Configuration

Every Chroma setting lives in LocalSettings.php in the wiki root. Save, refresh — no database change or server restart.

Most likely changes

I want to…	Setting	Values
Change the default color	`$wgChromaDefaultSeed`	see the eight presets below
Default to dark	`$wgChromaDefaultScheme`	`dark`, `light`, `system`
Default to reading layout	`$wgChromaDefaultLayout`	`reading`, `app`
Start articles in reading mode	`$wgChromaDefaultReadingMode`	`true`, `false`
Prevent users changing color	`$wgChromaAllowUserColor`	`false`
Prevent users changing layout	`$wgChromaAllowUserLayout`	`false`
Prevent users changing reading mode	`$wgChromaAllowUserReadingMode`	`false`

Change the default color

php

$wgChromaDefaultSeed = '#0061A4'; // blue

Only eight presets exist:

Color	Value
Teal (default)	`#006A6A`
Blue	`#0061A4`
Green	`#386A20`
Violet	`#6750A4`
Rose	`#984061`
Amber	`#7D5700`
Indigo	`#4355B9`
Lime	`#4C6700`

Any other value falls back to Teal. For deeper customization, see Themes & color.

Default light/dark scheme

php

$wgChromaDefaultScheme = 'dark';

system: follow the visitor's OS;
light: light;
dark: dark.

This is only a default; if user overrides are enabled, visitors can still switch from the top bar or Preferences.

Default layout

php

$wgChromaDefaultLayout = 'reading';

app: top bar, left drawer, right TOC;
reading: no drawer or TOC, centered content.

Users can switch from the top bar's Display options.

Default reading mode

php

$wgChromaDefaultReadingMode = true;

When true, article pages start in reading mode: the TOC and page actions are hidden and content is constrained. Special: pages are unaffected.

Allow or block user overrides

php

$wgChromaAllowUserColor = true;
$wgChromaAllowUserLayout = true;
$wgChromaAllowUserReadingMode = true;

When false, values saved by users are ignored and the site default wins.

Public wikis usually keep these true; internal wikis can lock the visuals.

Full example

php

wfLoadSkin( 'Chroma' );
$wgDefaultSkin = 'chroma';

$wgChromaDefaultSeed = '#006A6A';
$wgChromaDefaultScheme = 'system';
$wgChromaDefaultLayout = 'app';
$wgChromaDefaultReadingMode = false;

$wgChromaAllowUserColor = true;
$wgChromaAllowUserLayout = true;
$wgChromaAllowUserReadingMode = true;

Logo and favicon

Chroma shows a logo only when a real $wgLogos is configured:

php

$wgLogos = [
    '1x' => "$wgResourceBasePath/resources/assets/logo.png",
    'icon' => "$wgResourceBasePath/resources/assets/icon.png",
];

Without $wgLogos, Chroma shows the site name only and never generates an initial-letter placeholder.

The favicon is controlled by MediaWiki core:

php

$wgFavicon = "$wgResourceBasePath/favicon.ico";

Small CSS overrides

Use MediaWiki:Chroma.css:

css

:root {
  --md-sys-color-primary: #005a5a;
}

Do not edit files in skins/Chroma/resources/styles/; updates overwrite them.

Changes not applying?

Confirm you edited the root LocalSettings.php;
check for PHP syntax errors (a missing semicolon can white-screen the site);
purge caches and refresh;
if you set $wgChromaAllowUser* = false, old user preferences may still be cached; log out/in or clear cache.

Configuration ​

Most likely changes ​

Change the default color ​

Default light/dark scheme ​

Default layout ​

Default reading mode ​

Allow or block user overrides ​

Full example ​

Logo and favicon ​

Small CSS overrides ​

Changes not applying? ​

Related ​