---
title: "Changing the DokuWiki template"
description: "DokuWiki is a free Open Source Software that has many templates available for free online. Switching templates within the administration section is very simple compared to other wiki software. While..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/dokuwiki/change-template-dokuwiki/
date: 2012-12-27
modified: 2021-08-16
author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor"
categories: ["DokuWiki"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Changing the DokuWiki template

[![The DokuWiki front page](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_dokuwiki-template.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_dokuwiki-template.gif)

DokuWiki is a free Open Source Software that has many templates available for free online. Switching templates within the administration section is very simple compared to other wiki software. While some wiki programs require the code to be edited on the server to change the template, DokuWiki just has a simple drop box where you can change the template in the admin area.

There is a great repository of free templates available at [DokuWiki](https://www.dokuwiki.org/start?do=search&id=template). The snapshot to the right shows what the intitial installed DokuWiki template looks like. This article will explain how to change the DokuWiki template to Default, upload a free template, and switch the theme and sidebar options within the Round Corner template.

## Changing the DokuWiki template to the Default template

When DokuWiki is first installed, the initial template that loads is the DokuWiki template. The other template that comes with DokuWiki is the Default template. The following will explain how to switch the template from the DokuWiki template to the Default Template.

1. [**Log into DokuWiki**](/support/edu/dokuwiki/login-dokuwiki/).
2. [![To Change the template click admin link](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_change-template-dokuwiki-1-click-admin.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_change-template-dokuwiki-1-click-admin.gif) **Click** the **Admin** link at the top.
3. [![To change template dokuwiki click config settings](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_change-template-dokuwiki-2-click-config-settings.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_change-template-dokuwiki-2-click-config-settings.gif) **Select** the **Configuration Settings** link in the Administration.
4. [![To change template dokuwiki select default](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_change-template-dokuwiki-3-select-default.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_change-template-dokuwiki-3-select-default.gif) On the DokuWiki settings page, **Select Default** from the “*Template aka the design of the wiki*” drop box.
5. [![To change template dokuwiki save](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_change-template-dokuwiki-4-save.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_change-template-dokuwiki-4-save.gif) **Click Save**. [![The default dokuwiki template](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_default-dokuwiki-template.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_default-dokuwiki-template.gif) Now the appearance of your DokuWiki site will have the Default template displayed.

## Uploading a free DokuWiki theme

[![dokuwiki roundbox template download site](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_dokuwiki-roundbox-template-download.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_dokuwiki-roundbox-template-download.gif)

By Default, a new installation of DokuWiki only has the DokuWiki and Default templates. In this section, we will upload the Round Corner template to the server. Download the Round Corner Template from the following link.

[www.dokuwiki.org/template:roundbox](https://www.dokuwiki.org/template:roundbox)

The file should have the following file name when you download it.

template_roundbox_20110102.zip

1. [**Login to your cPanel**](/support/edu/cpanel/how-to-log-into-cpanel/)
2. [**Go to the File Manager**](/support/edu/cpanel/using-file-manager-in-cpanel/)
3. **Navigate to the public_html/yourfolder/lib/tpl folder** and **upload the .zip file**. **Note!** Replace “yourfolder” in the path with the directory your dokuwiki was installed to.
4. [**Extract the .zip file **](/support/edu/cpanel/compressing-uncompressing-files/)to the following: public_html/yourfolder/lib/tpl [![dokuwiki roundbox template in the file manager](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_dokuwiki-roundbox-template-1-file-manager.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_dokuwiki-roundbox-template-1-file-manager.gif) The folder for the Round Corner theme will show with the other templates like the snapshot to the right.
5. [**Log into DokuWiki**](/support/edu/dokuwiki/login-dokuwiki/) as admin.
6. [![dokuwiki roundbox template settings](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_dokuwiki-roundbox-template-2-settings.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_dokuwiki-roundbox-template-2-settings.gif) **Go to Admin > Configuration settings**.
7. Scroll to the bottom and **click Save**. [![dokuwiki roundbox template home page](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_dokuwiki-roundbox-template-3-home-page.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_dokuwiki-roundbox-template-3-home-page.gif) Now your Dokuwiki site will have the Round Corner theme

### Changing the theme on the Round Corner template

The theme is different than the template. The template is the over all “*Skin*” of the site. The Theme is a setting that can be changed for the template. Not all templates have this option. The DokuWiki theme for example does not have the *Template settings* available. The followinf steps will explain how to change the theme in the Round Corner template

1. [**Log into DokuWiki**](/support/edu/dokuwiki/login-dokuwiki/).
2. **Go to Admin > Configuration settings.**
3. [![Changing the Round Corner theme](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_template-settings-dokuwiki-1-roundbox-themes.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_template-settings-dokuwiki-1-roundbox-themes.gif) On the *Template settings* section, **select haze** from the *Theme* drop box..
4. [![Round Corner Haze Theme](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_template-settings-dokuwiki-2-haze-theme.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_template-settings-dokuwiki-2-haze-theme.gif) **Click Save**. Now your DokuWiki will have the “*Haze*” theme for the Round Corber template. See image on the right.

### Changing the template sidebar setting from left to right

1. [**Log into DokuWiki**](/support/edu/dokuwiki/login-dokuwiki/).
2. **Go to Admin > Configuration settings.**
3. [![Setting for the sidebar in round corner theme](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_template-settings-dokuwiki-3-sidebar-right.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_template-settings-dokuwiki-3-sidebar-right.gif) In the *Template Settings*, **select right** from the *Sidebar position*.
4. [![Sidebar on the right of the Round Corner template](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_template-settings-dokuwiki-4-home-page.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/edu_dokuwiki_102_changing-dokuwiki-theme_template-settings-dokuwiki-4-home-page.gif) **Click Save**. The template sidebar is now on the right like the snapshot.