How Do I Make Changes to the Theme Files in Design Manager?
Assets downloaded from the marketplace are not directly editable and can not be downloaded locally.
This is to avoid conflicts with future updates and prevent usage of the assets outside of the licensed portal. However, you can still customize the theme by creating a Child Theme.
Warning: Creating a Child Theme and cloning a theme are two separate actions. If you clone a theme, that clone will not receive any available theme updates. We recommend creating a Child Theme over cloning so you can continue receiving updates, and there’s less possibility of accidentally breaking the original code.
Understanding Theme File Limitations in HubSpot
When you purchase a theme from the HubSpot Marketplace, the theme files are automatically protected to maintain licensing compliance and ensure proper functionality. This means you cannot directly edit template files, CSS stylesheets, or JavaScript assets through the Design Manager’s file editor, nor can you download these files to modify them locally on your computer.
This protection system serves multiple purposes for your HubSpot portal. First, it prevents accidental modifications that could break your website’s functionality or cause display issues across your pages. Second, it ensures that when theme developers release updates with new features, bug fixes, or security improvements, your portal can seamlessly receive these updates without overwriting your customizations.
Working Within the System
Despite these limitations, you have several powerful customization options available. The HubSpot page editor allows you to modify content, swap out images, and adjust module settings without touching the underlying code. You can also access global theme settings through the Design Manager, where you’ll find options to customize colors, fonts, spacing, and other design elements that the theme developer has made available.
For more advanced customizations that require code changes, creating a child theme is your best approach. This method allows you to override specific template files or add custom CSS while maintaining the connection to the parent theme for future updates. Your child theme will inherit all the parent theme’s functionality while giving you the freedom to customize specific elements.
Best Practices for Theme Management
Always test customizations on a staging environment before applying them to your live site, and document any changes you make for future reference.