How to Change Blogger/Blogspot Templates

If your blog is hosted with Blogger and you are not happy with the default blog templates provided by Blogger, then you certainly do have an option to change it and give a more professional or elegant look to your blog.

To change the default template, you need to first download a good template for your blog. So have a look here: Free Blogger Templates

Once you are done with selecting and downloading the template of your choice from the link above, then you have to upload that template to your blog.

So follow these steps:
1. Log in to Blogger (You are at dashboard)
2. Go to the Layout section.
3. Now you will see a page similar to this:

4. Click on the "Edit" links on the widgets, and back up their content in notepads in your computer (Because when you change the template, you might lose all the widgets content)
5. Now go to "Template" section and click on "Backup/Restore" button.
6. Now in the pop up, click on "Download full template" (This is done to take a backup of the current template, in case you want to revert back to your old template)

7. Now upload the new template using the "Choose file" button in the same popup.
8. Follow the instructions given with the new template to arrange the widgets and make links active.
9. Follow the SEO tips given by BloggerStop to make sure your new template is Google ready :)
That's it folks! you are done with a complete makeover of your blog :)

ProBlogger - Inspiring Others Realize Their Dreams!

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40 comments

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February 08, 2009 7:41 AM delete

can someone help me?
I have changed the template on my blog. I see the new template, ävewn if I do not log into blogger. But when someone else looks at my blog, from another computer, so do not see it the same. Someone who had the same problem?
Anyone know anywhere I can find facts on this? like in Sweish. Mvh Anna

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February 08, 2009 8:25 AM delete

Hi Anna

I can see your blog's template as purple in black, so if it is the one you want to show, then do not worry, everything is going fine !

Regards
Sai

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March 05, 2009 7:05 AM delete

I changed my template using XML types but things goes wrong. I used the beta type, only god knows when I see my blog. Pls help me.

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March 05, 2009 7:55 AM delete

Well I didn't find anything wrong in your blog, can you explain in detail what's going wrong ?

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July 14, 2009 10:41 PM delete

how do i add widgets to my new template after it is removed?

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July 15, 2009 5:56 AM delete

As written in the fourth step, you have to copy the content of each of the widgets and store them in notepads in your pc, before changing the template.
then once you have changed your template, then again go to the 'Layout' page, and add new widgets and then copy the content from your saved notepad files.

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Anonymous
July 27, 2009 5:28 AM delete

Hi All help me. What should i do?
After i change my blog template, someone can not write comment. I don't understand what is wrong. Please try to write a comment, and tell me what is wrong, what should i do? Please help me!!!
http://zozoloo.blogspot.com
this is my blog . Sorry my english is not good.
Thank u all

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August 01, 2009 3:00 AM delete

i really don't know how to change! ~x(

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Anonymous
August 05, 2009 4:25 PM delete

I need help!

I can't seem to upload the template which I want (Blue Marine Blogger Template) to my blogger.

Please tell me what to do.

With many Thanks!

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August 06, 2009 9:00 AM delete

Send the template to my email id of course with your name and blog's address too...

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August 09, 2009 12:01 PM delete

I tried to use a new template. Now, all of the sudden I do not have the "layout" tab anymore. What happened?

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August 09, 2009 1:16 PM delete

Well this sounds something new RNJen, can you show me the screenshot?
And try to use a different Internet browser, and tell me if that solves the issue...

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August 09, 2009 6:34 PM delete

I don't even know how to do a screen shot...maybe I am in over my head in this blogging business?!

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August 10, 2009 11:44 AM delete

It's not that difficult RNJen,
simply do this:
1. log in tot blogger, and as you are saying that the layout tab is missing, so either go to "posting" or "settings" tab, and then
2. hit the PrintScreen [PrtScn] button in your keyboard, now you have taken the picture of the content being displayed displayed in the screen (your Blogger account page)
3. Now paste this image in MS Paint and then save the image as either .jpg or .png
4. Finally upload the image to tinypic.com and then give me the link to that image.

If you have any doubts, feel free to comment here !

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August 11, 2009 5:36 AM delete

Thanks for the advice! Here is the link: http://tinypic.com/r/2iw4q4x/3

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August 28, 2009 11:46 PM delete

Here's the error message I keep getting...who knows what to do ? Trying to upload to blogspot and have a classic template in place.

Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly.
XML error message: The element type "meta" must be terminated by the matching end-tag "".

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August 29, 2009 8:52 AM delete

There will be meta tag in the template, you are trying to upload, like this:

<meta ************>

So add a slash '/' in the end in that tag:

<meta **********/>

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November 13, 2009 9:53 AM delete

Although the instructions are fantastic, the comments make one feel a little nervous about changing the template.

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November 13, 2009 10:26 AM delete

Hey Nita,

If you do not make any mistakes in step #3, #4 and #5, then nothing will go wrong. Good luck!
BTW I like palmistry too, can you tell me on average how accurate it can be?

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November 13, 2009 10:49 AM delete

Just read your latest post, I got my answers..thanks :)

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December 09, 2009 2:08 AM delete

thank you very much! It helped me a lot!!!
Wish u the best.

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Anonymous
December 10, 2009 7:02 AM delete This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
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December 16, 2009 12:42 PM delete

Thank you for your posting. I really enjoyed it.
Bathmate

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December 18, 2009 2:39 PM delete

i always do like what u said before i change to new templets

www.murkiester.com

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Anonymous
December 21, 2009 4:18 PM delete This comment has been removed by the author.
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January 13, 2010 1:45 AM delete

I've been trying to upload a template from Amuki all night, literally...I go to the upload a template from your hard drive on blogger, but everytime I try to upload it, I get a bad request page...can someone please help me?

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January 13, 2010 6:03 AM delete

Clear your browsers cookies, templ files etc.
Or use another Internet browser
Or else there might be some problem with that template, if you are able to upload other templates in the same browser without errors.

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January 22, 2010 5:24 PM delete

Hello,

Very useful blog!

Will I use my followers when I change the template?

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January 23, 2010 10:56 AM delete

If you meant you 'lose' your users, when you change the template,
then no you won't lose any of them.
Change the template and again add the followers widget.

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April 02, 2010 10:28 AM delete

Hi, Sai. First let me say that I am a big fan of your site!! a regular visitor and I have used much of your information, so thank you for that!

question: I recently switched templates. After doing so, I noticed that my google analytics are stagnate, as in - showing no new visitors since my template switch.

Any suggestions on why this is?

I look forward to your response! Thanks so much,
Elizabeth

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April 02, 2010 11:16 AM delete

Hi Elizabeth,

As you have changed the template, so most probably the code for Google Analytics hasn't been moved to your new template.
Simply go to your G-analytics account and copy the code the code in to your new template (in a HTML/JavaScript box), and save the widget.
That's it.

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April 02, 2010 11:42 AM delete

thank you for such a quick response, sai! i'm sure that was it. i just pasted the code back in to my html and will see if that was it. thanks again! you're the best!
-elizabeth

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April 02, 2010 11:44 AM delete

You are most welcome Elizabeth...
Glad to help you :)

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February 13, 2011 9:32 PM delete

I initially thought that switching templates will merely change the look of my blog site.

Gauging from the other bloggers' posts here, am I correct to assume that meta tags will be deleted during a template switch?

I have verification tags from Google, Yahoo and Alexa on my blog site.

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July 29, 2011 5:49 AM delete

Thanks a lot for this awesome tutorial. I have used the tmeplates on my blogger website and it works. Thanks for the awesome tips :)

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October 29, 2011 11:44 PM delete

can you suggest me a best template for my blogspot blog
http://unlimited-pc-tricks.blogspot.com
based on computer tips

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January 13, 2012 3:07 AM delete

new look blogger have no upload dialox box .
but i paste html code into below box but it not show results
i ver serious

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June 15, 2012 12:11 PM delete

Hello...I'm trying to change my templates to a new look but it's an error message keep appearing like this
Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure that all XML elements are closed properly.
XML error message: Content is not allowed in prolog.

Can someone help?

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September 07, 2012 7:59 PM delete

guys,i added a template to my blog and there after it is not showing any of my posts.Can you please tell me a way to make it visible please? i need it very urgently.Thanks a lot in advance

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