How to Install a Blogger Template: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
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How to Install a Blogger Template: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

Ready to give your Blogger blog a fresh, professional look? Installing a new template is the fastest way to completely transform your website's design and functionality. Whether you've downloaded one of our premium templates or a free version, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the simple installation process.

Before we begin, it's a golden rule to always back up your current theme. This saves your existing layout and all your widgets, just in case you want to switch back. To do this, go to Theme → Customize Dropdown → Backup. A .xml file will be downloaded to your computer. Keep it safe!

1. How to Install the Template (Copy & Paste Method)

This is the most reliable method for installing a new Blogger theme. It ensures that all the theme's code and built-in features are implemented correctly. Follow these seven simple steps.

  1. Unzip the Downloaded File
    The template you downloaded will be in a compressed .zip format. You need to extract its contents first. Right-click the file and choose "Extract All..." or use software like WinRAR or 7-Zip. This will create a new folder with all the theme files inside.
  2. Locate the .XML File
    Open the newly extracted folder. Inside, you will find several files, including documentation and possibly sample images. The most important file is the theme itself, which will have an .xml extension. It might be named something like "AffiCart Template.xml" or "Theme-Name-BloggerTheme9.xml".
  3. Open the XML File with a Text Editor
    Right-click on the .xml file and choose "Open with" → Notepad (on Windows) or TextEdit (on Mac). Do not use Microsoft Word, as it can add extra formatting that breaks the code. Once open, you will see a large block of code.
  4. Copy the Entire Code
    Click anywhere inside the Notepad window and press CTRL + A (or Command + A on Mac) to select all the text. Then, press CTRL + C (or Command + C) to copy the entire code to your clipboard.
  5. Navigate to Your Blogger Theme Editor
    Go to your Blogger Dashboard and select the blog you want to update. From the main menu on the left, navigate to Theme. Click the dropdown arrow next to the "Customize" button and select Edit HTML.
  6. Replace Your Old Theme Code
    You will now see the code for your current theme. Click anywhere inside the code editor, press CTRL + A to select everything, and then press CTRL + V (or Command + V) to paste the new code you copied from Notepad. This will completely replace the old code.
  7. Save Your New Theme
    In the top-right corner of the editor, click the 'Save Theme' icon (it looks like a floppy disk). Blogger will process the code, and if everything is correct, you'll see a success message. You're done! Visit your blog to see its new look.

2. How to Activate the Template for Mobile Devices

Modern Blogger templates are "responsive," which means one design works perfectly on both desktop and mobile screens. However, you must disable Blogger's old, separate mobile theme to allow your new responsive design to show up correctly on phones. This is a critical step!

  1. Go to your Blogger Dashboard → Theme.
  2. Beside the "Customize" button, click the dropdown arrow.
  3. Select Mobile settings from the menu.
  4. You will see the question, "Do you want to show Desktop or Mobile theme on mobile devices?" Choose the Desktop option.
  5. Click Save.

Don't worry about the name "Desktop"—this setting simply tells Blogger to use your main (and now responsive) theme for all devices. Your site will now look fantastic on mobile!

4. Verify Your Site with Google Search Console

After your new theme is live, it's essential to ensure Google can properly crawl and index your site. Verifying your ownership in Google Search Console is the best way to do this. The easiest method is by adding a meta tag directly to your theme's HTML.

  1. First, go to Google Search Console and log in with your Google account.
  2. Add your blog's URL as a new property. Google will then present you with several verification methods.
  3. Choose the HTML tag method. Search Console will provide a meta tag that looks like this:
    <meta name="google-site-verification" content="YOUR_UNIQUE_CODE_HERE"/>
  4. Copy the unique code from the content="..." part of the tag.
  5. Go back to your Blogger Dashboard → Theme → Dropdown → Edit HTML.
  6. Press CTRL + F (or Command + F) to open the search box and search for:
    <!-- Site Verification -->
  7. Find the line that says <meta content='SITE-VERIFICATION-TAG' name='google-site-verification'/> and replace SITE-VERIFICATION-TAG with the unique code you copied.
  8. Click 'Save Theme'.
  9. Finally, return to the Google Search Console page and click the "Verify" button. You will see a success message confirming that you are the owner of the site.

5. Need Help? Our Expert Installation Service

Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the steps or just short on time? Don't worry, we're here to help. We offer a professional installation service to get your new theme set up perfectly, just like the demo. All you need to do is grant us temporary administrator access, and we'll handle the rest.

Grant us admin access, and we will manage the rest.

Part 1: Sending the Invitation

  1. In your Blogger Dashboard, navigate to Settings on the left-hand menu.
  2. Scroll down to the Permissions section.
  3. Click on the button that says Invite more authors.
  4. In the pop-up window, type the email address we provide you (e.g., example@gmail.com) and click Send.

We will receive an invitation and accept it. Once we notify you that we have accepted, you can proceed to the final step.

Part 2: Upgrading Our Role to Admin

  1. Go back to Settings → Permissions.
  2. You will now see our email listed under the "Blog admins and authors" section.
  3. Click the dropdown menu next to our email (it will currently say "Author").
  4. From the dropdown, select Admin.
  5. Click Save to confirm the change.

That's it! Once we have admin access, our team will handle the complete theme installation, setup, and configuration. We'll notify you as soon as your new site is ready to go.

3. After Installation: Next Steps

Your new theme is installed and mobile-ready, but you're not finished yet! To get the most out of your new design, you should now configure its unique features:

  • Check the documentation: The file you unzipped often contains a documentation link with instructions on how to set up menus, featured posts, and other special widgets.
  • Upload your logo: Go to Layout in your Blogger dashboard to find the logo widget.
  • Configure your navigation menu: The main menu will need to be set up. Go to Layout and find the "Main Menu" or "Navigation" widget to add your links.
  • Set up featured widgets: Customize sliders, featured post areas, and ad spaces as needed through the Layout section.

Following these steps will ensure a smooth transition and a perfectly configured, professional-looking blog.