How to Tell What WooCommerce WordPress Theme a Site is Using (Easy Guide for Beginners)
So, you stumbled upon a WooCommerce website and fell in love with its design. You’re thinking, “Wow, that’s exactly the look I want for my online store!” But how do you figure out what theme they’re using? Don’t worry, it’s often easier than you think. This guide will walk you through several methods, even if you’re a complete beginner.
Why Knowing the Theme Matters
Before we dive in, let’s quickly understand why finding the theme is important:
* Inspiration: It helps you discover themes that fit your aesthetic. You can use it as a springboard for your own creativity.
* Functionality: The theme dictates how your WooCommerce store looks and behaves. Knowing the theme allows you to explore its features and see if it offers the specific functionalities you need (e.g., advanced product filters, one-page checkout).
* Pricing: Premium themes often come with a price tag. Identifying the theme gives you a heads-up about potential costs.
* Troubleshooting: If you’re facing compatibility issues or want to modify something, knowing the theme is crucial for seeking support or finding relevant tutorials.
Method 1: The Built-in WordPress “View Source” Trick
This is the quickest and simplest method. No special tools required! It relies on the information embedded within the website’s code.
1. Visit the Website: Navigate to the WooCommerce website you’re interested in.
2. View Page Source: Right-click anywhere on the page and select “View Page Source” (or something similar, depending on your browser; Chrome says “View Page Source”). You can also use a keyboard shortcut: `Ctrl + U` (Windows) or `Cmd + Option + U` (Mac).
3. Search for the Theme: A new tab or window will open with the HTML code of the page. Press `Ctrl + F` (Windows) or `Cmd + F` (Mac) to open the search box. Type `wp-content/themes/` into the search box.
4. Identify the Theme Folder: The code will highlight instances of “wp-content/themes/”. The folder name immediately following this text is often the theme name. For example:
In this case, the theme is likely named “my-awesome-shop”. Note: Sometimes, the path might be more complex, but the immediate folder name after `themes/` is still your best bet.
5. Confirm on WordPress.org (if applicable): If the theme seems simple or you’re not sure, try searching for it on the official WordPress theme directory ([https://wordpress.org/themes/](https://wordpress.org/themes/)). This is a good way to find free and popular themes.
Reasoning:
WordPress themes are stored in the `wp-content/themes/` directory. The CSS files (like `style.css`) contain information about the theme, so the page source often reveals its name.
Method 2: Using Online Theme Detector Tools
Several online tools can automatically detect the WordPress theme and plugins a website is using. These tools can be incredibly convenient, but they aren’t always 100% accurate.
1. Choose a Theme Detector: Some popular options include:
* WP Theme Detector ([https://whatwpthemeisthat.com/](https://whatwpthemeisthat.com/))
* Is It WP? ([https://isitwp.com/](https://isitwp.com/))
* WordPress Theme Detector by Satori Studio ([https://satoristudio.net/wordpress-theme-detector/](https://satoristudio.net/wordpress-theme-detector/))
2. Enter the Website URL: Simply paste the URL of the WooCommerce website into the tool’s input field and click “Detect” or a similar button.
3. Review the Results: The tool will attempt to identify the theme and potentially list other details like the author, version, and used plugins.
Example:
Imagine you use WP Theme Detector on `www.reallycoolshop.com`, and it tells you the theme is “Astra”. You now know to look for “Astra WooCommerce theme” if you want a similar style for your store.
Reasoning:
These tools analyze the website’s code, CSS files, and other publicly available information to identify the theme based on its unique characteristics and naming conventions.
Important Note: Some websites use custom or child themes (more on that later). Theme detectors might only identify the *parent* theme in such cases.
Method 3: Inspect Element (For the Tech-Savvy)
This method involves using your browser’s developer tools to examine the website’s code in more detail.
1. Open Developer Tools: Right-click on the webpage and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element” (the wording varies by browser). You can also use the keyboard shortcut `F12`.
2. Navigate to the “Elements” Tab: In the developer tools panel, make sure you’re on the “Elements” (or “Inspector”) tab.
3. Search for CSS Files: Look for “ tags that point to CSS files. These tags often include the path to the theme directory. You can use the search function (Ctrl+F/Cmd+F) within the Elements panel to search for “wp-content/themes/”.
4. Examine the File Paths: The path to the CSS file will usually reveal the theme name. Similar to Method 1, the folder name after “wp-content/themes/” is your likely theme name.
Reasoning:
This method allows you to directly examine the website’s code and CSS files, providing more control and detail compared to the “View Source” method.
What if it’s a Child Theme?
Sometimes, websites use “child themes.” A child theme is a theme that inherits the design and functionality of another theme (the “parent theme”). This allows for customizations without directly modifying the original theme files.
* How to Recognize a Child Theme: Theme detectors or inspecting the code might reveal a theme name like “Astra Child” or “MyCustomAstra.” The presence of “Child” or “Custom” in the name often indicates a child theme.
* What to do: If you identify a child theme, note both the child theme’s name AND the parent theme’s name. The parent theme provides the core structure and features. For example, if you find “OceanWP Child,” you know they’re using the OceanWP theme.
Important Considerations
* Custom Themes: Some businesses use completely custom themes, built specifically for their needs. In these cases, the methods above might not be effective, or they might just return a generic name like “CustomTheme.”
* Theme Obfuscation: Advanced users might obfuscate or rename theme files to make them harder to identify. This is rare, but it can happen.
* Accuracy: No method is foolproof. The best approach is to use a combination of methods and cross-reference your findings.
Final Thoughts
Finding out what WooCommerce WordPress theme a site is using is often a straightforward process. By using the methods outlined in this guide, you can gain valuable insights into the design and functionality of other online stores, inspiring your own website development journey. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques and tools to discover the themes that best suit your needs. Remember to prioritize user experience and ensure your chosen theme is compatible with the latest version of WooCommerce and WordPress. Good luck!
