After deciding to change your WordPress theme, there are some very important things to keep in mind.

1. Write down all WordPress theme customization

a fewWordPress websiteAdministrators customize WordPress themes by adding code snippets directly to the theme files. Code snippets are a common way to add new features to a website that are not part of an existing theme.

However, these code snippets can easily be lost if they are added directly to the theme file.

If these changes are made, look at the current topic file and make a note of theAll other codes addedThe 

To make it easier to add code snippets, we always recommend using a code snippet plugin such as WPCode. this way, the snippets can be retained even if the theme is changed later.

For more detailed information, seeHow to Paste a Code Snippet from a Web Page into WordPress for NewbiesThe

2. Get current WordPress theme performance metrics 

Before switching themes, you should check the loading speed and performance of your current website. This will allow you to compare the difference in page load times after switching themes.

Since the WordPressSpeed and performanceIn terms of user experience andWordPress SEOplays an important role in the new theme, so the new theme is faster than the one currently in use. 

You can use a WordPress speed test tool (e.g.(IsItWP's free website speed test tool)Check the current site speed metrics.

3. Note down the current theme sidebar and widget area

Sidebars are used to add different widgets to the site, such as email newsletter subscription forms, social media buttons, popular posts, etc.

Since each theme has a different widget area, widgets may accidentally move or disappear from the site if you switch themes.

So, before switching themes, pay attention to the widgets used in the WordPress sidebar and other widget areas of the site. This way, you can easily duplicate them after switching.

If any custom code or shortcode is added, make sure to copy this code and save it in a safe place where it can easily be used with the new theme. 

4. Copy the existing WordPress tracking code

Many users will putAnalyzing trace codeadded directly to their theme files. Some WordPress themes can also add tracking code directly into the theme options panel.

These important tracking codes are easily overlooked. 

Be sure to copy all website tracking codes used for analytics, ads, etc. to make it easy to add them to the new site. 

There are simpler ways to do this, and we recommend usingMonsterInsightsPlugins like this install Google Analytics in WordPress.

By using MonsterInsights, rest assured that analytics will not be interrupted or data lost. Also unlock bonus tracking such as link click and button click tracking, WordPress category and tag analysis, and more.

For all other tracking codes, the free WPCode plugin can be used.

5. Backup the current WordPress website

Backup the site regularly. Backup site posts, pages, plugins, media, and databases before changing themes.

The easiest way to create a backup of your entire website is to use the WordPress Backup plugin.

expense or outlayDuplicatorPlugin. It creates automatic, scheduled backups and saves them on cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and more.

There is also a free version of Duplicator to use.

This helps to restore the site in case of problems when switching themes. 

6. Place the WordPress site onMaintenance mode

When making changes to your website, you can put your website in maintenance mode. Maintenance mode allows user-friendly notifications to be displayed to visitors.

Helps prevent visitors from seeing websites that are not finished or under construction.

We recommend usingSeedProdPlugin. It's one of the better drag-and-drop WordPress page builders out there, with over 1 million downloads on the site.

It makes it easy to create custom maintenance mode pages, login pages, and coming soon pages,404 Pageetc. 

7. Test all features and installed WordPress plugins

Once the new WordPress theme is activated, make sure that it has the same functionality as before and that all the old plugins work with the new theme.

You can start by re-adding the code snippets copied from the old WordPress theme files. You can see theHow to Paste a Code Snippet from a Web Page into WordPress for NewbiesThe

Then, spend some time with the website features powered by the WordPress plugin.

8. Test the new WordPress theme on different browsers and devices.

Cross-browser testing can help determine that a new website displays well on different browsers, screen sizes, operating systems, and mobile devices.

Most users will probably use Google Chrome to access the WordPress website.

If the new website doesn't work properly on a certain browser, then some users and traffic will be lost. 

9. Remove WordPress plugins that are no longer needed

Some WordPress themes come with pre-installed plugins when the theme is installed. Which are useful to keep, but sometimes they are not needed.

switch toPlug-ins "Installed Plug-insYou can see if the theme has added a new plugin.

10. Test the loading speed of a new WordPress theme.

After the new theme is live and the above steps are completed, it's time for another speed test. Normally, the new site will be faster and get better scores on the speed test.

To do this, simply use the same website speed tool you have used before and compare the results. 

If the new theme is slower than the old one, run multiple tests from different areas and check if there are any caching or firewall settings that may be causing the speed drop. 

11. Monitoring WordPress Website Bounce Rate

Bounce rate is the percentage of visitors who enter a website and leave without proceeding to the second page. A high bounce rate means that visitors are not persuaded to stay on the site long enough.

It is important to monitor the bounce rate after switching themes. Some themes are more friendly and can help visitors navigate the site.

If the bounce rate has gone up since switching themes, then work on reducing it. This can be done by improving the navigation menu, adding a popular posts widget, adding more internal links, etc.