---
title: "How to install and activate a new template in Mambo"
description: "It is very common for site owners to change the look and feel of their sites from the default. As a result, there are many templates on the web for most programs, Mambo is no different. This tutorial..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/mambo/install-activate-template/
date: 2013-03-12
modified: 2021-08-16
author: "Scott Mitchell"
categories: ["Mambo"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# How to install and activate a new template in Mambo

It is very common for site owners to change the look and feel of their sites from the default. As a result, there are many templates on the web for most programs, Mambo is no different. This tutorial will guide you on how to install a new template for your Mambo website.

## Installing and activating a new template for your Mambo site

1. Using your favorite web browser and search engine, find a site that has a Mambo template you like.  
2. Download the new Mambo template to your local computer.  
3. [Log into your Mambo admin interface](/support/edu/mambo/log-into-admin-interface/).  
4. [![selection menu](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_menu.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_menu.png) Once in the admin area, hover over the **Installers** option on the upper menu bar. From there, click on the **Universal **option.  
5. You are taken to the *Install Mambo plugin* screen. Click the **Browse** button next to the *Package File *field.  
6. This opens a box so you can find and select the template file you downloaded earlier. Find the file and click the **Open **button.  
7. [![click install file button](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_click-install.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_click-install.png) After selecting the file, you should see it in the Pachage File field. Click on the **Upload File and Install **button.  
8. [![succesful upload, click continue](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_upload-success.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_upload-success.png) Once the file is uploaded and installed, you will receive a success message. Click on the **Continue**ink.  
9. [![site template menu selection](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_site-template.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_site-template.png) To activate the template, hover over the **Site** menu option in the overhead toolbar, then **Template Manager** and click on **Site Templates**.  
10. [![set default template](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_set-template.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_set-template.png) You are taken to a list of available templates. Find the one you want, in our case the Pure Nature template we installed, and click the radio button next to it. Then click on the **Default **button from the upper menu toolbar. This will activate your new theme. Below is a before and after comparison demonstrating the theme change when we activated the example theme.   Before After  [![before the template change](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_before.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_before.png)  [![after template install](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_after.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/edu_mambo_install-template_after.png)