Customize template layout (Layouts module)

Layouts let you define default widgets for each layout file (template) your pages can use — for example the main _Layout.cshtml. This is site-wide, not per page.

Why use it?

  • Put a navigation widget or footer content once for every page that uses that layout.
  • Keep pages cleaner: only add widgets where a page needs unique content.

Precedence: page vs layout

For each region (placeholder):

  • If the page has at least one widget in that region → only page widgets show.
  • If the page has no widgets in that region → layout default widgets for that region show (if any).

In the page editor, you may see read-only “Layout default” cards in empty regions so the preview matches the live site.

Open Layouts

  1. Sign in to /admin.
  2. Click Layouts in the sidebar (requires Layouts permission).

Edit a layout

  1. Choose the layout file from the dropdown (only layouts valid for your site’s template appear).
  2. Drag widgets into regions the same way as on a page.
  3. Save.

Tips

  • Changing Branding → site template can change which layout files exist; review Layouts after a template switch.
  • Layout defaults use the same widget types as pages; see the documentation index for widget articles.

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