---
title: How to Customize Author Boxes
description: "The [Author Boxes](https://publishpress.com/links/author-box) feature in [PublishPress Authors](https://publishpress.com/links/authors) provides [default layouts](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/layout/). You can use these layouts, customize them or click \"New [Author Box](https://publishpress.com/links/author-box)\" and create your own layouts. If you edit a layout, or create a new layout, you will see…"
url: "https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/customize-author-boxes/"
updated: "2025-08-26"
category: PublishPress Authors / Author Boxes
---

# How to Customize Author Boxes

The [Author Boxes](https://publishpress.com/links/author-box) feature in [PublishPress Authors](https://publishpress.com/links/authors) provides [default layouts](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/layout/). You can use these layouts, customize them or click "New [Author Box](https://publishpress.com/links/author-box)" and create your own layouts.

If you edit a layout, or create a new layout, you will see a screen like the one below.

- **Title**: The unique name of your layout.
- **[Author Box](https://publishpress.com/links/author-box) Preview**: This is a live preview of your layout.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/new-author-box-1024x357.png)

There are multiple ways to configure each layout. Here is an overview of what you can configure in each of the settings:

- **Title**: This is the title that will show for all the [author boxes](https://publishpress.com/links/author-box) attached to a post.
- **Avatar**: Settings for the appearance of author profile images.
- **Display Name**: Settings for the display of author names.
- **Biographical Info**: Settings for the display of the author bio field.
- **View All Posts**: Settings for the display of the "View all posts" button.
- **Author Fields**: Control the display of the default author fields: First Name, Last Name, Email, and Website.
- **Shortcodes**: Add shortcodes from other plugins into your author display.
- **Author Recent Posts**: This shows a list of recent posts assigned to each author.
- **Box Layout**: Settings for the display of the box around each author profile.
- **Custom CSS**: Insert your own CSS styles for this specific layout.
- **Export**: Use this data to export your author box design and import it to a new site.
- **Import**: Paste the editor data from the "Export" tab on another site.
- **Generate Theme Template**: This enables you to move your layout into a file inside your theme. [Click here for more details](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/author-boxes-theme-templates/).

![Author Box settings](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/author-box-settings-1024x561.png)

All of these options give you a lot of flexibility when showcasing your authors. For example, all of your authors can have a "Recent Posts" area, as in this screenshot below:

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/recent-posts-1024x777.png)

You can also choose to add much more color to your Author Boxes. This example below has simplified many of the author details, and added a colored background.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/orange-background-1024x719.png)

This next example shows an Author Box that uses the [Author Categories](https://publishpress.com/knowledge-base/introduction-to-author-categories/) feature.

![](https://publishpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/boxes-categories-1024x414.png)