By default, yous can build pages and create content inside WordPress without ever having to upload any custom HTML files. That's because the WordPress core comes with congenital-in content types. In add-on, the WordPress theme y'all use will likely have its own fix of pre-designed page templates that yous can take reward of to create a unique website that meets your needs.

Beyond that, there are enough of WordPress landing page plugins you can use to create customized page templates for site visitors to land from search results, email campaigns, and fifty-fifty social media.

So actually, at that place is very little need to upload HTML files to WordPress because, unremarkably, everything you need to format your website is already there. That said, in that location are some reasons why you'd want to know how to upload an HTML file to WordPress, some of which get beyond uploading a template for pattern purposes.

That's why in this post, I'll show yous how to upload HTML files to WordPress. I'll also discuss in detail why you'll want to accept this skill, then no matter what, you're prepared.

What is an HTML File?

HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language and was first developed past Tim Berners-Lee in 1990. In brusk, HTML is the code used to create electronic documents on the internet, which are better known every bit webpages. In fact, every webpage you lot see on the cyberspace was written using HTML code.

The HTML code on your site'southward web pages are responsible for making sure your content's text and images are formatted in the right mode.

Without HTML, web browsers would not empathize the way to visually brandish the structure of your website for users. Still, with the right HTML code creating the foundation for your webpages, and a little CSS code for adding in some design elements, your website appears perfectly for site visitors.

What is an HTML Template?

So, you lot know that HTML is the code responsible for creating the structure of single webpages on the internet.

Merely what is an HTML template?

An HTML template is a pre-designed set of HTML files that include things like text, images, and support files for font styles and Javascript. In other words, an HTML template is a pre-made package of HTML lawmaking that you lot can easily upload to your website and use.

When you lot employ an HTML template on your WordPress website, you upload the file and plug in the text and images yous want the template to display on the front end of your site.

It's important to call back that HTML templates are different than WordPress themes:

  • WordPress Themes: fifty-fifty though you lot plug in text and images into WordPress themes, they are responsible for the expect and feel of your entire website. Many chemical element changes within your site's theme are global, meaning they apply to your entire website.
  • HTML Templates: these are standalone zilch files that you lot upload to your website individually. They just affect the look and feel of a unmarried webpage on your website. In other words, changes you make to ane uploaded HTML template volition only affect that webpage.

Unfortunately, many people don't understand the differences between themes and HTML templates and use the terms 'theme' and 'template' interchangeably.

Why You Would Need to Upload an HTML File to WordPress

There are a few specific reasons why you might want to upload an HTML file to WordPress:

    1. You Accept Your Favorites: if you were using a great HTML template on an sometime website and wanted to employ information technology on your new site, you might want to upload the template to your new site rather than re-do the entire thing. This will save y'all time and ensure it looks exactly the same.
    2. You lot Desire a Custom Folio Layout: if your current WordPress theme doesn't support a specific page layout, yous can upload an HTML file with the design you want and customize it as needed.

Lastly, you lot might need to verify your WordPress website with Google Search Panel and want to utilise the recommended method of uploading a Google HTML verification file to practise so.

The way your website appears in search engines, especially a big one like Google, plays a role in your success as a website owner.

That'south why tools like Google Search Console be. With Google Search Panel, you guarantee that Google volition alphabetize and rank your site in relevant search results, all in the hopes of making it to the get-go page.

Google Search Console also provides you information about your electric current SERPs (search engine issue pages), and then y'all can improve your SEO efforts and earn more than clickthroughs to your site.

The thing is, to utilize Google Search Console, you need to verify your WordPress website. And it only so happens that one of the best means to practise this is to upload a Google HTML verification file.

Now, allow'due south take a await at the different ways to upload an HTML file to WordPress.

1. Method: How to Upload HTML File to WordPress in the WordPress Dashboard

The get-go method for uploading an HTML file to WordPress we'll look at involves the WordPress dashboard.

You'll need nothing more than the backend of your website and an HTML template to complete this procedure since you'll exist uploading the HTML file directly through a post, page, or the Media Library.

To upload an HTML file through a postal service or folio, insert a 'File' cake in the Gutenberg Editor. And then, click Upload to upload the HTML file.

Upload HTML file in Gutenberg
Upload HTML file in Gutenberg

Here'south what information technology looks like if you've disabled Gutenberg and are using the Classic Editor. Just click Add together Media so Upload to upload your HTML file.

Choose the HTML file you want to upload and and so click Insert into post. Doing this inserts the link of the file into the postal service or page and automatically saves it to your Media Library.

Upload HTML file in Classic Editor
Upload HTML file in Classic Editor

You can skip uploading the HTML file to a post or page in WordPress and upload it directly to your Media Library. Click Media Library in the WordPress dashboard, then Add New, and choose the HTML file from the place y'all accept information technology saved (e.k., your estimator, hard drive, or external storage).

Keep in listen, you might come across an error when y'all upload your HTML file while using Gutenberg. This is what it volition look like:

File type not permitted
File type not permitted

Cheque here for detailed instructions on how to gear up the "Sorry, This File Type Is Non Permitted for Security Reasons" Mistake in WordPress.

2. Method: How to Upload HTML File to WordPress Using an FTP Client

Uploading HTML files through the WordPress dashboard is the most straightforward method. However, for large templates fabricated upward of multiple files, information technology'due south all-time to utilize an FTP client such as FileZilla.

Using an FTP client is as well helpful for times you want to work locally on a test site earlier pushing whatever changes y'all make to your live site. This will forbid whatsoever unnecessary downtime if something goes wrong.

To start, always create a backup of your website first because you never know what the HTML file might do when you upload it to your site.

Next, open up your FTP customer.

Now you'll demand to connect to your spider web host account past entering your FTP credentials. This information is usually found in your web hosting account. If you have problem finding information technology, reach out to your host and have them assistance you.

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If you apply Kinsta hosting, first log into your MyKinsta account and click on Sites in the dashboard then on Info to get the credentials needed.

sftp details
Get your SFPT details in MYKinsta

When y'all practice this, you should see your credentials under SFTP/SSH. You'll need your username, countersign, and port.

sftp details username password port
SFTP details

Here's the information you're going to demand to enter into FileZilla:

  • Host: your site's domain name preceded by "sftp://". For example, you lot'll need to enter sftp://www.mysite.com.
  • Username: from your MyKinsta dashboard
  • Password: from your MyKinsta dashboard
  • Port: from your MyKinsta dashboard

This is what it will look like at the summit of the FileZilla screen:

Logging into FileZilla
Logging into FileZilla

Subsequently you lot've entered your credentials, click Quickconnect.

Now information technology's time to upload the HTML file from your calculator to WordPress. Start by navigating to your website'south root binder (which contains the wp-content folder, the wp-config.php file,etc.) on the right side.

And so, go to the left side and find the HTML file y'all have saved. When you observe it, right-click information technology and select Upload to add it to your website. To meet all subconscious files in Filezilla follow this short tutorial.

HTML file uploaded
HTML file uploaded

Yous'll see the file has successfully been uploaded to WordPress. To check to brand sure it is visible on your website, type your website's URL into your browser and add together the proper name of the HTML file to the end. For instance, it might look like world wide web.mywebsite.com/html-file.

When y'all do this, y'all'll be redirected to the new webpage you've created with the HTML file.

three. Method: How to Upload HTML File to WordPress Using cPanel

The last method we're going to share with you involves using cPanel and the File Manager to upload an HTML file to WordPress.

Get-go by logging into your hosting business relationship'southward cPanel and accessing the File Director.

FileManager in cPanel
FileManager in cPanel

Once you're in the File Manager, you accept ii options:

    1. Create a New Binder: create a new folder in your site's root folder to upload your HTML file to.
    2. Upload to Root Binder Directly: rather than create a new folder, upload the HTML directly to WordPress. If this is how you desire to do it, unzip the HTML file where y'all have it saved, change the alphabetize.html folder to something new, and then rezip the file to continue uploading to WordPress. If you don't, the HTML template volition override your site'due south homepage.

For this instance, we'll create a new folder since there are a few added steps when you lot do this.

Create a New Binder and Upload an HTML File to WordPress

Showtime, navigate to the root folder of your website (which contains the wp-content folder, the wp-config.php file,etc.). And then click New Folder.

Selecting New Folder from File Manager settings

Name your new binder and click Create New Folder.

Creating a new folder in cPanel
Creating a new folder in cPanel

Double click on the folder you just created then click Upload to select your HTML file.

Upload button
Upload button

Once this is done, yous'll come across your zipped HTML file in the binder.

Zipped HTML file
Zipped HTML file

Now you demand to unzip the HTML file by right-clicking and selecting Extract.

Extract HTML file
Extract HTML file

When the modal window pops up, click Extract Files to terminate the unzipping process. When the HTML file has been unzipped, you'll encounter all the different files included in the template. Remember this means you'll see things like CSS, font style files, images, and JavaScript.

Extracted HTML files
Extracted HTML files

Now all you have to do to make sure the HTML template and files were uploaded is blazon your site'due south URL into the browser and add the new folder's name to the end.

If you meet a 404 mistake, don't worry. This is a common WordPress mistake and tin can be resolved hands.

If your server doesn't support redirection, and the index.php file is non redirected on loading the URL in your browser, you'll see a 404 mistake afterwards uploading your HTML files.

To fix this, stay within the File Manager and access your .htaccess file by double-clicking it. So, add the following code and save your changes:

          RewriteRule ^(.*)index\.(php|html?)$ /$1 [R=301,NC,L]        

This code will redirect your index.php file and load it in the browser.

Demand to upload any HTML file to your WordPress site? This in-depth guide shows yous how to practise it hands. ⬆đź“‚ Click to Tweet

Summary

WordPress is the most used Content Direction arrangement around because information technology gives website owners the flexibility needed to create unique websites that stand out from the competition. Being able to upload an HTML file to WordPress using any of the above-mentioned methods is just another case of how WordPress caters to the needs of site owners and gives them the liberty to customize their sites as needed.

Plus, knowing how to upload an HTML file to WordPress is just a good skill to accept in case the need arises. Later on all, you never know when yous might come up beyond an HTML template you love or demand a sure type of page layout that your theme doesn't support.


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