Are you tired of the default templates on Blogger.com and want your blog to truly stand out?
Using a custom theme on blogger.com is one of the easiest ways to make your blog look more professional, unique, and attractive to readers.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to upload and use a custom theme on Blogger, even if you’re a complete beginner!
What You Will Need:
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A Blogger.com account
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A custom theme file (.xml format)
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A laptop or smartphone with internet access
Step 1: Find and Download a Custom Blogger Theme
First, you need a beautiful theme! There are many free and premium Blogger themes available online.
Popular websites to download Blogger themes:
👉 Important Tip: Always download themes from trusted sites to avoid malware or buggy codes.
When you download a theme, it usually comes as a .zip file.
Extract the file (right-click > Extract Here) and look for the .xml file — that’s the actual theme file you will upload.
Step 2: Log In to Your Blogger Account
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Go to Blogger.com.
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Sign in using your Google account.
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Select the blog where you want to apply the custom theme.
Step 3: Backup Your Existing Theme (Very Important)
Before making any changes, always backup your current theme in case you want to revert back.
Here’s how:
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On the Blogger dashboard, click Theme on the left sidebar.
2. At the top right corner, click the downward arrow next to Customize.
3. Click Backup.
4. Click Download to save your current theme.
👉 Now you have a backup copy of your old theme, just in case!
Step 4: Upload Your Custom Theme
Now it’s time for the fun part — uploading your custom theme!
Follow these steps:
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Still on the Theme page, click the downward arrow again.
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Click Restore.
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Click Upload and choose the .xml file you extracted earlier.
4. Wait a few seconds — Blogger will upload and apply the theme automatically.
🎉 Congratulations! Your custom theme is now live!
Step 5: Customize Your New Theme
Even after installing the custom theme, you might want to tweak it to match your brand.
You can:
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Change colors
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Edit fonts
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Rearrange widgets (like Popular Posts, About Me, etc.)
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Add a logo or header image
To customize:
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Go back to Theme.
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Click the Customize button.
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Use the Blogger Theme Designer to adjust fonts, background, layout, etc.
👉 Pro Tip: Some themes have a separate “Settings” section inside the Layout menu where you can easily change things like social media links, footer text, and featured posts.
Step 6: Mobile-Friendly Adjustment
Blogger themes are usually responsive, but double-check!
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Go to Theme > Mobile Settings.
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Choose Custom so your uploaded theme controls how it looks on mobile.
Mobile optimization is important because most blog readers today use smartphones.
Step 7: Test Your Blog
After everything, visit your blog to:
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Check if the homepage, post pages, and sidebar look perfect.
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Test links, social icons, and menus.
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Make sure the site loads fast and doesn’t have errors.
If anything is broken, it’s usually because some features need manual setup under Layout.
Watch Video Version here
FAQs About Using Custom Themes on Blogger
Q: Can I switch back to my old Blogger theme?
A: Yes! Remember that backup you saved earlier? You can restore it anytime.
Q: Will my blog posts disappear if I change themes?
A: No. Changing themes only affects the design, not your posts or pages.
Q: Can I edit a custom Blogger theme manually?
A: Yes, you can edit the HTML code under Theme > Edit HTML — but only do this if you understand coding.
Final Thoughts
Using a custom theme on Blogger.com is the easiest way to build a unique, professional blog without spending a lot of money.
It takes less than 10 minutes, and you’ll immediately stand out among millions of generic-looking blogs.
So go ahead — download that beautiful theme, upload it, and customize your dream blog today!
Quick Recap (in 30 Seconds)
Step | Action |
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1 | Find and download a custom theme (.xml file) |
2 | Login to Blogger and select your blog |
3 | Backup your current theme |
4 | Upload and install the custom theme |
5 | Customize it using Blogger Theme Designer |
6 | Make sure it’s mobile responsive |
7 | Test everything |
Ready to transform your Blogger blog into a stunning website?
Start today! Choose a theme you love, follow these easy steps, and give your blog the makeover it deserves.