Theme YAML – Use YAML instead JSON for your theme.json settings and styles
Theme Yaml converts your theme.yaml file into theme.json so that you can configure your theme with YAML. It has the benefit of being able to add comments and is more concise than JSON. The generated theme.json is left…
Consider an alternative
Theme YAML shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 3 years ago, and scores 29/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 3 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.3 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Theme YAML stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| settings | >100 |
| styles | >100 |
| theme | >100 |
| theme.json | #59 |
| yaml | #44 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5 from 2 reviews
About Theme YAML
From the official readme · v1.3.0Description
Theme Yaml converts your theme.yaml file into theme.json so that you can configure your theme with YAML. It has the benefit of being able to add comments and is more concise than JSON. The generated theme.json is left as a one liner by default, so that you can see it is generated. This however can be changed through the ‘theme_yaml_json_pretty_print’ filter.
The plugin automatically looks for a theme.yaml file in the active theme’s root folder when a page is loaded. If found, it will check its last modified time and store the value in the database. If there are new modifications, the plugin parses theme.yaml, converts it to JSON, and writes it to the theme.json file.
If the active theme is a child, it will also automatically run through this process for its parent.
Configuration
Add a theme.yaml file with your theme settings in your theme’s root directory. If you already have an existing theme.json file, you can convert it to the YAML format using an online tool. I personally use https://www.json2yaml.com/. The plugin will then convert the theme.yaml file into JSON and save it to the theme.json file.
Installation
- Upload
theme-yamlto the/wp-content/plugins/directory - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
Frequently asked questions
How does the plugin work?
The plugin automatically looks for a theme.yaml file in the active theme’s root folder when a page is loaded. If found, it will check its last modified time and store the value in the database. If there are new modifications, the plugin parses theme.yaml, converts it to JSON, and writes it to the theme.json file.
Does it work for child as well as for parent themes?
If the active theme is a child, it will also automatically run through this process for its parent and the child.
Is there a way to pretty print the JSON file?
I left the generated theme.json file intentionally a one liner, so everybody can see it is generated. But if you would like to change this you can use the following filter to make the JSON file more readable: ` function pretty_print_json() { return true; } add_filter(‘theme_yaml_json_pretty_print’, ‘pretty_print_json’); `
Changelog
Nothing to consider.
1.3.0
Updated composer packages
1.2.0
Added backup for theme.json
1.1.1
Fixed readme formatting
1.1.0
Changed settings to output the theme.json file in a more readable way. Also added a filter to change the JSON encoding flags. Kindly suggested by Justin Tadlock in his review of this plugin here: https://wptavern .com/new-plugin-for-writing-wordpress-theme-json-files-via-yaml
1.0.0
- Initial Release of the plugin
For developers
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Best Theme YAML alternatives
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FAQ
Theme YAML: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 16, 2026
Is Theme YAML free?
Yes. Theme YAML is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Theme YAML safe to use in 2026?
Theme YAML shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites, is rated 4.5/5 and was last updated 3 years ago, and scores 29/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Theme YAML?
Theme YAML is active on 10+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 1,521 times since it launched in March 2022. It was downloaded 37 times in the last 30 days.
Does Theme YAML work with WordPress 7.1?
Theme YAML is officially tested up to WordPress 6.3.13, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Theme YAML need?
Theme YAML requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Theme YAML last updated?
The latest version, 1.3.0, was released on September 22, 2023 (3 years ago).
Who makes Theme YAML?
Theme YAML is developed and maintained by landwire.
What are the best alternatives to Theme YAML?
The most popular alternatives to Theme YAML are One Click Demo Import (1M+ installs), CMB2 (300K+ installs) and Import / Export Customizer… (50K+ installs).
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