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Themes control the visual appearance and layout of your site. Halo supports a wide range of themes that you can install, customize, and switch between.

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Understanding themes in Halo

Themes in Halo:
  • Control the visual design and layout of your site
  • Provide templates for different content types
  • May include custom settings and configuration options
  • Can define multiple menu locations
  • Are version-controlled and can be updated
Each Halo installation can have multiple themes installed, but only one theme can be active at a time. Switching themes changes your site’s appearance immediately.

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Installing a theme

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From the theme marketplace

1

Navigate to themes

From the admin dashboard, click on Themes in the sidebar.
2

Browse themes

Click Install New Theme or browse the theme marketplace to find themes.
3

Select a theme

Click on a theme to view its details, preview screenshots, and read the description.
4

Install the theme

Click the Install button. Halo will download and install the theme automatically.
5

Wait for installation

The installation process may take a few moments. Wait for the success notification.

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By uploading a theme file

If you have a theme file (.zip) from another source:
1

Navigate to themes

Go to Themes in the admin dashboard.
2

Upload theme

Click Upload Theme and select the theme .zip file from your computer.
3

Wait for upload

The theme will be uploaded and extracted. Wait for the process to complete.
4

Verify installation

Once installed, the theme appears in your themes list.
Only install themes from trusted sources. Malicious themes can compromise your site’s security. Always download themes from the official Halo marketplace or reputable theme developers.

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Activating a theme

After installing a theme, you need to activate it to make it live on your site:
1

View installed themes

Navigate to Themes to see all installed themes.
2

Preview the theme

Click Preview to see how the theme looks with your content before activating it.
3

Activate the theme

Click the Activate button on the theme you want to use.
4

Verify activation

Visit your site’s homepage to confirm the new theme is active and displaying correctly.
When you activate a new theme, your content remains unchanged. Only the visual presentation changes. However, you may need to reconfigure menus and theme-specific settings.

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Configuring theme settings

Most themes provide customization options:
1

Access theme settings

Navigate to Themes, find your active theme, and click Settings or Configure.
2

Review available settings

Theme settings may include:
  • Color schemes and typography
  • Layout options (sidebar position, content width)
  • Menu assignments
  • Social media links
  • Custom logo and favicon
  • Footer configuration
  • Homepage settings
3

Adjust settings

Modify the settings according to your preferences. Many themes provide live preview or descriptions for each setting.
4

Save changes

Click Save to apply your theme settings. Changes appear on your site immediately.
Theme settings are stored separately from your content. If you switch themes and later return to a previous theme, your settings for that theme will be preserved.

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Understanding theme templates

Themes can provide custom templates for different content types:

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Post templates

Custom layouts for blog posts (e.g., “Full Width”, “Sidebar Left”, “Photo Gallery”).

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Page templates

Specialized layouts for pages (e.g., “Landing Page”, “Contact Page”, “Portfolio”).

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Category templates

Custom archive layouts for specific categories. To use a custom template:
1

Edit your content

Open the post, page, or category you want to apply a template to.
2

Open settings

Go to the Settings tab in the editor.
3

Select template

Choose a template from the Template dropdown menu.
4

Save changes

Click Save or Update to apply the template.
Available templates depend on your active theme. Each theme developer defines which templates are available and how they differ from the default layout.

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Updating themes

Keep your themes up-to-date to get new features, bug fixes, and security patches:
1

Check for updates

Navigate to Themes. Themes with available updates display an Update Available badge.
2

Review update details

Click on the theme to view the changelog and see what’s new in the update.
3

Backup your settings

Before updating, note your current theme settings or take screenshots in case you need to reconfigure.
4

Update the theme

Click the Update button. Halo will download and install the new version.
5

Verify the update

After updating, visit your site to ensure everything still looks and works correctly.
Theme updates may introduce breaking changes. Always check the theme’s changelog and test on a staging site if possible before updating on a live site.

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Uninstalling themes

To remove a theme you no longer need:
1

Deactivate the theme

If the theme is currently active, activate a different theme first. You cannot uninstall the active theme.
2

Navigate to themes

Go to Themes in the admin dashboard.
3

Delete the theme

Find the theme you want to remove and click the Delete button.
4

Confirm deletion

Confirm the action when prompted. The theme and its files will be permanently removed.
Uninstalling a theme also removes its settings and configuration. If you reinstall the theme later, you’ll need to reconfigure it from scratch.

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Troubleshooting theme issues

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Theme not displaying correctly

1

Clear cache

Navigate to Settings > Cache and clear your site’s cache.
2

Check theme requirements

Verify that your Halo version meets the theme’s requirements. This information is in the theme details.
3

Review theme settings

Ensure all required theme settings are configured correctly.
4

Check console errors

Open your browser’s developer console and look for JavaScript errors that might indicate theme issues.

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Theme conflicts

If you experience issues after installing or activating a theme:
1

Deactivate plugins

Temporarily deactivate plugins one by one to identify conflicts.
2

Switch to default theme

Activate a default or known-working theme to determine if the issue is theme-specific.
3

Check logs

Review system logs in Settings > Logs for error messages related to the theme.
4

Contact theme developer

If problems persist, contact the theme developer with details about your Halo version, plugins, and the specific issue.

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Theme development

If you want to create custom themes:
  • Refer to the Theme Development Guide in the developer documentation
  • Study existing themes to understand Halo’s theme structure
  • Use the theme development tools and APIs provided by Halo
  • Test thoroughly on different screen sizes and browsers

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Best practices for theme management

  • Choose compatible themes: Always check that themes support your Halo version
  • Keep themes updated: Regularly update themes to get security fixes and new features
  • Test before activating: Preview themes before activating them on a live site
  • Maintain backups: Back up your site before making major theme changes
  • Limit installed themes: Only keep themes you’re actively using to reduce maintenance overhead
  • Document customizations: Keep notes about custom settings and configurations
  • Use child themes: For extensive customizations, consider using child themes (if supported) to preserve changes during updates

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