Can’t upload the new Wordpress theme you just downloaded or purchased? You may be running the wrong type of WordPress. In this post, I’ll explain the different ways to run a WordPress blog and then show you exactly how to upload a custom WordPress theme.
Three flavors of WordPress
There are three different flavors of WordPress: WordPress.com, WordPress.com Premium, and WordPress.org. Here are the differences that are relevant to us:
| WordPress.com | WordPress.com Premium | WordPress.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Party Themes | x | ||
| Free | x | x* | |
| Hosted | x | x | |
| Custom Domain | x | x |
* requires a self-hosting plan, more on that later
Note that neither WordPress.com nor WordPress.com Premium allow users to upload their own themes. If you’re in your blog’s Dashboard and don’t see an upload link under Appearance, then you’re probably using WordPress.com’s free or Premium hosted option. You’re going to need to host the blog yourself if you want to use a custom theme.
Still kinda lost? Let’s break it down even further. Continue reading