# Portal

The **Sense** theme is built to work seamlessly with Ghost’s **native membership system** using the **Portal** component.

Rather than adding custom pages or extra layers of complexity, Sense relies on Ghost’s official tools to provide a simpler, faster setup — especially for users without technical experience.

The Portal is widely used across Ghost sites and works well for the vast majority of use cases.

### What is Portal?

**Portal** is Ghost’s native interface for managing memberships and subscriptions. It includes modals for:

* Signing up and logging in
* Upgrading to paid plans
* Managing account details
* Viewing past subscriptions
* Public preview access (for paid-only posts)

These modals are responsive, accessible, and maintained by the Ghost team.

To use Portal effectively, basic knowledge of Ghost memberships is recommended.

If you're new to this feature, check the official Ghost resources:

<table data-card-size="large" data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Setup Members</strong></td><td>Learn how to enable and configure the membership system in Ghost, including access levels, email settings, and subscription options.</td><td><a href="https://ghost.org/help/setup-members/">https://ghost.org/help/setup-members/</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Customize Portal</strong></td><td>Find out how to personalize the Portal interface — update colors, icons, and behavior to match your site’s branding.</td><td><a href="https://ghost.org/help/customize-portal/">https://ghost.org/help/customize-portal/</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

### Portal Appearance

You can customize the appearance of Portal using Ghost’s **Brand** settings.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Access Ghost Admin

* Log in to your Ghost Admin at `yoursite.com/ghost`
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Navigate to Brand Settings

* Go to **Settings** > **Site** > **Design & branding** > **Brand** `yoursite.com/ghost/#/settings/design`&#x20;
* Click **"Customize"** to open the editor.
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Customize Options

* Choose a new **Accent color** to apply to Portal buttons and links.
* Under **Publication icon**, upload an image to use in Portal modals. *(This icon will also be used as the favicon of your site)*
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Save Changes

* Click **"Save"** to apply your updates.
  {% endstep %}
  {% endstepper %}

### Portal Button

The floating **Portal button** (bottom-right corner) can be disabled if you prefer using the built-in calls to action provided by the **Sense** theme.

To hide the Portal button:

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Access Ghost Admin

* Log in to your Ghost Admin at `yoursite.com/ghost`
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Navigate to Portal Settings

* Go to **Settings** > **Membership** > **Portal settings** `yoursite.com/ghost/ghost/#/settings/portal`
* Click **"Customize"** to open the editor.
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Toggle Off the Button

* Disable the option **"Show portal button"**
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Save Changes

* Click **"Save"** to apply your new settings.
  {% endstep %}
  {% endstepper %}

Sense includes sign-up prompts in the header and a homepage section, so the Portal button is optional.