# Child theme

## What is a child theme

A child theme is a theme that inherits the templates of another theme, the so-called parent theme. This is the safest and, so far, the most elegant way to make individual changes to the parent theme.

Use a child theme to make update-safe changes to your theme's code, e.g.

* on the structure of the templates
* to functions of the theme
* on CSS or SCSS code
* to javascript files
* make the compatibility between two extensions

Download child themes:

{% embed url="<https://themes.zenit.design>" %}
Download child themes
{% endembed %}

## I don't want to change anything, why is a child theme recommended anyway?

Even if you don't want to make any deep changes to the store at the moment, with a child theme you invest in the future with just a few clicks. You can't know today if you will never want to make adjustments or if you will have to make them.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Sometimes a child theme is needed to create compatibility between two extensions.
{% endhint %}

If a change is necessary and no child theme is installed yet, all configuration of the theme for the child theme has to be done again. It is therefore easier to use a child theme from the beginning!

## Create child theme via Plugin

> theme version 4.4.0 or higher | pro version

Since theme version 4.4.0, you have the option to generate a personalized child theme using our free child theme generator plugin and then customize it to your needs.

{% embed url="<https://store.shopware.com/en/zenit66399665516f/child-theme-generator-for-zenit-design-themes.html>" %}

## Update of a child theme (optional)

Occasionally, we may provide a new version of our child themes in addition to the main theme provided in the store.&#x20;

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Before updating** any of our child themes, please be sure to read our [update-guide](https://themedocs.zenit.design/en/configuration-sets#updates).
{% endhint %}