How to Edit Footer in WordPress

The footer of your WordPress site is more important than it looks. It holds copyright text, legal links, navigation, and sometimes conversion elements like newsletter signups or trust badges.

If you are stuck with “Proudly powered by WordPress” or a theme credit you want to change, this guide walks you through every safe way to edit the footer, from beginner-friendly Customizer options to more advanced code edits in footer.php.

We will assume you already have a basic WordPress site set up—if you need a broader overview of how WordPress pieces fit together, start with our WordPress guides and tutorials overview and then come back here to focus on the footer.

Prerequisites

Before changing the footer, make sure you have the basics covered so you do not accidentally break your layout or lose changes during an update.

• Administrator access to your WordPress dashboard.
• Know which type of theme you are using (classic theme with Customizer, or block theme with the Site Editor).
• A recent backup of your site files and database.
• Optional but recommended: a child theme if you plan to edit code.
• Access to your hosting panel, FTP, or File Manager in case you need to undo a code change.

Step 1: Identify Your Footer Editing Method

There are several ways to edit a footer in WordPress, and the right one depends on your theme. Classic themes typically use the Customizer and widgets, while modern block themes use the Site Editor and template parts.

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Go to Appearance. If you see Editor (beta) or Editor, you are using a block theme. If you see Customize, you are using a classic theme.
3. Also look for theme-specific panels like Theme Options or Footer that may provide dedicated footer settings (for example, Jannah includes footer widget and copyright controls).

Once you know your theme type, you can follow the method that matches your setup in the next steps.

Step 2: Edit the Footer with the Customizer (Classic Themes)

If your theme relies on the Customizer, this is the safest way to change footer text, layout, and colors without touching code.

1. In the WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance → Customize.
2. Look for sections named Footer, Bottom Bar, or Layout. Some themes group footer settings under Widgets or Theme Options.
3. Open the relevant panel and locate fields for copyright text, footer columns, or footer background.
4. Update the text (for example, change “Proudly powered by WordPress” to your brand and year) and adjust any design options you need.
5. Use the live preview to confirm the footer looks correct on desktop and mobile.
6. Click Publish to save your changes.

Step 3: Adjust Footer Widgets and Menus

Most classic themes use widget areas for the footer. This is where you can add text, navigation menus, contact details, and other content blocks.

1. Go to Appearance → Widgets.
2. Locate the widget areas named Footer, Footer 1, Footer 2, and so on.
3. Drag and drop widgets such as Text, Custom HTML, Navigation Menu, or Social Icons into the desired footer area.
4. Click each widget to configure its content—this is where you can add links to your privacy policy, contact page, or a small about section.
5. Click Update or Save in the widget area when you are done.

For consistent branding, align your header and footer elements. If you recently updated your logo, for example, make sure the footer matches the same style as described in our guide on how to change your logo in WordPress.

Step 4: Edit the Footer with the Site Editor (Block Themes)

Block-based themes use the Site Editor to control footer template parts. This gives you granular control over every block in the footer.

1. In the dashboard, go to Appearance → Editor.
2. In the left sidebar, choose Template Parts and look for a part named Footer.
3. Click the Footer template part to open it in the editor.
4. Click any block in the footer (such as a paragraph, navigation, or columns block) to edit its content, alignment, and style.
5. Use the List view to select nested blocks more easily, especially in complex multi-column footers.
6. When you are happy with the changes, click Save and confirm that the footer template part is being updated.

Step 5: Edit footer.php or Theme Files Safely

If your theme does not offer footer controls in the Customizer or Site Editor, you may need to edit the footer.php file directly. This is an advanced method and should always be done with caution.

1. Create or activate a child theme so your changes survive updates.
2. In the dashboard, go to Appearance → Theme File Editor and select your active child theme from the dropdown.
3. On the right, click footer.php. Alternatively, use FTP or your hosting File Manager to download and edit wp-content/themes/your-theme/footer.php on your computer.
4. Find the section that outputs the footer text or credits. It may look similar to:

<div class="site-info">
    &copy; <?php echo date( 'Y' ); ?> <?php bloginfo( 'name' ); ?>. All rights reserved.
</div>

5. Replace the text inside the HTML while keeping any PHP functions intact. For example, you can change “All rights reserved.” to a custom message or add links to your policies.
6. Save the file and reload your site in a new browser tab. If you see a fatal error, undo your last change via the editor or by restoring the original file over FTP.

If you are new to modifying theme PHP files, walk through the basics in our tutorial on how to edit WordPress files safely before making large changes in footer.php.

Step 6: Clear Caches and Test Your Footer

After editing the footer, you should confirm that the changes appear everywhere and that there are no layout issues or broken links.

1. If you use a caching plugin or server-level caching, clear the cache from your plugin settings or hosting dashboard.
2. Force-refresh your browser (usually Ctrl + F5 or Cmd + Shift + R) to bypass any local cache.
3. Check the footer on key pages: homepage, blog posts, product pages, and contact page.
4. Test on mobile and tablet screens to ensure text is readable and links are easy to tap.
5. Click each footer link to confirm it leads to the correct destination and does not trigger 404 errors.

Finish Your WordPress Footer Like a Pro

Editing the footer in WordPress does not have to be risky. Whether your theme uses the Customizer, widgets, the Site Editor, or direct code in footer.php, you now know which method fits your setup and how to apply it safely.

With a few careful changes, your footer can move from generic boilerplate to a useful space for navigation, trust signals, and branding. Keep your changes documented, update the footer when your business details change, and you will avoid surprises during future redesigns or migrations.

Further Reading

• How to Edit WordPress Navigation Bar
• How to Customize a WordPress Theme
• What Is a WordPress Widget?
• How to Design a Website with WordPress

Frequently Asked Questions