How to customize a Wix Studio Template
- Jul 16
- 7 min read
Picking a Wix Studio template is only the beginning.
Whether you're creating a website for your business or for a client, knowing what to customize first can save you hours of work—and help you avoid mistakes that are difficult to fix later.
This guide walks you through the entire process, from accepting the template invitation to publishing your website. We'll focus on the fastest workflow, explain where every setting lives inside Wix Studio, and highlight the mistakes worth avoiding along the way.
Table of Contents
Getting started
Managing your website
Preparing for launch
Going live
Accept the invitation and access your new website
When someone shares a Wix Studio template with you, you'll receive an invitation by email from Wix.
If you already have a Wix account, simply accept the invitation.
If not, you'll first need to create a free Wix account. Once that's done, the website will automatically appear inside your Workspace.
From there, everything happens from your site's dashboard.
💡 Tip: Don't create a new website from scratch. The shared template already contains the design, structure and features you'll customize throughout this guide.
Start with Site Styles (not the content)
From your dashboard, click:
Edit Site → Full Mode
This opens the complete Wix Studio editor.
Before replacing any text or image, customize your site's visual identity.
Open Site Styles and update:
Primary and secondary colors
Heading fonts
Body font
Buttons
Links
These changes apply across the entire website, keeping every page consistent without editing elements one by one.
You'll immediately see the result inside the editor.
Once you're happy with the overall look, save your changes (Ctrl + S) and close the editor.
Why start here?
Because branding affects every page. Updating colors and typography first makes the rest of the customization process much faster.
Edit your content in Content Mode
Now that your branding is in place, it's time to replace the demo content.
From the dashboard, click:
Edit Site → Content Mode
Unlike Full Mode, Content Mode lets you focus on your content without risking accidental layout changes.
Replace:
text
images
videos
buttons
testimonials
calls to action
Simply click the element you want to edit and use the panel on the right.
To move between pages, use the page selector located in the top-left corner of the editor.
Work through the website one page at a time until all placeholder content has been replaced.
When you're done, save your changes and exit the editor.
Update your CMS collections (if your template uses Wix CMS)
Some Wix Studio templates include dynamic pages powered by Wix CMS.
Instead of editing each page individually, you'll manage the content directly from the dashboard.
Go to:
CMS → Collections
Open the collection you want to edit and replace the sample content with your own. Ideally, create new rows with your own content and delete the demo rows. This way, you won't risk having URL slugs issues.
Depending on the template, collections may contain:
portfolio projects
blog categories
services
destinations
team members
testimonials
The layout is already connected to the collection, so updating the content automatically updates every connected page.
💡 Tip: Keep the same content structure whenever possible. If a field expects an image, upload an image. If it expects a title, enter a title. This prevents unexpected layout issues. Try to harmonize the length of your texts too.
Configure Wix apps from the dashboard
If your template includes Wix apps, you usually don't need to return to the editor.
Everything can be managed directly from your dashboard.
Examples include:
Wix Bookings
Wix Stores
Wix Blog
Wix Events
Wix Restaurants
Each app has its own settings, products, services or posts.
This separation makes ongoing management much easier once your website is live.
This is very well explained and documented within the app pages, but if you have any question, do not hestitate to reach out.
Review your forms before publishing
Every lead starts with a form that works properly.
To review the forms included in your template, go to:
Customers & Leads → Forms & Submissions
Here you can:
edit form fields
configure notifications
review submissions
adjust automations
Take a few minutes to submit each form yourself before publishing.
It's a simple check that can prevent missed enquiries later.
Optimize your SEO before going live
Your template already includes a solid SEO structure. Headings, page hierarchy and technical settings are already in place.
Now it's your turn to tell search engines what each page is about.
From your dashboard, go to:
Marketing & SEO → SEO & GEO
If you're new to Wix SEO, start with the SEO Setup Checklist. It covers the essentials and helps you avoid common mistakes.
Then open:
SEO Settings → Main Pages
For each page, update:
SEO title (Title tag)
Meta description
Social title (optional)
Social description (optional)
The goal isn't to stuff keywords everywhere. Instead, describe each page clearly and make people want to click when they find you on Google.
💡 Tip: Every page should have a unique SEO title and meta description. Duplicate metadata makes it harder for search engines to understand your website.
Check the tablet and mobile versions
Now it's time for a final quality check.
Open:
Edit Site → Full Mode
Switch between:
Desktop
Tablet
Mobile
Most well-designed Wix Studio templates already adapt beautifully across devices.
Your job isn't to redesign the website—it's simply to make sure your own content still fits correctly.
Pay special attention to:
long headings
large images
buttons
spacing
testimonials
galleries
Five minutes spent reviewing responsive layouts can save hours of support later.
Choose the right Wix Premium plan
Before publishing, you'll need a Premium plan.
The right plan depends on the features your website uses.
For example:
A portfolio website may only require a basic plan.
Wix Bookings requires a higher plan.
Wix Stores requires an ecommerce plan.
Other apps may also have Premium requirements.
Don't buy the most expensive plan automatically. Choose the one that matches your current needs—you can always upgrade later.
Connect your domain
Once you've chosen your Premium plan, it's time to connect your domain.
There are three common scenarios.
Your domain was purchased through Wix
This is the easiest option.
Simply assign the domain to your website from the dashboard.
Your domain is registered elsewhere, but you want Wix to manage everything
Use automatic DNS connection.
This transfers the DNS management to Wix while keeping your existing domain registrar.
Your domain is registered elsewhere and you want to keep managing DNS yourself
Use domain pointing.
This is often the preferred solution if you manage professional email hosting or other services outside Wix.
Choose the option that best matches your setup rather than changing providers unnecessarily.
Finish with your favicon and social sharing image
Your website is almost ready.
Before publishing, take a few minutes to update:
your favicon
your social sharing image
These details are often overlooked but have a real impact.
Your favicon appears in browser tabs, while your social image is displayed whenever someone shares your website on social media or messaging apps.
It's a small improvement that makes your website feel much more professional.
Review your dashboard settings
One final step before publishing.
Browse the different sections under Settings in your dashboard and make sure everything matches your business.
Depending on your website, you may need to configure:
business information
contact details
invoices
taxes
shipping
payment methods
booking preferences
legal pages
RGDP & cookie banner
If your template includes ecommerce or bookings, this step is essential.
Don't skip it.
Publish your website
Once you've finished customizing your website:
Preview it one last time.
Test your forms.
Check every important page.
Click Publish.
Your website is live.
The good news?
Publishing isn't the end of the project.
It's the beginning.
As visitors start using your website, you'll naturally discover small improvements. That's completely normal.
Launch first. Improve continuously.
Common mistakes to avoid
These are the mistakes we see most often when people customize a Wix Studio template for the first time.
Editing the layout instead of the content
If you're using Content Mode, stick to replacing text, images and buttons.
If you start moving sections or resizing elements, switch to Full Mode only if you understand how responsive layouts work.
Changing fonts one by one
Always update typography through Site Styles.
It's faster, cleaner and keeps your entire website consistent.
Starting with SEO
SEO should come after your content is finished.
There's little value in writing a perfect meta description for a page that still contains placeholder text.
Ignoring responsive layouts
Desktop isn't enough.
Always review your website on tablet and mobile before publishing.
Publishing without testing
Click every button.
Submit every form.
Open every page.
Five minutes of testing is worth far more than apologizing to your first visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I customize every part of a Wix Studio template?
Yes. Colors, typography, layouts, content, images and apps can all be customized to match your business.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Everything covered in this guide can be done directly from the Wix dashboard and Wix Studio editor.
Should I use Full Mode or Content Mode?
Use Full Mode when you want to customize the design.
Use Content Mode when you're replacing text, images and other content.
For most users, Content Mode is the safest choice.
Can I change the design later?
Absolutely.
Your website doesn't need to be perfect before you publish.
Launch with a solid foundation, then improve it over time.
What if I get stuck?
Wix Studio is a powerful platform, and every website is different.
If you're unsure about a specific feature or run into an issue while customizing your template, don't hesitate to get in touch. A quick question is often enough to save hours of trial and error.
Continue learning
Now that your website is almost ready, these guides will help you go further:
