Prime Direction

Updating Your Theme

Keep your theme up to date to get the latest features, improvements, and bug fixes.

Before You Update#

Important: If you've made direct modifications to the theme files, those changes will be overwritten when you update. Make sure to back up your customizations before updating.

What's Preserved During Updates#

The following will not be affected when you update:

  • Content (posts, pages, tags, authors)
  • Ghost settings and configuration
  • Theme settings in Design → Customize → Theme
  • Code added via Code Injection
  • Uploaded images and files

What May Need Re-applying#

If you've modified theme files directly:

  • Custom CSS added to theme files (not Code Injection)
  • Modified template files (.hbs)
  • Custom JavaScript in theme files

How to Update#

Step 1: Download the Latest Version#

  1. Log in to your Lemon Squeezy account
  2. Find your Echo purchase
  3. Download the latest echo.zip file

Step 2: Upload the New Theme#

  1. Log in to your Ghost admin at yoursite.com/ghost/
  2. Go to Settings → Design
  3. Click Change theme
  4. Click Upload theme
  5. Select the new echo.zip file
  6. Click Activate

Step 3: Check Routes (If Updated)#

Check the Changelog to see if the routes.yaml file has changed. If so:

  1. Go to Settings → Advanced → Labs
  2. Upload the new routes.yaml file from the theme package

Step 4: Verify Your Site#

After updating:

  1. Visit your homepage and check that everything looks correct
  2. Test navigation and key pages
  3. Verify that member features work (if applicable)
  4. Clear your browser cache if you see old styles

Re-applying Customizations#

If you had custom modifications:

  1. Compare your backed-up files with the new theme files
  2. Carefully re-apply your changes to the new files
  3. Test thoroughly after each change

Pro Tip: For future updates, consider using Ghost Code Injection instead of modifying theme files directly. Code Injection changes are preserved during updates.

Checking Your Theme Version#

To find your current theme version:

  1. Go to Settings → Design
  2. Look at the theme name — the version is displayed there
  3. Or check the package.json file in the theme

Compare with the latest version in the Changelog.

Troubleshooting Update Issues#

Theme won't upload#

  • Make sure you're uploading the .zip file, not extracted files
  • Check that the file isn't corrupted — try re-downloading
  • Clear browser cache and try again

Site looks broken after update#

  1. Clear your browser cache (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R)
  2. Check if routes.yaml needs to be updated
  3. Review the changelog for any required configuration changes

Settings were reset#

Ghost design settings should be preserved. If they're reset:

  1. Check the changelog for setting changes
  2. Reconfigure settings in Design → Customize → Theme

Need Help?#

If you encounter issues during the update process, contact our support team with:

  • Your previous theme version
  • The new version you're updating to
  • Description of any issues
  • Screenshots if applicable