How to remove Proudly Powered by WordPress from the footer so it survives updates
You can remove “Proudly powered by WordPress” in one of four ways: in the theme settings if the theme has such a field, in the Site Editor in the Footer template part, in a footer file copied into a child theme, or by hiding it with Additional CSS. All of them survive a theme update except editing the theme's own file.
Author: The TellMyShop team. A guide for WordPress site and WooCommerce store owners: the cause, the manual fix and the same work in a chat conversation.
Last updated: · 6 min read
Where the text comes from and why it comes back
The text is added by the theme, not by WordPress itself. In classic themes it usually sits in footer.php or in a separate file with site information. In block themes it is a block in the Footer template part. So how you remove it depends on the theme.
The most common mistake is editing footer.php in the theme file editor. The text disappears, and after the next theme update it comes back, because updates overwrite the files. Worse still, a typo in the PHP gives you a white screen instead of a site. Then the post on the critical error in WordPress comes in handy.
Four routes and what survives an update
| Method | For which theme | Survives a theme update | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theme setting | themes with a footer text field in Customize | yes | the simplest, if the field exists |
| Site Editor, Footer template part | block themes | yes, the change is stored in the database | the change applies to every template with the footer |
| Footer file in a child theme | classic themes | yes | needs a child theme |
| Additional CSS | any | yes, but the text stays in the code | a quick patch, not a solution |
| Editing the parent theme file | any | no | we advise against it |
Always start by checking whether the theme has its own option. Go to Appearance → Customize and look through the sections with the word footer. Some themes hide this option in a separate theme settings panel.
Block theme: the Site Editor step by step
In block themes, such as the newer default WordPress themes, the footer is a template part you edit without code.
- Go to Appearance → Editor.
- Open Patterns, and within them Template Parts. Choose Footer. Depending on your WordPress version this list may be in a slightly different place in the menu.
- Click the paragraph block with the text and delete it, or replace it with your own text.
- Save. The change applies to every template that uses this footer.
- Open the site in a private window and check the footer on a phone.
How template parts work and how to edit them is described in the documentation for the Template Part block. When the change doesn't appear on the site, the cache is often to blame, as explained in the post WordPress changes not showing.
Classic theme: a child theme instead of editing the file
In a classic theme with no option in Customize, the safe route goes through a child theme. It is a small theme that inherits everything from the parent and only overrides the files you copy into it. The rules are in the handbook on child themes.
If a child theme already exists, you copy the footer file from the parent theme into it and delete the line with the text in the copy. If it doesn't exist, you first have to create and activate it, and only then copy the files. Activating a child theme can reset some Customize settings, so note them down first.
The quick CSS patch hides the element with the text. Additional CSS is in Customize in classic themes, and in block themes in the Site Editor styles, as described on the page about CSS in WordPress. Other examples and screenshots for popular themes are collected in the WPMU DEV guide to removing this text.
What should go in the footer instead?
The removed text leaves an empty space worth using. Customers look at the bottom of the page when they want specifics, so the footer is a good place for:
- the business name and year, for example “© 2026 Glina Ceramics Studio”,
- links to the terms, privacy policy and contact page,
- in a store, information on delivery times and returns,
- contact details, if they aren't in the header.
In classic themes this content often goes into widgets in the footer area, which you change in Appearance → Widgets. In block themes you add it as blocks in the same template part you removed the text from.
How the chat does it with the TellMyShop plugin
The TellMyShop plugin for WordPress and WooCommerce connects your site to your chat (Claude or ChatGPT). In TellMyShop Pro the chat reads the theme files and works out where the text comes from: a theme field, a template part or the footer file. Then it suggests a route that survives updates.
Saving needs the Theme switch in the plugin panel. This switch covers theme files, the child theme, CSS, templates, widgets and basic site settings. It works for 24 hours and can only be turned on when the plugin has a database backup from today. A copy of each file is made before it is saved, and PHP files are checked for syntax errors.
You: Remove “Proudly powered by WordPress” from the footer and put “© 2026 Glina Ceramics Studio”.
Your chat: Your theme is a block theme. The text is in the Footer template part, in a paragraph block. Preview:
The change will apply to all pages with the footer and will survive theme updates. Save? (yes / no)
You: Yes.
Your chat: Saved. I checked the home page, the new footer is visible.
Card status: waiting for your “yes”old version: Proudly powered by WordPress
new version: © 2026 Glina Ceramics Studio
The business name in the conversation is an example. In a classic theme the chat will suggest a child theme, create it and prepare the footer file with the fix inside it, showing each step in a preview. Every change goes into the change history and you can undo most of them, and files can be restored from their copies. The post on how to undo changes in WordPress explains how this works.
In TellMyShop Free the chat shows which theme and version you use and whether an update is waiting, but it won't look into the theme files or change anything. If an agency or developer looks after your theme, this is a good moment to ask whether they make footer changes in a child theme.
Start with TellMyShop Free. You can read more about the plugin on the TellMyShop for WordPress and WooCommerce page, and Pro prices are on the pricing page.
Questions and answers
Is it legal to remove “Proudly powered by WordPress”?
Yes. WordPress is licensed under the GPL, which allows you to change the code, including the footer. Some paid themes have their own terms about the author link, so if you bought your theme from a theme marketplace, check its licence.
Why did the text come back after a theme update?
Because the change was made directly in a theme file, for example footer.php. An update replaces the theme files with new ones and your fix disappears. Make file changes in a child theme, and in block themes use the Site Editor.
Is hiding the footer text with CSS enough?
As a quick fix, yes, because the text disappears from the screen. The text and the link stay in the page code, though, and search engines and screen readers still see them. It is better to remove the text at the source and add your own footer content.
What should I put in the footer instead?
Usually the business name with the year, and links to the terms, privacy policy and contact page. In a store it is also worth adding delivery and returns information, because that is exactly where customers look for it.
Can TellMyShop change the footer without FTP access?
Yes, in TellMyShop Pro after you turn on the Theme switch. The chat will change the footer template part, a file in a child theme or Additional CSS, with a preview and a copy of the file before the change. The switch works for 24 hours and needs a database backup from today.
WordPress is a trademark of the WordPress Foundation. WooCommerce is a trademark of Automattic Inc. Claude is a trademark of Anthropic PBC. ChatGPT and OpenAI are trademarks of OpenAI. TellMyShop is not affiliated with these companies.