How to Edit Header in WordPress: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide for 2025

The header of a WordPress website is not only the first thing visitors see, but it also plays a crucial role in establishing your brand identity and creating a positive user experience. However, many website owners struggle to customize and edit their headers to suit their unique needs.

In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with detailed instructions on how to edit header in WordPress, empower you to make impactful changes, and enhance the overall look and feel of your website.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, this guide covers everything from basic WordPress header customization using the theme customizer to advanced methods using Elementor and HT Mega Addons.

Understanding the WordPress Header: Foundation for Your Website

The WordPress header is a fundamental aspect of your WordPress site’s identity, serving as the first point of contact for your audience. Customizing your WordPress header allows for a consistent branding experience across the entire WordPress website, enhancing user navigation and providing immediate recognition for your brand.

Appropriately editing the header and footer in WordPress can significantly impact the overall aesthetic and functionality of your WordPress site. Your header is more than just decorative; it’s a critical component of your website’s user experience and conversion strategy.

Definition and Importance of the Header

In WordPress, the header refers to the top section of a web page that typically contains site branding, navigation menus, and important information. It is one of the most prominent and crucial parts of a website’s layout.

The header often includes elements like:

• Site title or logo
• Main navigation menu
• Contact information
• Search bar
• Social media icons
• Call-to-action buttons

The WordPress header is more than just a design element; it serves as the backbone of a website’s usability and brand image. The header’s structure and content can significantly influence how users navigate and perceive your site. It houses your logo and navigation menu, providing a roadmap to your site’s content and promoting brand recognition.

Furthermore, a well-organized and visually appealing header can enhance user experience, encouraging visitors to explore your website more thoroughly. Think of your header as your website’s welcome sign, it should be inviting, informative, and aligned with your brand values.

Key Functions of a WordPress Header

The header serves several important purposes in web design and user experience:

Branding and Recognition 

Your header prominently displays your site’s logo or name, helping visitors identify and remember your brand. Consistent branding across your header builds trust and professionalism.

Navigation and Accessibility

The main menu within the header provides easy access to different sections of your website. It’s where visitors can find links to important pages like the homepage, about us, services, blog, and contact. A well-structured navigation menu reduces bounce rates and improves time-on-site.

Enhanced User Experience

An organized and well-designed header improves user navigation and helps visitors quickly find what they’re looking for, enhancing their overall experience on your site. Users should be able to understand your site’s purpose and structure within seconds of landing on your page.

Contact and Information Access

Many headers include contact details, such as phone numbers, email addresses, or live chat widgets, making it convenient for users to get in touch. This direct accessibility can increase lead generation and customer support effectiveness.

Visual Appeal and First Impressions

A visually appealing header can set the tone for your website’s design and create a positive first impression on visitors. Your header design influences how professional and trustworthy your website appears to potential customers.

Components of the WordPress Header

The WordPress header typically consists of various components, which can vary depending on the theme and plugins you’re using. Understanding these components helps you customize your header effectively. Here are the common components:

Site Title and Logo

This is the visual representation of your brand. It can be your logo or the name of your website, which can also serve as a link to the homepage. Most WordPress themes allow you to upload a custom logo through the theme customizer or WordPress customization interface.

Navigation Menu: 

The main menu is a list of links that lead to different sections of your website. It can include primary links to essential pages and secondary links to subpages or categories. Multi-level menus (dropdowns) are common in modern WordPress header designs.

Contact Information: 

Some headers include contact details like a phone number, email address, or physical address to make it easy for visitors to contact you. This is particularly important for service-based businesses and local enterprises.

Search Bar

A search bar allows users to search for specific content on your site. It’s particularly useful for websites with a lot of content, such as blogs, news sites, or online stores.

Social Media Icons

If your site has social media profiles, you can display icons that link to your social media accounts. This encourages social sharing and helps build your social presence.

Call-to-Action (CTA) Buttons 

Headers may include buttons that encourage visitors to take specific actions, such as signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase, or requesting a quote. These CTAs can significantly impact conversion rates.

Additional Widgets and Elements

Depending on your theme and plugins, you can add various widgets to the header, such as a weather widget, a currency converter, a language switcher, or an announcement bar.

Header Image or Background

Some headers feature a background image or color that adds visual appeal to the top section of the website. This can include gradient overlays, patterns, or full-width images.

Login/Register Links

For websites with user accounts, headers may include links for users to log in or register, streamlining the user journey.

Sticky Header 

Some themes feature a sticky header that stays visible at the top of the screen as users scroll, making navigation easier to access. This enhances usability and reduces navigation friction.

The WordPress header is a dynamic and customizable part of your website that plays a significant role in user engagement and overall design. It’s essential to choose a theme and configure your header to align with your website’s goals and user experience.

Customizing the Header Using Theme Customizer

The WordPress theme Customizer, a built-in WordPress header editor, offers more than just basic header customization options. It empowers you to customize various aspects of your website, including the footer, typography, colors, menus, and more, all without touching a line of code.

How to Access the WordPress Theme Customizer

To access the WordPress theme Customizer, navigate to your dashboard and click on “Appearance” > “Customize.”

On the left, you’ll find a menu of options, while the right displays a preview of your website.

In the Customizer, you’ll find header options that may be visible immediately or in a sub-menu, such as the Layout options.

In the Customizer, you’ll find header options that may be visible immediately or nested in a sub-menu, such as the “Header” or “Layout” options. The exact location depends on your active theme.

Once you’re satisfied with your header configuration, remember to save the changes to your theme header by clicking on the “Publish” button located at the top of the Customizer.

Please keep in mind that any modifications made using the WordPress theme Customizer will exclusively affect your currently active theme header. If you decide to switch to a different theme, you’ll need to edit the WordPress header once again. 

Understanding Header Options in Theme Customizer

The header options in your WordPress theme will vary depending on which theme you’re using. For instance, most modern WordPress themes offer options like:

• Changing the logo – Upload or select your site logo
• Header color customization – Change background and text colors
• Header menu display – Decide which menu appears in the header
• Logo size and positioning – Adjust how your logo displays
• Header layout – Choose between different header styles (full-width, boxed, etc.)
• Sticky header – Enable a sticky header that stays visible while scrolling
• Typography options – Change fonts and text sizes for header elements

Edit Your WordPress Header with Theme Customizer: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Navigate to Appearance > Customize

• From your WordPress dashboard, click on “Appearance” in the left sidebar
• Click on “Customize” to open the theme customizer

Step 2: Find Header Options

• In the left panel, look for sections like “Header,” “Identity,” “Site Identity,” or “Design”
• Click on the header-related section to expand options

Step 3: Customize Logo and Site Identity

• Upload your site logo by clicking “Select Logo”
• Choose your site title and tagline
• Adjust logo size and display options

Step 4: Modify Header Colors and Styles

• Change the header background color
• Adjust text and link colors for better contrast and readability
• Modify hover states for links

Step 5: Configure Navigation Menu

• Select which menu displays in the header
• Arrange menu items in the “Menus” section if needed

Step 6: Preview Changes

• The right side of the screen shows a live preview
• Test your changes on different pages
• Check mobile responsiveness

Step 7: Publish Your Changes Once you’re satisfied with your header configuration, remember to save the changes to your theme header by clicking on the “Publish” button located at the top of the Customizer.

Important Note on Theme Changes

Please keep in mind that any modifications made using the WordPress theme Customizer will exclusively affect your currently active theme header.

If you decide to switch to a different theme, you’ll need to edit the WordPress header once again from scratch, as customizations are theme-specific and won’t transfer to a new theme.

Creating and Editing Header using Elementor Page Builder and HT Mega Addons

For users seeking more advanced customization options without coding, combining Elementor (a popular WordPress page builder) with HT Mega Addons provides a powerful and flexible solution.

HT Mega is a comprehensive Elementor page builder add-on that comes with tons of features, relieving users of the hassle of installing too many plugins for additional functionality.

What is HT Mega Addons for Elementor?

HT Mega is a powerful plugin designed to enhance your Elementor experience and website functionality. One of its key features is the “Theme Builder” module that enables you to create templates for various sections of a web page, including:

• Header templates
• Footer templates
• Blog page layouts
• 404 error page designs
• Search results page designs
• Archive page templates
• Single post/product page templates

The best part? You can access this powerful theme builder feature available on the free version of the plugin, making it accessible to WordPress users at any budget level.

Why Use HT Mega for Header Customization?

Using HT Mega with Elementor for header editing offers several advantages:

• No coding required: Drag-and-drop interface makes customization easy.
• Pre-built templates: Start with professionally designed header templates.
• Full customization: Override default headers on specific pages or globally.
• Responsive design: Mobile-friendly header templates included.
• Advanced widgets: Access to HT Mega’s collection of custom Elementor widgets.
• Time-saving: Pre-made templates get you up and running quickly.

Installing and Configuring HT Mega for Header Editing: Step-by-Step

Let’s walk through exactly how to edit header in WordPress using HT Mega and how you can leverage this plugin to create or edit your website header. Follow these detailed steps to get started.

Step 1: Download and Install the Plugin 

Method 1: Install from WordPress Plugin Directory (Recommended)

1. Access your WordPress site dashboard
2. Navigate to the “Plugins” section in the left sidebar
3. Click on “Add New Plugin”
4. In the search bar, type “HT Mega“ to find the plugin
5. Once you locate the HT Mega plugin in the search results, click on the “Install” button
6. After installation completes, click “Activate” to activate the plugin

Method 2: Manual Upload from WordPress Repository

If you prefer to download the plugin file manually:

1. Download the HT Mega plugin file from the WordPress plugin repository
2. In your WordPress dashboard, go to the “Plugins” section and click “Add New Plugin”
3. On the top of the page, you’ll see an “Upload Plugin” button
4. Click on it, choose the HT Mega plugin file you downloaded, and upload it
5. After uploading, click the “Install Now” button
6. Finally, activate the plugin after installation is complete

After activation, you should see “HT Mega” appear in your WordPress dashboard menu.

Step 2: Activate the Theme Builder Module

1. Click on the HT Mega Addons menu in your WordPress dashboard to access the HT Mega dashboard.
2. Within the HT Mega dashboard, navigate to the “Modules” section.
3. In the Modules section, you’ll find the ‘Theme Builder’ module.
4. Activate it by clicking on the toggle/switch next to it.

The Theme Builder module is now active and ready to use for creating header templates.

Step 3: Create the Header Template from Scratch or Choose the Predesigned Templates

You now have two options: create a completely custom header template from scratch or leverage HT Mega’s pre-designed templates as a starting point. Both approaches work well, depending on your design skills and time availability.

Creating a Header Template from Scratch

Access Elementor Templates: Begin by navigating to your WordPress dashboard and finding “Elementor” in the menu. From there, go to “Templates” and then select “Saved Templates.”

Add a New Template: On the “Saved Templates” page, locate and click the “ADD NEW” button at the top of the screen. This action will trigger a pop-up.

Template Type Selection: In the pop-up, you’ll be prompted to choose the type of template you want to create. Since we are focusing on the header section, select ‘section’ as the ‘Type of template.’ Also, provide a name for your template.

Building the Header Manually: After these selections, you’ll enter the Elementor edit screen. Here, you have two choices. You can either manually craft your header template by clicking the “+” icon, selecting a structure, and adding necessary Elementor widgets for the header, such as:

• Logo widget
• Navigation Menu widget
• Search widget
• Social Media Icons widget
• Button widgets
• Spacer widgets

These widgets are readily available in HT Mega and standard Elementor.

Customize Your Design

Use Elementor’s design controls to customize:

• Colors and backgrounds
• Typography (fonts, sizes, weights)
• Spacing and padding
• Responsive design for different devices
• Hover effects and animations

Save Your Template

Once satisfied with your design, click “Update” to save your custom header template.

Using HT Mega’s Pre-Made Header Templates

For a faster approach, HT Mega provides a collection of professionally designed header templates:

Using Pre-Made Templates: Alternatively, you can opt for pre-made templates offered by HT Mega. To access them, go to the “Add Section” area within the Elementor edit screen and click on the HT Mega icon.

Exploring Pre-Made Templates: A new page will appear, presenting a variety of blocks and pages. In the blocks section, you’ll find a collection of header templates that come bundled with the HT Mega plugin.

Selecting a Pre-Made Template: Choose the pre-made header block that best suits your needs and click ‘Insert.’

Customize the Pre-Made Template: Once inserted, you can personalize the pre-made template to align with your design preferences:

• Change logos and site titles
• Modify colors and typography
• Edit menu items
• Add or remove elements
• Adjust spacing and layouts

Save Your Customized Template: After customizing, click the ‘Update’ button to save your header template

By following these steps, you can effortlessly create or select your header template, whether you prefer to design it from scratch with complete creative freedom or leverage the convenient pre-made templates provided by HT Mega for faster implementation.

Step-4: Setting the Header Template as the Default Header in the Website

Now that you’ve created or customized your header template, you need to set it as your website’s default header so it appears on all pages (unless overridden for specific pages).

Navigate to HTMega Addons: Once in the dashboard, locate the “HT Mega Addons” menu.

Access HT Builder: Within the “HTMega Addons” menu, find and select “HT Builder.”

HT Builder Settings: You’ll now be on the HT Builder Settings page. This is where you can designate templates for specific sections of your website, such as the header, footer, search page, and 404 page.

Choose Header Template: To set your custom template as the global header, click on “Header Template.”

Select Your Custom Template: In the Header Template section, choose the template you’ve previously customized.

Save Changes: After selecting your preferred header template, make sure to click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

Preview Your Webpages: To ensure that your chosen header template is now the website’s header, go ahead and preview your webpages. 

Step-5: Setting the Header Template as an Individual Page Template

If you want to designate a different header template for a specific page (rather than using the global default), follow these steps:

Access the Page in Elementor: Navigate to the specific page you want to customize. Click “Edit with Elementor” to open it in the Elementor editor.

Locate the Elementor Editor Panel: Once you’re on the Elementor edit screen, find the Elementor editor panel. This panel is usually situated on the left or right side of the screen.

Find the Settings Icon: Within the Elementor editor panel, look for the settings icon (usually a gear or cog symbol). This is typically located in the lower section of the panel. Click on it to reveal additional page options

Access HT Header Footer Settings: Among the options that appear, you’ll find “HT Header & Footer”. Click on this option to access the header template settings for this specific page.

Select Header Template: Among the options, you’ll find “HT Header & Footer.” Click on this option to access the header template settings for the specific page.

Choose Your Template: In the HT Header & Footer settings, you can now select a header template from the available options. Choose the one that suits your page’s design needs. You can also disable the header for this specific page if needed.

Save Your Page: Click “Update” to save the page with its custom header settings

By following these steps, you can easily set a custom header template for a particular page using Elementor’s HT Header and footer settings, giving you complete flexibility to have different headers for different sections of your site.

Editing the Header via Custom Code (Recommended for Developers)

Customizing your WordPress Header doesn’t have to be limited to using the WordPress theme Customizer. There’s an alternative method that offers greater flexibility, especially if you’re comfortable with coding.

Before You Begin: Important Developer Warning

This method is intended for developers only. If you’re not a WordPress developer, it’s best to avoid the ‘Theme Editor’ option. Improper code edits can break your website. Always back up your site before making code changes.

Accessing the Theme File Editor

If you have a good grasp of HTML and CSS, you can easily customize your WordPress Header right from your dashboard.

• From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to “Appearance” → “Theme File Editor” to access the theme editor in WordPress
• When you first access the “Theme File Editor,” you will receive a “Heads Up” warning message
• This precaution is in place to prevent non-programmers from inadvertently making changes to theme code
• To proceed, click on “I Understand”

Making Code Changes to Your Header

After confirming you understand the risks:

1. You’ll be redirected to the Theme File Editor where you can view lines of theme code that can be modified
2. On the right side, you’ll see the “Theme Files” section listing all your theme’s PHP files
3. Locate the header.php file – This file is specifically designed for your header and is what you’ll edit
4. Click on header.php to open it in the editor

Customizing Your header.php File

The header.php file contains all the code that renders your website’s header. You can customize it to:

• Modify header structure and layout
• Add custom HTML elements
• Insert custom CSS classes for styling
• Implement dynamic content (like current date, custom menus, etc.)
• Adjust navigation menu output
• Modify logo display and positioning
• Add custom widgets or sidebars to the header

Saving Your Code Changes

1. Once you have finished editing the theme code, review your changes carefully
2. Click on the “Update File” button located at the bottom of the editor
3. This action will save your edited theme code

Important: After making changes, immediately check your website to ensure:

• The header still displays correctly
• All elements load properly
• No error messages appear
• The layout looks as intended

Reverting Code Changes if Issues Occur

If your changes break your site:

1. Return to Appearance > Theme File Editor
2. Open header.php again
3. Undo your changes or revert to the original code
4. Click “Update File” to save

Important Note

It is important to note that this functionality is primarily intended for developers. If you encounter issues or don’t feel comfortable editing code, consider using the visual methods (Theme Customizer or HT Mega with Elementor) instead.

Advanced Header Customization Techniques

Beyond the basic methods outlined above, consider these advanced techniques to take your WordPress header to the next level:

Implementing Sticky Headers

A sticky header remains visible at the top of the screen as users scroll down your page. This enhances navigation accessibility. Most WordPress themes include sticky header options in the customizer, or you can use CSS:

.site-header { position: sticky; top: 0; z-index: 1000; }

Creating Responsive Headers

Ensure your header looks great on all devices:

• Use mobile menu toggles (hamburger menus) for small screens
• Adjust logo size for mobile devices
• Simplify navigation on mobile
• Test on multiple devices and screen sizes

Adding Custom Fonts to Your Header

Use Google Fonts or custom fonts to make your header typography stand out:

1. In Theme Customizer, look for Typography settings
2. Select from Google Fonts library
3. Adjust font sizes for readability
4. Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background

Implementing Animation and Hover Effects

Using HT Mega or custom CSS, add subtle animations:

• Fade-in effects when the page loads
• Hover state changes for menu items
• Smooth transitions for color changes
• Scroll-triggered animations

Creating Multi-Level Dropdown Menus

WordPress supports multi-level menus (submenus). To create dropdown navigation:

1. Go to Appearance > Menus
2. Create menu items and add sub-items
3. Adjust menu settings to enable dropdown display
4. Test on mobile devices for accessibility

Mobile-First Header Design

Design your header with mobile users in mind:

• Prioritize essential elements on mobile
• Use a mobile menu toggle (hamburger menu)
• Ensure buttons and links are touch-friendly (minimum 44×44 pixels)
• Test on various mobile devices and browsers

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

To summarize, learning how to edit header in WordPress can seem intimidating if you don’t have much experience with HTML and CSS or don’t feel comfortable jumping into a code editor. However, relying on simple drag-and-drop features or built-in customization tools makes this process much more achievable. You can always tweak your design and add new elements as you get familiar with them.

Fortunately, modern WordPress solutions give you all the flexibility that you need to customize your site’s header according to your unique business goals. This article has highlighted the breadth of possibilities available for customizing headers in WordPress, from simple logo adjustments and menu modifications using the theme customizer to full-page header designs showcasing featured content areas, advanced navigation menus, and custom widgets.