So I got distracted a bit, hitting a bug while searching for a solution, but in the end I didn’t find a solution either. Sometimes, when debugging odd behaviour, I create a copy of the theme (either “create new” and have an empty default theme, or “from a git repository” and adding the link to the repo, or “export” and then download it and choose “from your device” and re-upload), make it user selectable, select it myself, and start removing theme components to single out the one that is misbehaving. By creating a copy of the theme I can do this on a production site without disrupting life for other users. So today I wanted to find out why something was acting up, and I went to Admin - Appearance - Themes, and wanted to have another instance of “Foundation” for my debugging exercise. Either that’s not possible, or I don’t understand how to do it. create new gives me an empty one since Foundation and Horizon are in core, there is no repository link there are no ‘Export’ buttons for these guys

I think you can use the files in discourse/themes/horizon at main · discourse/discourse · GitHub to create a copy of horizon

Isn’t foundation the same as a new, empty theme? I don’t see anything here apart from the description and the screenshots: discourse/themes/foundation at main · discourse/discourse main/themes/foundation A platform for community discussion. Free, open, simple. - discourse/discourse

You are correct, as always. Still, same issue for Horizon.

Duplicating Foundation or Horizon

Product Support

RGJ (Richard - Communiteq) October 6, 2025, 4:26pm 5

I guess there are some disadvantages to having a large monorepo…

Topic		Replies	Views
How to create a copy of the Foundation theme? Product Support	2	83	October 28, 2026
How to have multiple copies of Default theme? Product Support	7	255	April 1, 2025
Introducing core themes Announcements	6	623	July 15, 2025
Best Workflow for Maintaining Themes? Development	6	1262	April 27, 2020
Foundation theme? Product Support	6	516	June 27, 2025

Duplicating Foundation or Horizon

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