How to Install Elgg Themes

May 9th, 2009 Jeremy Winter Elgg • Technology • Web Development 2 Comments

Installing Elgg themes is a relatively easy task, but at times can be a bit confusing. One example would be the white-screen-of-death which has a way of sneaking up on us Elgg users. Here is a Quick rundown of the steps needed to install your new theme and some steps to help if the installation doesn’t go too smoothly.

Steps to Install Your New Elgg Theme

  1. Extract the contents of your downloaded theme zip file to the Mod directory in your Elgg install. By default your file structure should look something like this

    elgg/mod/your_new_theme_folder

  2. Log into your Elgg installation as a administrator
  3. At the top, navigate to Administration >> Tool Administration
  4. Look for your new theme in the list of installed tools\plugins and click enable
  5. Last but not least, find your new theme in the the list again and click the link called “bottom”

The reason for the final step is to force the theme to be loaded first instead of all of your other plugins. Definitely a good idea.

Troubleshooting a Theme Gone Wrong

If your new theme or current theme ever leaves you with a white blank screen and you cant access your site simply:

  1. Backup the theme, if you have made changes
  2. Delete the new theme directory
  3. Now your site should revert to the default theme
  4. If it doesn’t, your new theme is probably not the issue
  5. You can now attempt to reinstall your theme

If your looking for a new theme right now you may want to try out one of my two new themes: Custom Blue for Elgg 1.5 and Custom White for Elgg 1.5

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Recycle Computers and TVs in Portland OR
Natural Brown Theme for Elgg 1.5

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2 Comments

  1. medicaltalk
    August 17, 2009


    very good info,so i followed these things up to install elgg here in my server http://medicaltalk.net/
    am excited

  2. Uttam K Sinha
    September 23, 2011


    your post help me for using elgg theme for my website. thank you.