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How To Fix the Framer Theme Switch Not Working?

It feels confusing when the theme switch in Framer stops working. You click the toggle and expect the site to switch from light mode to dark mode, but nothing changes. When this happens, your whole design flow breaks. This guide explains what the problem means, why it shows up, and nine easy fixes that help you get the theme switch working again.

What Is the Framer Theme Switch Issue?

What Is the Framer Theme Switch Issue

The theme switch problem happens when Framer cannot update the colors or styles that belong to your light and dark themes. The toggle may move, but the site does not update. Some layers change while others stay stuck. In other cases, the theme works in preview but not on the published site.

You may see this inside the Framer canvas, inside the preview window, or on the live URL after publishing. The UI may show fixed colors or outdated tokens. Sometimes the toggle works only on one page but not the others. It can show up after editing variables, moving components, or adding code overrides.

Common Causes of Framer Theme Switch Not Working

This issue happens for different reasons. Here are the most common causes:

  • Theme variables are not linked to the correct color tokens
  • The switch interaction points to the wrong variable
  • Components use fixed colors instead of theme tokens
  • Conflicting overrides or variants block the update
  • Published site still shows old cached styles
  • Custom code overrides stop the switch from applying
  • Outdated or mixed theme versions inside the project

How To Fix the Framer Theme Switch Not Working?

Different projects break in different ways. However, these nine fixes help most people get the theme toggle working again.

Fix #1: Check If All Layers Use Theme Variables

If even one layer uses a fixed color, it will not react to the theme switch.
Here are the following steps which help you check your layers:

  1. Select a layer in the canvas.
  2. Open the style panel.
  3. Look at the color source.
  4. Make sure it uses a theme token, not a hard color.
  5. Update the layer if needed.

Fix #2: Confirm the Theme Switch Interaction Is Linked Correctly

The switch needs to talk to the right theme variable. If the link is missing, nothing updates.
Follow the steps below to check it:

  1. Select your theme switch component.
  2. Open the interaction panel.
  3. Look for the variable it controls.
  4. Make sure the action flips between light and dark.
  5. Test the switch again.

Fix #3: Replace Fixed Colors With Theme Tokens

Fixed colors do not respond to theme changes. Only tokens do.
Try these simple steps to fix this quickly:

  1. Click a text, shape, or button.
  2. Open its color settings.
  3. Replace the solid color with a theme token.
  4. Save your changes.
  5. Try the toggle again.

Fix #4: Check Component Variants for Theme Inconsistencies

Some variants use different color sources. If one variant uses tokens and another uses fixed colors, the theme switch breaks.
You can perform the following steps to fix it:

  1. Open your component.
  2. Check each variant.
  3. Make sure colors come from tokens.
  4. Align the variants so they behave the same way.

Fix #5: Remove or Adjust Custom Code Overrides

Custom code can block updates to theme variables.
Below are the steps that will guide you:

  1. Find any code overrides attached to the component.
  2. Disable them for testing.
  3. Try the theme toggle again.
  4. Reintroduce code carefully once it works.

Fix #6: Refresh the Published Site and Clear CDN Cache

Sometimes the preview works, but the published site shows old cached styles.
Here’s how you can fix it in a few seconds:

  1. Publish your site again.
  2. Open the live URL.
  3. Hard refresh with Ctrl plus Shift plus R.
  4. Test the toggle.
  5. Clear browser cache if the site still shows old colors.

Fix #7: Test the Switch in a New Page or Component

A broken page can hide the real cause. Testing somewhere else helps you see if the problem is global or local.
Try these steps:

  1. Duplicate the theme switch component.
  2. Place it on a new page.
  3. Test the toggle.
  4. If it works, the original page has a conflict.

Fix #8: Update Theme Variables After You Change Structure

If you rename or reorganize theme variables, the switch may not find the updated tokens.
Steps to test this:

  1. Open the variables panel.
  2. Look at your theme tokens.
  3. Make sure the names match what the switch uses.
  4. Fix any broken links.

Fix #9: Restart Framer or Reinstall the Theme Component

Framer sometimes holds onto old data. A restart clears it.
If your theme switch comes from a community or marketplace component, reinstalling it may reset the broken parts.

Prevention Tips to Avoid Switch Errors

A few simple habits help keep the theme switch working smoothly:

  • Keep your theme tokens organized
  • Avoid using fixed colors in components
  • Test theme switching early in your project
  • Limit custom code overrides
  • Publish often to catch problems sooner
  • Document your theme structure
  • Keep components clean and consistent

Conclusion

In short, the theme switch problem in Framer usually comes from fixed colors, broken links, outdated tokens, or cached styles. Once you update your variables and check your interactions, the toggle starts working again.

Try each fix in this guide and see which one solves your case. If the issue keeps happening, look at Framer’s docs or reach out to the community for help. And if this guide helped you, feel free to share it so others can fix their theme switch too.

Published on December 8, 2025 under .

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