Your help center header is the first thing visitors see — and often the first place they interact with. In HelpCenter.io, the Template Editor gives you full control over how your header looks, what it says, and how users navigate your content.
This article explains all header-related customization options in the default template and clarifies where branding settings live in the current dashboard.
How to reach the Template Editor?
Open your HelpCenter.io dashboard.
Select the help center you want to customize.
Click Template Editor (the layout icon) in the main navigation (right below articles).
This would get you to the Template Editor.
All changes are previewed instantly, so you can experiment safely before publishing.
Where Header & Branding Settings Live
When you open the Template Editor, the sidebar is split into multiple sections. Two of them are relevant for your header:
General → global branding settings (logo, favicon, brand name)
Header → layout, content, search field, menus, and categories
You’ll usually configure General first, then fine-tune the Header.
General Section: Branding & Identity
Open Template Editor → General.
Brand Name
Used when no logo is uploaded
Helpful for minimal or text-only headers
Logo
Upload your main brand logo
Appears in the header across all pages
Favicon
Displayed in browser tabs and bookmarks
Helps users quickly recognize your help center
Connected Site
Defines where users are taken when they click the logo
Common choices:
Your main website
The help center homepage
Tip 💡
If your help center lives on a subdomain, linking the logo to your main site is often the best experience.
Header Section: Layout & Content
Open Template Editor → Header.
This section controls how the header looks and behaves.
Header Style
Choose the overall header layout.
Use this option to:
Switch between compact and more spacious layouts
Control content alignment
Decide how prominent the header should be visually
Start here before adjusting colors or content.
Header Background
Customize the visual appearance of the header area.
Available options:
Background color
Text color
Background image (optional)
Cover overlay to improve text contrast on images
Minimal designs usually work best with solid colors, while images are useful for strong branding.
Header Heading & Subheading
These texts help users immediately understand where they are.
Examples:
Heading: Help Center
Subheading: Find answers, guides, and troubleshooting tips
Both fields support translations for multi-language help centers.
Search Field Settings
The search bar is the most important element of your header.
Search Field Radius
Controls how rounded the search field corners are
Match it to your overall design style
Placeholder Text
Customize the text inside the search field
Examples:“Search for answers…”
“How can we help?”
Small changes here can significantly improve search usage.
Categories Under the Search Field
You can display selected categories directly below the search bar.
This is useful when:
You have a clear top-level structure
You want to guide new users quickly
You want to reduce time-to-answer
You can choose exactly which categories appear.
Custom Header Menu
Add a navigation menu directly into your header.
You can:
Link to internal pages or external URLs
Link to categories or important articles
Choose whether links open in the same or a new tab
Common uses include:
Product documentation
Status pages
Contact or onboarding links
Previewing & Publishing Changes
All changes are previewed live inside the Template Editor.
Before publishing:
Use the Preview option (HelpCenter.dev) to review the full experience
Check the header on homepage, category, and article views
Once ready, click Publish to make the changes live.
Pro Tip 💡
A clear header with a strong search prompt and visible categories can significantly reduce incoming support requests by helping users self-serve faster.
Your header sets the tone — make it work for you.