The other day I showed you how to install a WordPress theme and last time we started learning how to customize a theme.
We'll continue with our customization today, but this time we are working with widgets.
Don't see the video? Click here.
How to Manage Your WordPress Widgets
Your widgets are items that go in your blog's sidebars. To manage your widgets:
- Click "Appearance" in your Dashboard
- Click "Widgets"
- Drag and drop the widgets of your choice into the appropriate sidebar
- Configure your widget with a title and your choice of settings (if available)
- "Save" your widget
- Return to your blog and "Refresh" — it should be there!
Here at BloggingWithAmy you'll find tips, tools & tutorials about blogging and websites. In plain English. Want to 
Thanks! Done with my step for today!
Dear Amy,
on your blog the drop down menu QUICK TIPS & TUTORIALS when drops down is hidden by the flash player. If this is designed like this it is ok except that it hides some menu items. Other wise this can be rectified in flash settings in your code. This is just a suggestion. Otherwise nice blog. Keep it up.
Hello: A blogging friend recommended your site to me and I am very grateful she did. I am learning so much. I do have a question though. I have been going through all your steps and have come to here and the only problem I have is how do I get the Blogroll with WordPress' Links off my Main Page?. I am new to WordPress (which I find harder than Blogger.com but that's okay, I love to learn) Once I can figure that out, I will be so happy.
I am using the Theme you recommended and I thank you for all your wonderful information!~
Hi Jennifer! I'm so glad you stopped by and are finding BWA helpful.
It looks like you may have already figured out how to remove the links, in which case, way to go! You can do that in Appearance–>Widgets (if I understand your question correctly).
I notice your page doesn't have "META" in the right column. How do you sign in without showing that?
You can always sign in by going to your domain plus "wp-admin" on the end. So, for example, when I sign into my Dashboard, I go to this URL: http://bloggingwithamy.com/wp-admin
What do I do if the Widget will not show up?
Thanks,
Heather M.
I figured it out, I think. I was posting in the right side bar and not the inner, right sidebar. I was confused having only 3 columns, left, middle, and right.
Thanks!
Heather
Hi I'm new at building my new blog site and I have a few questions. I did widgets with a drop down box, however I can't figure out how to add more things under the drop down box. Also when added the "home" button, will it work for my visitors to select home and go back to my home page?
Thank you
Kristina
I took a quick peek and the dropdowns in your sidebar should populate automatically once you start adding categories to your posts. Hopefully your theme works with the Menu feature (Appearance–>Menus) and you can add a Home link. I hope that makes sense!
Hi Amy I have another stupid question. Maybe I'm using a wrong theme for what I'm doing. This is my first blog. I'm not able to add blogs, pages or anything to my categories. For an exaple under Home School resources, I'm not able to add anything underneath it. Did I miss one of your steps? Thanks
First, there are no stupid questions.
Second, I think you might be misunderstanding what categories are. I think instead of categories, you would like to add some text under your widget titles. Is that correct? Categories are what you assign your blog posts to. So, for example, if I write a post about Math U See, I can assign that post to the "Homeschool Resources" category. However, if you put widgets in your sidebar with the title "Homeschool Resources" and you want to add text underneath, you can do so directly in your text widget. Does that help?
Amy,
Help before I had been so lucky to turn onto your wonderful site I was as a man often
does just winging it. (Shocked I Know) well now the widgets do not draga nd drop i have to edit and then choose where at in the side bar they go. AND I do not like it and i am not sure where i change such a setting to cuase it to be this way. Can youassist a novice???
Jaxgman
gokrazy4coupons.com // sophisticatedrednek.com ////
When my site is buggy, sometimes a simple logout an log back in helps. I hope it does in your case! Otherwise, I'd check the WordPress Support Forums.
Hi Amy,
How do you add links within the texting widget?
I have this same question, too!
I have successfully used the widgets in my blog, but I'm drawing a blank on one of them — the blogroll. I'm not even sure that I want to use it, but when I've added it to my right sidebar just to check it out, I don't see where to actually add the links for any blogs. It's just some boxes and checks. Clearly I'm missing something here. It can't be that complicated! If you get a chance to answer, that would be terrific. Thanks Amy. You've been so helpful in this process.
You can add links for the blogroll by going to Dashboard –> Links –> Add New. Blogroll is already there by default. Every new link you add can be assigned to the Blogroll link category. Of course you can add your own link categories too. Just poke around the "Links" option.
Thanks you! I knew it was going easier than I was making it out to be!
Michelle, I looked at your site (looks a lot like mine right now
). Did you have a hard time with your feedburner widget? Mine is giving a bunch of options for subscribing? I need to get THIS fixed before bringing my subscribers from my old blog over (they will need to re-subscribe). I can then work on wrapping up the rest of my design as my blog goes live. I can't figure this out! Amy or Michelle….any ideas? Go to my site and it is on the left side (for now) so you can see what I mean. It is in the BFA Subscribe widget. Thanks!
I have tried to look this up via wordpress support. But I still cannot figure it out! If the widget I want ( Follow ME) is not available to add , is there a way to add. Or am I just out of luck? Is it because its a Free theme? I am using oxygen.
Are you using WordPress.com? Unfortunately, they don't let you use plugins. A self-hosted WP blog (WordPress.org), however, does not have the same limitations. I talked about WP.com vs. WP.org on my FAQ page.
I can't get the text widgets to show up at all. I am at a loss right now. I have searced forums and your site too. I am using Techozoic Fluid 2.0.6 and it has built in widgets to utilize. What am I doing wrong? Thanks!
Hmmm…hard to say since so many themes are written differently. You might try a new theme (perhaps the default Twenty Eleven theme)??
Yes, last night after searching and trying to get the widget to show up I switched back to Graphene theme. It seems to be working and it works with my recipe data too. I really am learning a great deal from you bog. Thanks!
Do you know if there is a limit to how many widgets you can put in an area? I am not having success in adding more widgets to my "primary widget area" or my "secondary widget" area.
Also besides those to areas, I've only been able to add widgets to the "footer menu". Am I doing something wrong?
Thank you!
Hmmmm…it might depend on your theme. I've never had trouble with a limited number of widgets. I would check on the theme's page??