How to Edit Footer in WordPress? (5 Easy Methods)

Table of Content

• What is Footer in WordPress Website?
• Why is it Important to Edit Footer in WordPress Website?
• How to Edit Footer in WordPress Website?
  • Method 1: Edit Footer Using the Default WordPress Theme Customizer
  • Method 2: Enhance Footer Credit by Editing the Footer.php File
  • Method 3: Make Edit in Footer With WordPress Footer Plugin
  • Method 4: Create a Custom Footer Widget Area
  • Method 5: Build Footer Using a Page Builder Plugin
• FAQs About Editing WordPress Footer
• Conclusion

When you enter the WordPress world, each term, including customization, scalability, SEO, and other extendable functionalities, turns into a limitless possibility to scale any business. The same goes for its footer.

Before understanding the editing portion, you must acknowledge that your WordPress footer is not just a finishing touch but a powerful tool for enhancing user experience, reinforcing your brand identity, and improving the overall site’s functionality.

Want to know how? Wait a little; we are about to dive into the same! No matter if you are an experienced WordPress developer looking to make minute changes or a WordPress newbie eager to personalize the footer credit.

These insights and step-by-step instructions by our WordPress experts will help you transform your website’s footer into a captivating web section that not only adds to the website’s aesthetics but also boosts its overall performance.

What is Footer in WordPress Website?

Every bottom section that appears after the website’s primary content gets defined as a WordPress footer. As it contains navigation links, copyrights, and contact information (stated in a detailed description below) – usually every page of a WordPress website includes it.

Where beginners prefer to keep the footer section as simple as possible, experienced WordPress developers handle this term very wisely. By including a detailed services list and quick contacting links, this WordPress footer can be significantly helpful to scale your business.

Why is it Important to Edit Footer in WordPress Website? 

This might sound a bit new to you, but there are numerous things to add in WordPress footer that can improve the overall user experience. It typically contains crucial information and elements that are consistent across the entire site, such as:

1. Copyright Information: It displays the ownership authority and curbs the theft of content and images.

This section is where you often find the copyright notice, which indicates the year and the website owner’s name or organization that developed it. For example, “Copyright © 2023 YourWebsiteName.”

2. Contact Information: No matter what page the web visitor is on after going through the primary content, raising a query, acquiring more information, or requesting a quote are obvious steps to take. 

Including details like email, phone number, or physical address in the footer makes conducting such operations easier. 

3. Navigation Links: Also get read as Quick Links. The footer navigation menu can provide links to important pages on the website, such as the privacy policy, terms of service, and site map.

4. Social Media Icons: Links to the website’s social media profiles are commonly found in the footer. Making it easy for visitors to connect on social platforms and maintain a standard awareness of the current transmission of the business.

5. Site Honors: If your firm is registered on trusted rating and reviewing platforms such as Clutch, GoodFirms, and Glassdoor. Then, you can showcase the ratings in the footer.

6. Additional Information: Depending on the website’s purpose, the footer can also include additional information like a footer menu, brief site description, disclaimers, or multiple firms’ locations or serving countries.

7. Widgets and Widgets Area: It is an element – sort of structuring block, you can say, which enables you to add a specific feature to the website

WordPress allows users to customize the footer using widgets. You can add various widgets to the footer area, such as recent posts, popular tags, or custom content.

How to Edit Footer in WordPress Website?

The content and layout of the footer can vary from one WordPress theme to another. Here, we will walk you through 5 basic to advanced methods to edit a footer in WordPress site:

• Method 1: Edit Footer Using the Default WordPress Theme Customizer
• Method 2: Enhance Footer Credit by Editing the Footer.php File
• Method 3: Make Edit in Footer With WordPress Footer Plugin
• Method 4: Create a Custom Footer Widget Area
• Method 5: Build Footer Using a Page Builder Plugin

Method 1: Edit Footer Using the Default WordPress Theme Customizer

If you are using the default WordPress theme options, such as Twenty Twenty-One then the footer can be customized through the WordPress customizer itself. 

Moreover, if you haven’t built any personalized WordPress footer using a theme builder or plugin, then you can with the same footer editing procedure:

Making the WordPress Theme Customizer available to everyone, WordPress includes it as a built-in accessible tool from the dashboard only.

• Log in to the WordPress Admin Dashboard.
• On the left-hand side menu, navigate to Appearance → Customize.
• Within the Theme Customizer, look for the Footer or Footer Widgets. It is often found in the Widgets or Layout tab, depending on your theme.
• By tapping on the pencil icon, you can effortlessly add, remove, or rearrange widgets within the footer area.
• These widgets can include text, links, images, and more, enabling you to tailor the footer sector to your specific needs.
• Remember to save changes to ensure your customized footer goes live.

Also, the widgets are not framed to this only – there are multiple other things to add in WordPress footer, which can help you to enhance its visibility.

Method 2: Enhance Footer Credit by Editing the Footer.php File

This method is recommended for technical WordPress users who are experienced with creating and editing HTML and PHP files.

• Login to web hosting C-panel.
• Navigate to File Manager.
• Within your active domain directory, navigate to wp-content→ themes → your-theme-name.
• There, you’ll get to see a file named footer.php – By accessing this file, you’ll get complete control over the footer’s HTML and PHP code, allowing for extensive customization.
• There are two possible methods: First, you can paste your created footer.php file code into the same file. Or, delete the current uploaded footer.php file and upload yours.
• If you are conducting the second method, we suggest you download the current file manager’s footer.php file, delete it, and then upload your footer.php file. So that if any error occurs, you can use the downloaded file as a backup to restore the last WordPress footer version.
• After conducting your preferred method, tap on Save Changes.

If you require professional guidance or want to avoid any potential coding errors, hiring WordPress developers can be the best practice to consider.

Method 3: Make Edit in Footer With WordPress Footer Plugin

– WordPress offers a diverse range of plugins that simplify footer customization. Notable options include the Footer Putter and Podamibe Simple Footer Widget.

• Begin by installing WordPress plugin and activating it, which you can easily do from your admin dashboard.
• After activation, navigate to the plugin’s settings, where you can configure and personalize your footer content according to your preferences.
• These plugins often enable you to add widgets, custom text, or even apply custom CSS to your footer area. It all becomes available to you without the need for extensive coding.

Indeed, there are uncountable plugins available on WordPress. To ensure the best suit for your requirements – we suggest you go through the criteria for choosing best WordPress plugin such as technical overview, compatibility, and review.

Method 4: Create a Custom Footer Widget Area

Not only in free but also in some paid WordPress themes, it lacks an editable footer section. 

This has also become a vast reason why big companies prefer custom themes – If you are looking too, then we suggest you check out our WordPress theme design and development service page for the same.

Moving ahead, let’s look into the steps to create a custom footer widget area.

• If you haven’t already, start by creating the child theme.
• Navigate to Appearance → Widgets within your WordPress dashboard.
• Start dragging and dropping widgets to the Footer Widget Area from the Available Footer Widgets.
• This method allows for flexibility and customization, ensuring your footer aligns with your website’s unique needs.

On another hand, if you want to add other WordPress widgets created using other plugins – you can do so by adding WordPress shortcodes and displaying all information as needed.

Method 5: Build Footer Using a Page Builder Plugin

If you’re a fan of visual design and also want things to run easily for you, then the drag-and-drop approach is best for you. Consider using a popular page builder plugin like Elementor or Beaver Builder.

• With Elementor, you’ll need to add the Elementor Header and Footer plugin and then start developing the footer. It will help you create a footer and publish it on all pages with one click only.
• In Beaver Builder, navigate to Themer Layouts.
• Tap on Add New, and decide on the layout as Footer. Further, you’ll get to see other options there too such as a location and additional rules which you can set according to your preference.
• Using any of these page builders, you can easily add and arrange elements such as text, images, links, and social media icons to craft your ideal footer layout.
• Save your changes within the page builder, and apply the footer template to your website pages.

There you go! With the top 5 methods to edit WordPress footer.

Conclusion

We are eager to have a look at your revised WordPress footer! From basic to complex editing, we covered the top 5 methods you can consider to edit your WordPress footer.

Not to mention, as the footer plays an important role in overall web appearance and user experience, adding navigation links, social icons, and contact information is crucial, too.

If these terms are still making you feel dizzy, you can simply reach out to us, and our top WordPress developers will be there to assist you.