# Trouble installing a theme

**URL:** <https://discourse.gohugo.io/t/trouble-installing-a-theme/53308>\
**Category:** support\
**Created:** [January 28, 2025, 11:07pm UTC](https://discourse.gohugo.io/t/trouble-installing-a-theme/53308 "2025-01-28T23:07:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![regismsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.gohugo.io/regismsr/32/23806_2.png) [@regismsr](https://discourse.gohugo.io/u/regismsr)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 11:07pm UTC](https://discourse.gohugo.io/t/trouble-installing-a-theme/53308/1 "2025-01-28T23:07:54Z")

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Hey everyone,

I honestly feel like I’m losing my mind here. Hugo is supposed to be easy—static sites, simple themes, fast deployment. And yet, after **countless attempts** , I still can’t even get a theme to install properly.

I’ve tried **submodules, cloning directly, placing themes in subfolders, deploying on Netlify** … you name it. I’ve gone through about **15 themes** (including Meghna), and every single time, I run into some sort of issue—broken layouts, missing dependencies, config conflicts, or things just not working as expected.

At this point, I don’t know if the issue is **me** (which is seriously making me doubt myself) or if there’s a **catch** that isn’t obvious to newcomers. Are some themes just outdated? Do I need a very specific Hugo version? Is there something crucial that’s always left out in the documentation?

I’d really appreciate any guidance, insights, or even just reassurance that I’m not the only one struggling with something that’s supposed to be “easy.”

**PS:** If someone has a 100% foolproof, step-by-step guide that works in 2025, I’d be eternally grateful. 🚀

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**Author:** ![tyco](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.gohugo.io/tyco/32/23754_2.png) [@tyco](https://discourse.gohugo.io/u/tyco)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://discourse.gohugo.io/t/trouble-installing-a-theme/53308/2 "2025-01-28T23:57:06Z")

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> [@regismsr](#):
>
> Hugo is supposed to be easy

Nope! It has a learning curve. See [Requesting Help](https://discourse.gohugo.io/t/requesting-help/9132#some-knowledge-required-2).

> [@regismsr](#):
>
> I’ve tried **submodules, cloning directly, placing themes in subfolders, deploying on Netlify** …

You jumped the gun here by trying too much at once. Go back to [Quick start | Hugo](https://gohugo.io/getting-started/quick-start/) and begin afresh.

> [@regismsr](#):
>
> I’ve gone through about **15 themes** (including Meghna), and every single time, I run into some sort of issue—broken layouts, missing dependencies, config conflicts, or things just not working as expected.

Every theme has its own documentation on setting it up. Read up on that alongside the Quick Start guide.

> [@regismsr](#):
>
> Are some themes just outdated?

Yes! Hugo is in constant development and authors don’t keep up.

> [@regismsr](#):
>
> Do I need a very specific Hugo version?

Many themes will indicate the supported Hugo version, either in the readme file, documentation or config file.

> [@regismsr](#):
>
> Is there something crucial that’s always left out in the documentation?

Use the documentation as a reference rather than a tutorial.

> [@regismsr](#):
>
> If someone has a 100% foolproof, step-by-step guide that works in 2025, I’d be eternally grateful.

The Quick Start guide!

Note that you might need to set up newer Hugo versions in Netlify via an environment variable.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![regismsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/discourse.gohugo.io/regismsr/32/23806_2.png) [@regismsr](https://discourse.gohugo.io/u/regismsr)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2025, 12:12pm UTC](https://discourse.gohugo.io/t/trouble-installing-a-theme/53308/3 "2025-01-29T12:12:50Z")

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Thanks for your insight !