This guide explains how to install and manage custom themes on your Discourse site.
Required user level: Administrator
Theme availability
Custom themes are available to all Discourse customers on the following hosting plans:
- Standard
- Business
- Enterprise
Starter tier customers do not have access to custom themes and must upgrade to at least the Standard plan to use this feature.
Installing a theme
- Go to your site’s Admin Panel
- Navigate to Appearance > Themes and components in the admin sidebar
- Click the “Install” button
- Choose one of these installation methods:
- Popular: Browse and install from a curated list of popular themes and components
- From your device: Upload a theme file from your computer (.tar.gz or .zip file)
- From a git repository: Enter a public or private git repository URL to install a theme directly from source
- Create new: Create a new blank theme or component from scratch
Managing themes
Once installed, you can:
- Enable/disable the theme
- Customize theme settings
- Preview the theme
- Make the theme the default for your site
- Mark themes as user-selectable so users can choose their preferred theme
- Edit theme code (if you have development experience)
Common issues and solutions
- Theme not appearing: Make sure the theme is both installed and enabled
- Settings not saving: Clear your browser cache and reload the page
- Visual glitches: Try disabling other themes or components that might conflict
FAQs
Q: Can I use multiple themes at once?
A: Only one theme can be the site-wide default, but you can mark additional themes as “user selectable” which allows individual users to choose their preferred theme from their user preferences.
Q: Will installing a theme affect my site’s performance?
A: Most properly built themes have minimal impact on performance. However, themes with many components or complex features may have some effect.
Q: Can I modify a theme after installing it?
A: Yes, you can customize theme settings and edit theme code, but be aware that modifications may be overwritten when the theme updates.
Additional resources
- Beginner's guide to using Discourse Themes
- Installing a theme or theme component
- Installing a theme from a private Git repository
- Add settings to your Discourse theme
Last edited by @jessii 2024-12-21T01:41:16Z
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