How to change wordpress theme directly from database?

January 9, 2010 | by Mukesh Chapagain

I had some error in my new wp theme. When I enabled the new theme, I got a blank page. I was unable to access my wordpress blog both from frontend and backend (admin panel).

In this case, either I need to change/fix my theme’s code. But, what if I am not a coder?

The solution is to change the currently active theme from database.

Open phpMyAdmin, go to your wp database. Open wp_options table. Search for three option_name – template, stylesheet, and current_theme.

SELECT *
FROM wp_options
WHERE option_name = 'template'
OR option_name = 'stylesheet'
OR option_name = 'current_theme';

See the option_value fields from the search result. The option_value will be your theme name. Change option_value of the search result to ‘classic’ OR ‘default’. Classic and default are the default wordpress themes present at the time of wp installation.

UPDATE wp_options SET option_value = 'default' WHERE option_name = 'template';
 
UPDATE wp_options SET option_value = 'default' WHERE option_name = 'stylesheet';
 
UPDATE wp_options SET option_value = 'default' WHERE option_name = 'current_theme';

8 Comments

WP Themes
February 3, 2010 at 2:57 am

Genial fill someone in on and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you seeking your information.

Reply
jluisfg
February 4, 2010 at 1:23 am

Thanks, helped me a lot!

Reply
safoo
February 15, 2010 at 3:50 pm

Thanks this help me today.

Reply
vishal
April 6, 2010 at 1:50 pm

ur information is more useful to me but 80 % i reach to success but remaining 20% creating problem can u sort out me frm this. i m not able to change d theme

Reply
Amanda
April 19, 2010 at 6:55 pm

Thanks a bunch, got the white page myself today after changing themes & this definitely helped me out.

Reply
H
May 1, 2010 at 10:54 am

THANKS A WHOLE LOT!!! iT HAD FREACKED ME OUT!!! Figured it out and I am a COMPLETE newbie on pHp…but please refine the steps a bit for them to be clearer…like what tab to click…what to put where…like replacing the theme name to “classic” etc…I followed it but am sure a whole lot of other people will be stuck..trust me!
Thanks again!

Reply
Kay @ SEO Diva
May 1, 2010 at 1:20 pm

Thank you very much for this info!

Reply
Graham
July 15, 2010 at 9:50 am

Thanks man, you saved my site!

Reply