Update theme
Ensure your publication remains secure and high-performing by keeping Meridian up to date with the latest Ghost features.
To keep your site running smoothly and securely, we recommend that you always use the most recent Meridian version. The latest updates often include critical compatibility with the newest Ghost versions, plus performance enhancements, accessibility improvements, and editorial refinements.
Custom Code Warning
Any custom code modifications made directly to the theme files (outside of Ghost's Code Injection) will be erased when you update. Always keep a backup of your modifications, or move them into Settings → Code injection so they survive theme updates.
Important Preparation
Use the exact same file name as your current active theme zip (meridian.zip) to preserve all of your existing custom theme settings within Ghost Admin. Uploading under a different filename creates a new theme entry and resets your settings to defaults.
To update the theme
Follow these steps to safely upload and activate the latest version of Meridian.
Download the latest version
Download the latest Meridian zip that is compatible with your current Ghost version. Check the Compatibility Guide if you're not sure which line to use.
Open Design & branding
Navigate to Settings → Design & branding in your Ghost Admin and click Change theme.
Upload theme
In the top-right corner, click the Upload theme button and select the new meridian.zip. Ghost will detect that a theme of the same name already exists and prompt you to overwrite — confirm.
Activate
After a successful upload, click Activate to deploy the updated theme to your publication.
Hard refresh
Open your site in a new tab and do a hard refresh (Cmd-Shift-R on macOS, Ctrl-Shift-R on Windows/Linux) so the browser doesn't serve stale CSS or JavaScript from the previous version.
Always check the changelog
Before activating, skim the Changelog for the version you're upgrading to. If a release introduces a new theme setting or a renamed internal tag, you'll see it called out there.
Reader controls
A small popover in the masthead lets readers pick their text size and color mode. Their choices persist across visits and sync across tabs.
For developers
A brief appendix for self-builders — build commands, design tokens, file map, and the i18n workflow. Deeper architectural detail lives in the repo README and source.