> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://sitesbyseth.gitbook.io/sitesbyseth-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://sitesbyseth.gitbook.io/sitesbyseth-docs/skeleton/getting-started/installing.md).

# Installing the theme

This takes about ten minutes and nothing goes live until you decide it does.

## Step 1: Find your theme zip

Your purchase email contains a download link. Download the file — it will be named something like `skeleton.zip`. Don't unzip it; Shopify wants the zip exactly as it is.

## Step 2: Upload the zip to Shopify

1. Log in to your Shopify admin.
2. Click **Online Store** in the left sidebar. You'll land on the **Themes** page.
3. Scroll down to the **Theme library** area.
4. Click **Add theme → Upload zip file**.
5. Click **Add file**, pick the zip you downloaded, and click **Upload file**.

Shopify takes a few seconds to process it. When it's done, **Skeleton** appears in your theme library.

## Step 3: Preview before you publish

Your current theme is still live — Skeleton is just sitting in the library. To look around safely:

1. On the Themes page, find Skeleton in the **Theme library** list.
2. Click the **…** (three dots) button next to it, then **Preview**.

You'll see your store wearing Skeleton, with your existing products, but only you can see this view. Browse a product page, open the cart, try the menu.

💡 While previewing you can also click **Customize** to start setting things up — everything you save stays private until the theme is published.

## Step 4: Publish when you're ready

1. Back on the Themes page, click **…** next to Skeleton, then **Publish**.
2. Confirm in the dialog.

That's it — Skeleton is now your live theme. Your old theme stays in the library, so you can switch back at any time.

⚠️ Publishing switches themes instantly. If you're mid-setup, either finish customizing first, or turn on your store password (see [Drop mode](/sitesbyseth-docs/skeleton/getting-started/drop-mode.md)) so visitors see the drop page instead of a half-finished store.

## Optional: connect via GitHub for auto-updates

If you'd rather receive theme updates automatically instead of re-uploading a zip each time, Skeleton can be delivered through Shopify's GitHub integration:

1. As a Skeleton buyer, you can request GitHub delivery — reply to your purchase email and ask for GitHub access. You'll be invited to a private repository for your copy of the theme.
2. In your Shopify admin, go to **Online Store → Themes → Add theme → Connect from GitHub**.
3. Log in to GitHub when prompted and pick the Skeleton repository and branch.

From then on, when an update is pushed to the repository, your theme copy updates automatically — no zip juggling. Your theme editor customizations (colors, section content, settings) are stored separately by Shopify and are preserved.

👉 More detail on both update paths in [Theme updates](/sitesbyseth-docs/skeleton/size-finder/updates.md).

## Next step

Head to [Setting up the homepage](/sitesbyseth-docs/skeleton/getting-started/homepage.md).


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://sitesbyseth.gitbook.io/sitesbyseth-docs/skeleton/getting-started/installing.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.