CSS Customization

Theme CopilotKit components via CSS variables and class overrides.

Not available for Google ADK yet

This feature (chat-customization-css) hasn't been tagged in any Google ADK cell yet. Try LangGraph (Python) instead, or browse the framework-agnostic version.

What is this?

CopilotKit has a variety of ways to customize the colors and structure of the Copilot UI components via plain CSS. You can:

  • Override CopilotKit CSS variables to re-tint the whole UI
  • Target the built-in class names (.copilotKit...) for structural tweaks
  • Swap fonts per surface (messages, input, bubbles)
  • Replace icons and labels via component props

If you need to change behavior — not just look — see slots or fully headless UI.

Live Demo: LangGraph (Python)chat-customization-cssOpen full demo →

Scoping the theme

The demo keeps all of its styling in a sibling theme.css file and applies it only to the wrapper div holding <CopilotChat>. Importing the stylesheet from the page module is enough — Next.js bundles it with the route:

Scoping every selector under a wrapper class keeps the overrides from leaking into the rest of the app.

CSS Variables (Easiest)

The easiest way to change the colors used in the Copilot UI components is to override CopilotKit CSS variables. The demo sets them on the scope wrapper so they cascade into every nested chat component:

Once you've found the right variable, you can also apply the overrides inline via the CopilotKitCSSProperties helper:

import { CopilotKitCSSProperties } from "@copilotkit/react-core/v2";

<div
  style={
    {
      "--copilot-kit-primary-color": "#222222",
    } as CopilotKitCSSProperties
  }
>
  <CopilotSidebar />
</div>

Reference

CSS VariableDescription
--copilot-kit-primary-colorMain brand/action color — used for buttons, interactive elements
--copilot-kit-contrast-colorColor that contrasts with primary — used for text on primary elements
--copilot-kit-background-colorMain page/container background color
--copilot-kit-secondary-colorSecondary background — used for cards, panels, elevated surfaces
--copilot-kit-secondary-contrast-colorPrimary text color for main content
--copilot-kit-separator-colorBorder color for dividers and containers
--copilot-kit-muted-colorMuted color for disabled/inactive states

Custom CSS

The CopilotKit CSS is structured to allow customization via CSS classes. You can target specific pieces of the UI from your own stylesheet:

.copilotKitButton {
  border-radius: 0;
}

.copilotKitMessages {
  padding: 2rem;
}

.copilotKitUserMessage {
  background: #007AFF;
}

The demo's theme.css wraps every selector under .chat-css-demo-scope so the overrides don't leak out — here's the user/assistant bubble block from that file:

Reference

CSS ClassDescription
.copilotKitMessagesMain container for all chat messages
.copilotKitInputText input container with typing area and send button
.copilotKitUserMessageStyling for user messages
.copilotKitAssistantMessageStyling for AI responses
.copilotKitHeaderTop bar of chat window containing title and controls
.copilotKitButtonPrimary chat toggle button
.copilotKitWindowRoot container defining overall chat window dimensions
.copilotKitMarkdownStyles for rendered markdown content
.copilotKitCodeBlockCode snippet container with syntax highlighting
.copilotKitSidebarStyles for sidebar chat mode
.copilotKitPopupStyles for popup chat mode

Custom Fonts

You can customize the fonts by updating the fontFamily property on the relevant CopilotKit classes:

.copilotKitMessages {
  font-family: "Arial, sans-serif";
}

.copilotKitInput {
  font-family: "Arial, sans-serif";
}

Custom Icons

Customize icons by passing the icons prop to CopilotSidebar, CopilotPopup, or CopilotChat:

<CopilotChat
  icons={{
    openIcon: <YourOpenIconComponent />,
    closeIcon: <YourCloseIconComponent />,
  }}
/>

Custom Labels

Customize all user-facing copy via the labels prop:

<CopilotChat
  labels={{
    welcomeMessageText: "Hello! How can I help you today?",
    modalHeaderTitle: "My Copilot",
    chatInputPlaceholder: "Ask me anything!",
  }}
/>