If you’re using the Divi theme and noticed that the Header & Navigation and Footer options disappear from the Theme Customizer, you’re not alone. This brief appearance and quick disappearance can be confusing — but there’s a simple explanation.
In this quick tutorial, I’ll explain why it happens and what you should do instead.
The Issue: Options Appear, Then Vanish
When you go to Divi > Theme Customizer, you might briefly see the following options:
- Header & Navigation
- Footer
But within a second or two, they disappear from the sidebar menu. It might seem like a bug or a glitch in your theme settings — but it’s actually expected behavior in Divi.
The Reason: You’re Using the Theme Builder
If you’ve created a Global Header or Global Footer using the Divi Theme Builder (found under Divi > Theme Builder), Divi will automatically override the default Customizer controls.
That means:
- Header & Navigation settings in the Customizer become inactive
- Footer settings are also hidden
The Theme Customizer still initially loads these options, which is why you see them for a brief moment — but Divi removes them once it detects the global templates in use.
What You Should Do Instead
To edit your header or footer:
- Go to Divi > Theme Builder
- Click on the Global Header or Global Footer section
- Use the Visual Builder to make your edits
These global templates give you full design control and replace the default Customizer-based settings entirely.
It’s Not a Bug!
This behavior might look odd, but it’s not a bug or an issue with your site. It’s just how Divi handles theme overrides when using the Theme Builder. Once you understand it, it all makes sense!
Final Thoughts
If you’re wondering why the Header & Footer options disappear in the Divi Theme Customizer, now you know: it’s because of your active global templates in the Theme Builder. Use the builder instead to make changes, and you’re good to go!
Still have questions? Drop them in the comments or check out my [YouTube channel] for more Divi tips and tricks.
