--- title: "How to Create an Archive Template in WordPress for Free?" url: https://nexterwp.com/docs/create-archive-template-in-wordpress/ date: 2023-04-24 modified: 2026-04-15 author: "Aditya Sharma" description: "Creating an archive template in WordPress allows you to design a custom template for displaying archive pages such as category, tag, author, date archives etc. With a custom archive template,..." image: https://nexterwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/create-archive-template-in-wordpress-1024x519.jpg word_count: 646 --- # How to Create an Archive Template in WordPress for Free? ## Key Takeaways - Nexter Extension allows users to create custom archive templates for various archive pages such as categories and tags. - Nexter Theme Builder enables the selection of specific display conditions for templates, including options like All Archives and Author Archive. - Users can add multiple conditions to include or exclude templates from specific locations using Nexter Theme Builder. - Nexter Blocks provides blog builder blocks to enhance the template building experience in the WordPress block editor. Creating an archive template in WordPress allows you to design a custom template for displaying archive pages such as category, tag, author, date archives etc. With a custom archive template, you can add your own style and content to these pages, providing a more engaging and cohesive user experience. ***Requirement  – This is a feature of Nexter Extension (Free) plugin, make sure its installed & activated to enjoy all its powers.*** With Nexter Theme Builder, you can create custom archive templates for posts, categories, tags, date archive, author archive, and more. This means you can display your archive pages with your own custom design and content instead of the default WordPress design. To create an archive template using the Nexter Theme Builder, follow the steps – 1. From the Dashboard, go to **Nexter Extension** > **Theme Builder** > **Add New Template**. 2. In the popup, select **Archive Page** from the **Select Template** dropdown. 3. Then, in the **Name of Template** field, add the template name. 4. Then, click on the **Next** button. 5. On the next screen, you have to set the appropriate display conditions. From the **Include/Exclude** dropdown, you can choose whether to show or hide the template in the selected locations. 6. Then from the second dropdown, you have to select the location. Here you’ll find many single page template related location options – - **All Archives** - This will target all the archive pages, like post, search, author, category etc. - **Author Archive** - This will target the author archive page. - **Date Archive** - This will target the date archive page. - **Search Results** - This will target the search results archive page. - **Default Posts Archive** - This will target the default posts archive page i.e the blog page. - **Posts : Categories** -  This will target the post category page, you can also select individual categories from **Condition Type** dropdown. - **Posts : First Child Category** - This will target the immediate subcategory page of a category, you can also select individual parent categories from **Condition Type** dropdown to target its first child category. - **Posts : All Child Category** - This will target all the subcategory pages of a category, you can also select individual parent categories from **Condition Type** dropdown to target its subcategories. - **Posts : Tags** - This will target the tag archive page. > *Note: You’ll get additional display options (plugin specific*) for Elementor, WooCommerce and custom post types. Select the appropriate option for your template. Based on the option selected, you’ll get an additional field to select the individual item of the source. > *Note: You can add multiple locations.* You can click on the **+ Add Conditions** button to add additional conditions. Follow the same process to add multiple conditions. > *Note: Using multiple conditions, you can include the template in a certain location and exclude it from a certain location at the same time.* From the Preview Type and Preview ID dropdowns, you can select a post type and individual post respectively to check the template preview.  So when you check the template preview using the WordPress Preview option, it will use your selected archive page. 7. Once done, then click on the **Create** button. 8. Then it will open the WordPress editor, where you can use the WordPress blocks or Elementor to create the actual layout and content of the template. Be sure to use archive related blocks or widgets to ensure that your content is displayed correctly. For WordPress block editor users, you can use the [blog builder blocks available in Nexter Blocks](https://nexterwp.com/nexter-blocks/builder/wordpress-blog-builder/) to enhance your template building experience. And for Elementor users, you can use the [blog builder widgets available in The Plus Addons for Elementor](https://theplusaddons.com/blog-builder/). 9. Once done, publish the template. Now your archive template will be created and will show as per the set display conditions. Also, check [How to Add an Action & Filter Hook in WordPress Website](https://nexterwp.com/docs/add-action-filter-hook-in-wordpress/). ## Frequently Asked Questions **Q: What should I do if my archive template isn't displaying correctly?** A: If your archive template isn't displaying as expected, check the display conditions set during the template creation process. Ensure that you have selected the correct options in the Include/Exclude dropdown and that the template is assigned to the appropriate archive type. Using multiple conditions can sometimes lead to conflicts, so review them carefully to ensure they align with your desired output. **Q: What are the best practices for designing an archive template?** A: When designing an archive template, focus on using archive-related blocks or widgets to ensure your content is displayed correctly. Utilizing the blog builder blocks available in [Nexter Blocks](https://nexterwp.com/nexter-blocks/builder/wordpress-blog-builder/) can enhance your layout. Additionally, consider the user experience by ensuring the template is visually appealing and easy to navigate. **Q: What happens if I forget to set the display conditions for my archive template?** A: If you forget to set the display conditions, your archive template may not show up on the intended pages. This could lead to a default WordPress design being displayed instead. Always double-check your conditions to ensure the template appears where you want it to, whether that's for all archives or specific types like categories or tags. **Q: How do I add multiple display conditions to my archive template?** A: To add multiple display conditions, use the + Add Conditions button during the template setup process. This feature allows you to include the template in certain locations while excluding it from others. It's useful for targeting specific archive pages without affecting the overall site structure.