# Shortcodes with no theme

**URL:** <https://discourse.gohugo.io/t/shortcodes-with-no-theme/35544>\
**Category:** support\
**Created:** [November 11, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://discourse.gohugo.io/t/shortcodes-with-no-theme/35544 "2021-11-11T16:22:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![liuteriadautore](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.gohugo.io/liuteriadautore/32/15592_2.png) [@liuteriadautore](https://discourse.gohugo.io/u/liuteriadautore)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 4:22pm UTC](https://discourse.gohugo.io/t/shortcodes-with-no-theme/35544/1 "2021-11-11T16:22:57Z")

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Trying to use shortcodes under /layouts/shortcodes, with no theme (styling inside main source folder) yet hugo fail to find them. If I put them in a theme, however, they work… how can I code shortcodes without rely on themes?

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**Author:** ![alexandros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@alexandros](https://discourse.gohugo.io/u/alexandros)\
**Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://discourse.gohugo.io/t/shortcodes-with-no-theme/35544/2 "2021-11-11T17:26:21Z")

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You need to provide a sample repo with your project’s structure for people in this forum to have a look, as shortcodes are available without a theme `under /layouts/shortcodes`.

A theme is not required for a Hugo project. Everything goes under the top level `/layouts/`directory.