Can I make a theme available to specific user groups only?

Development

AI-generated summary

The discussion revolves around making a theme available to specific user groups only, particularly for paid users. SubStrider initiated the topic, seeking a way to create “premium themes” for paid users. Lilly responded that it’s not possible without plugin development.

Heliosurge suggested a CSS-based solution that can restrict users from seeing premium themes in the selector, but it has limitations, as users can still access the themes through the web inspector. SubStrider pointed out that this solution may not be effective for tech-savvy communities.

Heliosurge and pfaffman suggested that a custom plugin would be necessary for server-side modifications to ensure security. pfaffman proposed an alternative solution where a theme could check the current user’s group and redirect them to a page prompting them to change the theme or subscribe. Overall, the consensus is that a custom plugin or server-side modification is required to achieve the desired functionality.

1

Is it possible to make a theme available to only specific user groups? Basically I would want to have “premium themes” for paid users.

Similarly in a theme like Horizon, it is possible to have color schemes available to only specific user groups.

I understand it may not be possible out of the box but if I were to make it work, what do I need to tinker with?

PS: I did see a similar topic but it was 7 years old. Hoping something has changed since then or at least it is easier to create a custom plugin that would do this. Even if it is a custom plugin, please do point me further ahead so that I can attempt it.

3

not without plugin development

4

Linking a topic that helped the asker of a similar query:

5

That was a CSS only solution which will not work when you are restricting access to non paying members. That solution was hiding access to paying members.

6

Yep I saw that earlier. So the concept and approach remains the same? Asking coz that topic is 7 years old.

7

well, theme creator still works :slight_smile:

10

It is just a CSS based solution but will work to restrict users from seeing the premium themes in the selector. Prerequisites is that the user needs to select primary group. Though there is also a TC that will add all user groups as classes.

11

I run a tech community, everyone would figure out! :sweat_smile:

Oh yes.. that would be amazing.

12

It is possible. But they might not either. If security is a concern then you will need a custom plugin so the mod is server side vs client side.

If your community though is that advanced users could create a tamper monkey script and theme it from their browser.

13

There isn’t an easy way to keep them from selecting the theme, but you could create a theme that checked the current user’s group and then did something like redirected people to a page that told them to change the theme back or to subscribe.