---
title: theme init
description: >-
  Clones a Git repository to your local machine to use as the starting point for
  building a theme.
source_url:
  html: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/api/shopify-cli/theme/theme-init'
  md: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/api/shopify-cli/theme/theme-init.md'
api_name: shopify-cli
---

# theme init

Clones a Git repository to your local machine to use as the starting point for building a theme.

If no Git repository is specified, then this command creates a copy of Shopify's [Skeleton theme](https://github.com/Shopify/skeleton-theme.git), with the specified name in the current folder. If no name is provided, then you're prompted to enter one.

**Caution:**

If you're building a theme for the Shopify Theme Store, then you can use our example theme as a starting point. However, the theme that you submit needs to be [substantively different from existing themes](https://shopify.dev/docs/themes/store/requirements#uniqueness) so that it provides added value for users.

#### Flags

The following flags are available for the `theme init` command:

* **--auth-alias \<value>**

  **string**

  **env: SHOPIFY\_FLAG\_AUTH\_ALIAS**

  Alias of the Shopify account to use for authentication.

* **--json-schema**

  **env: SHOPIFY\_FLAG\_JSON\_SCHEMA**

  Print the command's JSON schemas.

* **--no-color**

  **env: SHOPIFY\_FLAG\_NO\_COLOR**

  Disable color output.

* **--no-input**

  **env: SHOPIFY\_FLAG\_NO\_INPUT**

  Disable interactive prompts and browser authentication.

* **--path \<value>**

  **string**

  **env: SHOPIFY\_FLAG\_PATH**

  The path where you want to run the command. Defaults to the current working directory.

* **--verbose**

  **env: SHOPIFY\_FLAG\_VERBOSE**

  Increase the verbosity of the output. May include sensitive data.

* **-l, --latest**

  **env: SHOPIFY\_FLAG\_LATEST**

  Downloads the latest release of the `clone-url`

* **-u, --clone-url \<value>**

  **string**

  **env: SHOPIFY\_FLAG\_CLONE\_URL**

  The Git URL to clone from. Defaults to Shopify's Skeleton theme.

### Examples

* #### Theme init

  ##### theme init

  ```sh
  shopify theme init [name] [flags]
  ```

***