Getting started with ThemeForge
Everything you need to generate and install your first Shopify theme.
On this page
How ThemeForge works
ThemeForge uses Claude AI to write a complete Shopify 2.0 theme based on your brand inputs. Here's the full flow from start to install:
- 1
Create a free account
Sign up with email, Google, or GitHub. No credit card required for the free plan.
- 2
Complete the 5-step wizard
Tell us your store name, industry, visual style, brand colors, sample products, and homepage sections. Each step takes under a minute.
- 3
Wait ~2 minutes
The AI generates your theme in real time. You'll see a progress indicator as it writes each file — layout, templates, sections, CSS, and config.
- 4
Download your ZIP
When generation completes, click "Download theme." You'll get a ZIP file ready to upload to Shopify.
- 5
Upload to Shopify
In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store → Themes → Add theme → Upload zip file. Done in under a minute.
Tips for a better theme
The more specific your inputs, the more tailored the output. Here's what makes the biggest difference:
Write a detailed store description
This is the most important field. Don't just write "we sell clothes." Describe your audience, what makes your brand unique, and the feeling you want customers to have.
Instead of:
"We sell outdoor gear."
Try:
"We sell premium hiking gear for weekend adventurers — people who want performance without the ultra-technical feel of mountaineering brands. Our customers are 25-40, value sustainability, and appreciate clean design."
Be specific in the Mood/Vibe field
Use comparisons and references. "Warm and approachable, like a neighborhood coffee shop" gives the AI more to work with than "friendly."
Add real product descriptions
Product descriptions on Step 4 are optional but help the AI generate realistic product card copy. A few words about each product goes a long way.
Choose colors with contrast in mind
Make sure your text color and background color have enough contrast to be readable. A light background (#FFFFFF) paired with a dark text (#111111) always works. Your primary color shows on buttons — it should stand out from the background.
Installing your theme on Shopify
After downloading your theme ZIP, install it in three steps:
- 1
Open the Themes section in Shopify
In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store → Themes. You'll see your current theme at the top and a "Theme library" section below.
- 2
Upload your ZIP
Click Add theme → Upload zip file. Select the ZIP you downloaded from ThemeForge and click Upload. Shopify will validate and install the files — this takes about 15 seconds.
- 3
Preview, customize, then publish
Click Customize to open the theme editor and see a live preview of your theme with your actual products. When you're happy, click the Publish button to make it your live storefront theme.
Installing is safe
Uploading a new theme does not affect your products, collections, or orders. Your current live theme stays active until you explicitly publish the new one.
Troubleshooting
Generation failed or timed out
Click "Generate theme" again. Generation occasionally fails due to API timeouts. Your inputs are saved — you won't need to re-enter them. If it fails repeatedly, try reducing the number of homepage sections selected.
"Free tier limit reached" error
You've used your one free generation for the month. Your limit resets on the first of next month, or you can upgrade to Pro for unlimited generations.
Shopify says the ZIP is invalid
Make sure you're uploading the ZIP file you downloaded from ThemeForge — don't unzip and re-zip it, as this can corrupt the file structure. If the issue persists, re-download from your Dashboard and try again.
My colors don't look right in the theme
Color values must be in 6-digit hex format (e.g., #3B82F6). After installing, you can update colors directly in the Shopify theme editor under Theme settings → Colors.
I can't log in with Google or GitHub
OAuth login requires pop-ups to be allowed in your browser. Check that pop-ups are not blocked for this site. If you signed up with email originally, use email login instead.
I lost my download — can I re-download?
Yes. All your generated themes are saved to your account. Visit your Dashboard, find the theme, and click the Download button to get a fresh ZIP. Pro users have access to their full theme history.
Downloading & managing your themes
Every theme you generate is saved to your account automatically.
Find your themes
Go to the Dashboard (top nav → Dashboard). Each theme card shows the store name, industry, style, and when it was created.
Re-download at any time
Click the Download button on any theme card to get a fresh ZIP. Pro users can re-download any theme from their history. Free users can re-download their most recently generated theme.
Deleting a theme
Click the Delete button on a theme card and confirm. Deletion is permanent — make sure you have a copy downloaded before deleting.
Didn't find your answer?
Check the FAQ for more questions, or reach out to support.