back to Multiple Themes plugin -> Advanced Setting -> Theme for Everything and select the blank option from the drop-down menu.

Selecting the blank option in the Multiple Themes plugin's settings.

On the Advanced Settings folio, it's also possible to fix multiple themes to dissimilar pages and posts separately. To practice this, scroll downwardly to the For All Pages and/or All Posts and selection the themes individually. Select Save All Changes to finish.

Selecting two themes for different pages in the advanced settings section.

For more advanced theme options, become to the Theme Options tab on the Multiple Themes' Settings page.

Alternatives to the Multiple Themes WordPress Plugin

If your themes or plugins don't seem to be working with the Multiple Themes plugin, consider using Multisite every bit an alternative.

Multisite, as well known as WordPress Network, is a feature that lets users create a network and manage multiple websites from a single dashboard. When activating this function, numerous sites will wait like but one website on the visitor's browser.

With Multisite, users tin can cull themes and plugins for individual websites without using the Multiple Themes plugin.

To use Multisite, yous'll need access to a web hosting service, a new WordPress installation, and an FTP client.

Too, note that since near themes and plugins are created for a unmarried site, you might find that some of them aren't uniform with WordPress Network, leading to conflicts on the site.

Another alternative to consider is a WordPress folio builder. With this tool, you tin can customize as many layouts every bit you want without installing two themes on the website.

A folio builder plugin besides provides built-in features that users can access direct from the interface, making modifying each mail service or page easy and effective.

In that location are many WordPress page builders to choose from, just here are some of our recommendations:

Elementor – comes with over 300 pre-made templates and 90 widgets, letting you customize a website to be exactly what you lot want without installing extra plugins.
Gutenberg Blocks past Kadence – enhances the functionality of WordPress Gutenberg editor by offering 12 custom blocks such as gallery and heading blocks.
WP Folio Builder – its elevate-and-drop slider gives users the flexibility to add elements and resize columns without hassle.
Live Composer – lets users start the page-building process from a blank canvas or pre-made themes.
Beaver Builder – provides multiple landing folio templates for diverse purposes, from online portfolios to web agencies.
WPBakery – features a built-in pare builder, allowing users to add custom elements to a new theme and set a matching color scheme throughout each page.
Divi – has more than 40 modules to add sections for galleries, forms, calls to activity, and blogs.
Visual Composer – offers plenty of background, animation effects, and avant-garde parallax types to brand a site look visually appealing.

Conclusion

If y'all don't desire to use the same layout for all site pages, have advantage of the Multiple Themes plugin and characteristic more i theme in a unmarried WordPress installation.

This tool lets users set as many themes as they desire for different pages and posts without changing their active theme.

Here's how to use multiple themes in WordPress:

Prepare for the installation – create a backup file to prevent losing any content during the process and disable any caching plugin to encounter the changes in real-fourth dimension.
Actuate the Multiple Themes plugin – install and activate this plugin from your WordPress dashboard.
Set Multiple Themes – head to the plugin'south settings page to set a specific theme for the homepage or add multiple themes to particular pages based on their URLs, prefix URL, and query keyword.
Customize the theme – temporarily activate a theme to alter it, then reactivate the chief theme after the customization.

Proceed in mind that Multiple Themes can't change WordPress admin panels. It's also recommended not to use paid themes and plugins when utilizing this plugin.

If the plugin doesn't work with your site, consider using Multisite or a WordPress page builder instead.

We hope this article helped you empathise how to add multiple themes to WordPress. If y'all have any questions, let usa know in the comments beneath.

Amanda is a Content Author at Hostinger with an extensive passion for WordPress and digital marketing. She aims to produce content that tin can assist readers further their businesses and careers. In her gratis fourth dimension, she loves hiking, reading books, and filling her bullet journal.