Gin Admin Theme: Your Complete Guide to Drupal 11.3's New Default Interface

If you're managing existing Drupal sites or planning new projects, understanding this transition is crucial. Our team has been implementing Gin across client projects for months, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Content editors appreciate the cleaner interface, while developers benefit from better accessibility compliance and customization options.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the transition, including hands-on implementation steps and practical considerations for your team.

Why Drupal Made the Switch to Gin Admin Theme

The decision to replace Claro with Gin wasn't made lightly. Based on project work with both themes, the advantages are clear:

User Experience Improvements: Gin provides a sticky action bar that keeps save and publish buttons visible while editing. The resizable sidebar gives content editors more screen space, while the cleaner forms reduce visual clutter.

Accessibility Leadership: Gin meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards with enhanced keyboard navigation and high contrast modes. For organizations with accessibility requirements, this compliance is essential.

Customization Flexibility: Teams can adjust colors, upload logos, and choose between light and dark modes. We've found this particularly valuable for agencies managing multiple client sites.

Development Momentum: While Claro's development has slowed, Gin continues evolving with regular updates and community contributions.

What's New in Gin for Drupal 11.3

Automatic Default Installation

New Drupal 11.3 sites automatically use Gin as the admin theme. Existing sites remain on Claro unless manually switched—a smart approach that prevents disruption while encouraging adoption.

Interface Enhancements

The sticky action bar addresses one of the most common complaints about Drupal's admin interface. Content editors no longer need to scroll to find save buttons on long forms. The resizable sidebar adapts to different screen sizes and user preferences.

Personalization Options

Gin introduces accent colors that match organizational branding. Our team recommends setting these during initial site setup to create a cohesive admin experience. The dark mode toggle responds to system preferences or user choice.

Navigation Improvements

The sidebar navigation provides quick access to content, media, and admin tasks. Teams can switch between vertical sidebar or classic horizontal toolbar layouts based on their workflow preferences.

Performance Optimizations

Gin includes optimized CSS and JavaScript with lazy loading for UI components. In our testing, admin pages load faster than with Claro, especially on slower connections.

Drupal Gin Admin Theme Implementation Guide

For New Sites

If you're installing Drupal 11.3 or later, Gin is enabled automatically. No additional steps required.

For Existing Sites

Here's the complete migration process our team uses:

Step 1: Install Gin Theme

composer require drupal/gin

Step 2: Enable Gin

drush theme:enable gin

Alternatively, navigate to Appearance in the admin interface and enable Gin manually.

Step 3: Set as Admin Theme

drush config:set system.theme admin gin

Or go to Appearance → Gin → Set as admin theme.

Step 4: Configure Settings

Navigate to Appearance → Gin → Settings and adjust:

• Color scheme (light/dark/auto)
• Accent color to match your brand
• Layout density (compact/comfortable)
• Logo and favicon uploads
• Navigation style preference

Step 5: Install Companion Modules

composer require drupal/gin_toolbar drupal/gin_login drupal/gin_layout_builder drupal/gin_type_tray

Enable based on your needs:

drush en gin_toolbar gin_login gin_layout_builder gin_type_tray

Programmatic Configuration

For deployment consistency, add this to your settings.php:

$config['system.theme']['admin'] = 'gin';

This ensures Gin remains the admin theme across environment deployments.

Essential Gin Admin Theme Companion Modules

Gin Toolbar: Enhances the admin toolbar with search functionality and shortcuts. Content editors can quickly jump to any admin page or content type.

Gin Login: Creates a branded login page that matches your site's design. Particularly useful for client sites where brand consistency matters.

Gin Layout Builder: Improves the Layout Builder experience with better visual organization and controls.

Gin Type Tray: Provides a dashboard for organizing content types and admin pages. Working with clients shows this significantly reduces the learning curve for new users.

Common Drupal Gin Theme Implementation Challenges

Custom Admin Pages

Some custom admin pages may not render correctly with Gin's styling. We recommend checking these during testing:

• Custom module admin interfaces
• Views admin pages with complex layouts
• Custom forms with unusual field arrangements

Solution: Update templates to use Gin's CSS classes. The Gin UI Kit provides guidance for maintaining design consistency.

User Training

Teams familiar with Claro need orientation on Gin's navigation changes. We suggest:

• Demonstrating the sticky action bar
• Showing sidebar customization options
• Explaining dark mode and personalization features

Module Compatibility

Most popular modules work seamlessly with Gin. However, verify compatibility if you use:

• Custom admin interfaces
• Specialized workflow modules
• Third-party admin tools

Performance Considerations for Gin Admin Theme

Gin is optimized for speed, but follow these practices:

• Clear caches after enabling Gin
• Test admin performance on representative content volumes
• Monitor load times for complex admin pages

In our experience, Gin performs better than Claro, especially on mobile devices where content editors often work.

Migration Timeline Recommendations

Based on client projects, here's our suggested approach:

Week 1: Install Gin on development environment, configure basic settings

Week 2: Test all admin workflows, train key users

Week 3: Deploy to staging, gather feedback from content editors

Week 4: Deploy to production with rollback plan ready

Gin vs. Claro: Key Differences

Understanding the differences helps teams prepare for the transition:

• Default for new sites: Claro (No) vs Gin (Yes)
• Sticky action bar: Claro (No) vs Gin (Yes)
• Dark mode: Claro (Limited) vs Gin (Full support)
• Sidebar navigation: Claro (Basic) vs Gin (Advanced, resizable)
• Custom branding: Claro (Limited) vs Gin (Extensive)
• Accessibility: Claro (Good) vs Gin (Excellent WCAG 2.1 AA)
• Performance: Claro (Good) vs Gin (Improved)
• Personalization: Claro (Minimal) vs Gin (Extensive)

Best Practices for Teams Using Gin Admin Theme

Start with Default Settings: Before customizing, let your team use Gin's defaults. This helps identify which changes actually improve workflow.

Maintain Consistency: If managing multiple sites, establish standard color schemes and branding guidelines.

Plan for Training: Budget time for user orientation. The interface changes are intuitive, but familiarity reduces friction.

Keep Claro Available: During transition periods, some users may prefer the familiar interface. Claro can remain enabled as a fallback option.

Looking Forward with Gin Admin Theme

The switch to Gin represents Drupal's commitment to improved user experience. The active development community continues adding features based on real-world feedback. Recent updates include enhanced accessibility features and performance optimizations.

For development teams, Gin's modern codebase and extensive documentation make customization straightforward. The theme's modular architecture supports future enhancements without breaking existing functionality.

Getting Started with Gin Admin Theme Today

Whether you're launching new Drupal sites or considering migration, Gin offers immediate benefits for your team. The improved interface reduces training time for new users while providing experienced editors with more efficient workflows.

For new projects, Gin's automatic inclusion in Drupal 11.3 simplifies setup. For existing sites, the migration process is straightforward and reversible if needed.

Our team has successfully migrated dozens of client sites to Gin with minimal disruption. The key is proper testing and user preparation. If you're evaluating the transition or need assistance with implementation, we're here to help guide your team through the process.

The future of Drupal administration is here, and it looks better than ever. Gin's combination of modern design, accessibility compliance, and customization flexibility makes it the right choice for teams serious about content management efficiency.