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Troubleshooting Kirki: Why Your Custom CSS Isn't Showing on the Front End

33 threads Sep 7, 2025 Plugin → Kirki customizer framework

Content

One of the most common issues reported by users of the Kirki Customizer Framework is that CSS changes made in the WordPress Customizer preview perfectly, but then fail to appear on the live, front-end site. Users often find an empty <style id="kirki-inline-styles"></style> tag in their page source, confirming the styles aren't being output. This guide will explain why this happens and walk you through the most effective solutions.

Why Does This Happen?

Based on community reports, this problem can stem from a few key areas:

  1. Incorrect Configuration: The 'output' argument in your field configuration might be malformed or missing a critical parameter.
  2. Plugin vs. Embedded Conflict: There can be differences in behavior when using Kirki as a standalone plugin versus embedding it directly within a theme.
  3. Version-Specific Bugs: Past updates to WordPress core (like the changes in 4.9) or to Kirki itself have occasionally introduced bugs that break front-end CSS output, which are typically fixed in subsequent releases.

How to Troubleshoot and Fix the Issue

1. Verify Your 'output' Argument

The most common culprit is an error in the 'output' array of your field configuration. A typical example for a typography field might look like this:

Kirki::add_field( 'my_config', array(
    'type'        => 'typography',
    'settings'    => 'body_typography',
    // ... other args (label, section, default) ...
    'output' => array(
        array(
            'element' => 'body',
        ),
    ),
) );

Solution: Ensure your 'output' argument is correctly structured. For most properties, you don't need to specify a 'property' if you are using a field type like 'typography' that maps to multiple CSS properties. However, for simpler controls like 'color' or 'dimension', you often need to explicitly define the 'property'.

2. Check Your Configuration: 'option_type' and 'capability'

Your global Kirki configuration must be set up correctly. A misconfigured 'option_type' can prevent values from being saved or retrieved properly.

Kirki::add_config( 'my_theme_config', array(
    'capability'    => 'edit_theme_options',
    'option_type'   => 'theme_mod', // This is the most common setting for themes.
) );

Solution: Confirm that your add_config 'option_type' is set to 'theme_mod' (the standard for themes) and that the 'config' ID used here matches the one in your add_field calls. Using 'option' requires a different method to retrieve values (get_option).

3. Retrieve Values Correctly in Your Theme

If Kirki is outputting CSS to the <head> but you're also trying to manually echo values, you must use the right function. If your 'option_type' is 'theme_mod', you must use get_theme_mod(), not get_option().

// Correct way for 'theme_mod'
$my_color = get_theme_mod( 'my_color_setting', '#ffffff' );

// Incorrect way if using 'theme_mod'
$my_color = get_option( 'my_color_setting', '#ffffff' ); // This will not work.

4. Update Kirki

Many issues with front-end output, especially those related to WordPress 4.9 compatibility, have been fixed in later versions of the framework. The 'Kirki Customizer Framework' team is active in addressing these bugs.

Solution: If you are using the Kirki plugin, ensure it is updated to the latest version. If you have embedded the library into your theme, check the official GitHub repository for the latest code and update your included files. Many users have confirmed that updating resolved their spacing and output issues.

5. Check for Plugin/Theme Conflicts

In some cases, the issue has been specific to using Kirki controls within a separate plugin instead of the theme itself.

Solution: Test by moving your Kirki field definitions back into your theme's `functions.php` file. If the CSS outputs correctly, the issue lies in how your plugin is loading or initializing the Kirki fields. Ensure your plugin code runs at an appropriate hook, like `after_setup_theme`.

Conclusion

The frustration of CSS not appearing on the front end is a well-documented issue within the Kirki community. By methodically checking your 'output' arguments, verifying your global configuration, using the correct retrieval functions, and ensuring you're on the latest version of Kirki, you can almost always resolve the problem and get your styles displaying correctly for your visitors.

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