Want to change your site’s header or footer in WordPress? Maybe you want to add a logo, update a menu, or remove that weird text at the bottom. Whatever the reason—good news. It’s easy, and you don’t need to touch code (unless you want to).
Here’s how to do it, step by step, using different methods.
What Are the Header and Footer?
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The header is the top part of your website. It usually has your logo, site name, and main menu.
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The footer is the bottom part. It often includes contact info, links, copyright, or social icons.
These sections show up on almost every page, so it’s smart to keep them clean and useful.
Method 1: Use the WordPress Customizer (Easy Way)
Most WordPress themes let you edit the header and footer using the Customizer.
Steps:
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Go to your WordPress Dashboard
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Click Appearance → Customize
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Look for Header, Footer, or Layout options
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Click to open and start editing
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Make your changes
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Click Publish to save
What you can change depends on your theme. Some themes give lots of control. Others keep it simple. Try clicking around—you might find options for menus, logos, widgets, colors, or layout.
Method 2: Use a Theme Builder Plugin
If your theme doesn’t give you enough control, use a plugin. A page builder plugin lets you design headers and footers just like regular pages.
Best plugin for this: Elementor
To use Elementor’s header/footer builder:
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Install and activate Elementor and Elementor Header & Footer Builder
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Go to Appearance → Elementor Header & Footer Builder
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Click Add New
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Choose Header or Footer
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Use the drag-and-drop builder to create your layout
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Choose where it appears (entire site, specific pages, etc.)
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Click Publish
Now your custom header or footer will show on your site!
This is great if you want more design freedom or a unique look.
Method 3: Edit with Widgets (For Footer Only)
Some footers are made with widget areas—sections where you can drag and drop blocks like text, images, or menus.
Here’s how:
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Go to Appearance → Widgets
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Look for sections like Footer 1, Footer 2, etc.
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Click to open one
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Add or remove widgets
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Save your changes
Want to add a copyright text, link, or newsletter box? Just drag the right widget into place.
Some headers may also use widgets, but this is more common for footers.
Method 4: Edit Theme Files (Advanced)
If you’re comfortable with code, you can directly edit your theme files.
Warning: Only do this if you know what you’re doing. A small mistake can break your site.
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Go to Appearance → Theme File Editor
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Open header.php to edit the header
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Open footer.php to edit the footer
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Make changes carefully
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Save the file
Tip: Use a child theme so your changes don’t get wiped out by theme updates.
Final Thoughts
Your header and footer help shape the look and feel of your site. Whether you’re just updating a logo or building a totally custom layout, WordPress makes it simple—no coding needed (unless you want it).
Start small. Change a color. Add your social links. Swap in a cleaner menu. These little tweaks can make your whole site feel new.
Need help picking a plugin or layout style? Let me know—happy to help you figure it out.