Title: Saving Widgets by Theme?
Last modified: August 18, 2016

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# Saving Widgets by Theme?

 *  [coldphilter](https://wordpress.org/support/users/coldphilter/)
 * (@coldphilter)
 * [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/saving-widgets-by-theme/)
 * Hello,
 * I have a question I hope you can answer. I am currently testing several themes
   for WordPress on my site (alexlandis.com), and would like to give my visitors
   to switch themes themselves if they want. I have found the “theme switcher” plugin
   for this.
 * My question comes from the use of widgets. Some of the themes are very different
   from one another and I don’t want them sharing the same widget list. Is it possible
   to save the widgets you are using on a per theme basis so you don’t have to change
   them each time you change the theme?
 * I figure there might be a plugin for this, or an option I can change but I couldn’t
   find either. Thanks for the help in advance!

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  [Ron Pemberton](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ronaldp423/)
 * (@ronaldp423)
 * [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/saving-widgets-by-theme/#post-584747)
 * I would also like to know the answer to this.
 *  [Root](https://wordpress.org/support/users/root/)
 * (@root)
 * [19 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/saving-widgets-by-theme/#post-584770)
 * This is a very interesting question with a lot of implications.
 *  Thread Starter [coldphilter](https://wordpress.org/support/users/coldphilter/)
 * (@coldphilter)
 * [18 years, 12 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/saving-widgets-by-theme/#post-584861)
 * Does anyone know of such a plugin?
 *  [barnz2k](https://wordpress.org/support/users/barnz2k/)
 * (@barnz2k)
 * [18 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/saving-widgets-by-theme/#post-584991)
 * according to [THIS SITE](http://internetducttape.com/2007/04/09/howto-design-a-variable-sidebar-wordpress-theme-with-widgets/)
 * > The Widgets plugin has the capability of saving widget schemes on a per template
   > basis but that is only if the sidebar names are unique. Otherwise the information
   > will be overwritten by the new sidebar widget scheme if it has the same name
 * Ive managed to individually name my sidebars now, and it registers inside the
   widgets sidebar management – but its still not saving them. So not sure but maybe
   this is the direction at least??
 *  [barnz2k](https://wordpress.org/support/users/barnz2k/)
 * (@barnz2k)
 * [18 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/saving-widgets-by-theme/#post-584992)
 * Well this is a pretty hacked up method, but its the only
    thing I have working
   right now..
 * For only 2 themes this isnt so bad..Sorry CP this might be too painful for “several
   themes”!
 * create the same sidebars in BOTH themes and name them something you can remember
 * – In functions.php (in each template folder), adjust your register_sidebar code
   to something like:
 * > `
   >  register_sidebar(array(‘name’=>’Theme 1 bar 1’)); register_sidebar(array(‘
   > name’=>’Theme 1 bar 2’)); register_sidebar(array(‘name’=>’Theme 2 bar 1’));
   > register_sidebar(array(‘name’=>’Theme 2 bar 2’));`
 * Then use [MartinStudio’s](http://marstonstudio.com/index.php/2007/07/17/multiple-wordpress-widget-sidebars)
   code to call the particular sidebars in each theme’s sidebar.php, and to duplicate
   widgets to use more than once. You dont have to use his statements per page etc
   if you just want to change per theme – so take out the If satements and just 
   make it whatever you need..
 * – ie, for theme 2 sidebar 1 it would be:
 * > `$sidebar_index=3;`
 * – For duping the widgets just copy his instructions for whatever widget you want
   more of.
 * NOW when you go to the widgets sidebar management you will see all 4 sidebars
   and be able to put multiple copies of the same widget on any sidebar.
 * Then when you switch themes the same sidebars are always shown in manager, but
   you should only see the 2 related sidebars on the site! 🙂
 * I cant link to mine cause its all Local right now. but it works. and its friday.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘Saving Widgets by Theme?’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [save](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/save/)
 * [Saving](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/saving/)
 * [Themes](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/themes/)
 * [widget](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/widget/)
 * [widgets](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/widgets/)

 * 5 replies
 * 4 participants
 * Last reply from: [barnz2k](https://wordpress.org/support/users/barnz2k/)
 * Last activity: [18 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/saving-widgets-by-theme/#post-584992)
 * Status: not resolved

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