Installing Joomla: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:44, 25 October 2022

Introduction

Installing Joomla! for the first time is very easy. After completion of the preliminary steps, setting up a hosting environment and creating a database, Joomla’s built-in web installer will set up your new site in just a few minutes. The previous steps:

Hosting Setup

If you have not yet set up a hosting environment you need to do it now, either on a hosting service or your local computer. Read the Hosting Setup tutorial for details.

Also, there are some PHP settings that need to be sufficient for Joomla to install. The settings are usually in a php.ini or user.ini configuration file on the server. If you are on shared hosting, talk to your hosting service about how to change these settings if it is possible to do so. If working on a localhost, for example with XAMPP, or a VPS or dedicated host, you should not be restricted by these settings and can set them yourself.

The minimum values for the php.ini file are shown below:

memory_limit: 256M
upload_max_filesize: 30M
post_max_size: 30M
max_execution_time: 30

It is possible to work with lower values of upload_max_filesize and post_max_size but larger extensions will fail to upload and cause unpredictable problems.

Database Setup

If you have not yet set up a database do it now. It is covered for a hosting service in the Hosting Setup tutorial. There is also a Creating a Database for Joomla! tutorial that covers localhost and phpMyAdmin methods.

You will need to note basic database information needed when the actual Joomla installation is started.

Location of database, usually localhost even on a hosting service. It can be a specific host's server such as dbserver1.yourhost.com.
The database name
The database user's name
The database user's password

Prepare for Install

Downloading and Uploading Joomla! Package Files

Download the current release of Joomla! from the link on the Download Joomla page

Move the downloaded Joomla installation package zip file to the server. For a hosting service you may use the cPanel File Manager Upload function or you may use an FTP Client to transfer the downloaded Joomla 4.x zip file to your server. There are several FTP clients available. Here is a detailed Comparison of FTP client software. If in doubt, use FileZilla.

Your Server's "root" Folder

Warning!

The zip package files can be extracted directly on the host using various command line tools (e.g. unzip), which needs to be installed on the server. If your hosting service uses the admin tool cPanel, the Extract button can be pressed in the File Manager. Apart from that, the free third-party tool Akeeba Kickstart may also be used for this purpose. The unzipped files and directories will be placed in the current folder. Extraction on your local computer depends on your OS. Try a right-click and see if there is an extract menu. In this case your OS may put the files in a folder with the same name as the zip file. After extraction you may delete the zip file and rename the extraction folder to something short and suitable for use in a url.

Start Install

With the above requirements met, a database created and the required Joomla files in place, you are ready to install Joomla. Start the Joomla web installer by opening your favourite browser and browsing to the site's domain name. On a hosting installation you will use https://www.yoursitename.com. If your are installing Joomla locally, you will use http://localhost/<path to Joomla files> and you should see the installation screen.

Joomla will try to identify the Select Language field automatically from your browser's language. You can change this if needed.

Fill in the following information.

Site Name: The name of your website — this can be changed at any point later in the Site Global Configuration page.

When everything on the first page is completed, click the Setup Login Data button to proceed.

Login Data

You should now see the login data screen.

Fill in the following information.

Real Name: The name of the Super User. This is how Joomla will greet you when you log in.
Super User account username: The username for the Super User. Avoid using admin (a good Security measure) or use My Profile in the Administration interface to change it later.
Admin Password: Remember that a Super User has maximum control of the Site and Administrator interfaces, so use a difficult password. Use My Profile in the Administration interface to change it later.
Super User Email Address: The Super User email address. Enter a valid email in case you forget your password. This is the email address where you'll receive a link to change the Super User password.

When everything on the second page is completed, click the Setup Database Connection button to proceed.

Database Configuration

Enter the database information noted down when you created the database for this installation. You may also read or review Creating a Database for Joomla!.

For simplification, these instructions are a reference to installing with a MySQLi database. The instructions on the installation page are self explanatory, but here they are again:

Database Type: MySQLi is the common database used
Hostname Where your database is located. Common is localhost, even on hosting services. However, some hosts use a specific database server such as dbserver1.yourhost.com.
Username: The username used to connect to the database
Password: The password for the database user (not your Administrator password)
Database Name: The name of the database
Table Prefix: This is generated automatically as a security feature. You can accept the randomly generated default or change it. Just don't forget to put the underscore character (_) at the end of the prefix.
Connection Encryption: specifies how the connection to the database should be encrypted. If you don't know - then it's best to stick to the default. However this allows enterprises that use one or two way authentication for the database connection to provide it.

All these choices and more can be edited on the Site Global Configuration page, under Server Options after the installation is completed. Note, you will break your installation if you change these settings after installation unless you have a complete copy of the current database being used by the Joomla installation. Common uses would be to update the username and password of the database or to complete a move of an existing installation to a new host with different parameters.

After you click the Install Joomla button, you should see the Joomla logo spinning. Once the installation completes, you should see the success page.

Finishing Up

Success and Finishing Up the Installation

Congratulations! Joomla! 4 is now installed.

If you want to start using Joomla right away without installing extra languages you can select Open Administrator to go to the Administrator Dashboard or select Open Site to go to the Site Home page. You may see a section with recommended PHP settings.

Recommended Settings: These settings are recommended in your PHP configuration, but will not prevent Joomla! from being installed. You can refer to the above instructions on how they may be changed if there is a need to do so.

Extra Languages

As part of the Joomla installation process you are given the opportunity to install additional languages before you complete the installation.

To do this select the Install Additional Languages button

This will take you to an extra installation page allowing you to select the languages you require.

Install Additional Languages

A list of language packs is displayed.

Select up to 3 languages you wish to install. (More than 3 at once can cause timeout issues; you can install more later.)

Remember the following:

Language packs included in custom distributions will not be listed at this stage as they are already installed.
A version of the packs proposed will match the Joomla Major version (4.0.x, 4.1.x, etc.). The minor version of the pack may not correspond, e.g. you are installing version 4.0.3 and a 4.0.2 language pack is shown.
Unmatched language packs in the above example may have untranslated strings.
The unmatched language packs will be offered as an update when the packs are updated by the registered Translation teams. The available update will be shown in the Control panel as well as in Extensions Manager → Update. This behaviour is similar to Extensions Manager → Install Languages.

Click Next and a progress bar will be displayed while the language pack or packs are installed.

Choose the Default Language

When the installation of the languages is complete you will now be presented with a similar Congratulations! Your Joomla site is ready. screen. The difference will be a list of the installed languages allowing you to select the default language for the Site and the Administrator interface.

Select the default language you wish to use.
When you have selected the default language, click the Set default language button to confirm.
A system message will be displayed confirming Joomla has set the default Administrator and Site language. That message can be closed.

Finalise

You can now can navigate to the Administrator Dashboard. Log in by selecting Open Administrator or go right to your site Home page by selecting Open Site.

Related Information

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 <noinclude><languages /></noinclude>
-== Introduction ==
+<translate>
-<translate>
+== Introduction == <!--T:1-->
 <!--T:2-->
 Installing Joomla! for the first time is very easy. After completion of the preliminary steps, setting up a hosting environment and creating a database, Joomla’s built-in web installer will set up your new site in just a few minutes. The previous steps:</translate>
@@ Line 9: / Line 10: @@
 <translate>
 <!--T:68-->
 If you have not yet set up a hosting environment you need to do it now, either on a hosting service or your local computer. Read the
 [[J4.x:Hosting_Setup|Hosting Setup]] tutorial for details. </translate>
 <translate>
 <!--T:69-->
-Also, there are some PHP settings that need to be sufficient for Joomla to install.  The settings are usually in a '''php.ini''' or '''user.ini''' configuration file on the server. If you are on shared hosting talk to your hosting service about how to change these settings if it is possible to do so.  If working on a localhost, for example with [[S:MyLanguage/XAMPP|XAMPP]], or a VPS or dedicated host you should not be restricted by these settings and can set them yourself.
+Also, there are some PHP settings that need to be sufficient for Joomla to install. The settings are usually in a ''php.ini'' or ''user.ini'' configuration file on the server. If you are on shared hosting, talk to your hosting service about how to change these settings if it is possible to do so. If working on a localhost, for example with [[S:MyLanguage/XAMPP|XAMPP]], or a VPS or dedicated host, you should not be restricted by these settings and can set them yourself.
 <!--T:70-->
-The values for php.ini below are ''suggested values'' only.</translate>
+The minimum values for the ''php.ini'' file are shown below:</translate>
 <translate><!--T:8-->
-* memory_limit - '''Minimum:''' 64M  '''Recommended:''' 128M or better
+* ''memory_limit:'' 256M
-* upload_max_filesize - '''Minimum:''' 30M
+* ''upload_max_filesize:'' 30M
-* post_max_size - '''Minimum:''' 30M
+* ''post_max_size:'' 30M
-* max_execution_time: '''Recommended:''' 30
+* ''max_execution_time:'' 30
 </translate>
@@ Line 38: / Line 39: @@
 <translate>
 <!--T:21-->
 You will need to note basic database information needed when the actual Joomla installation is started.
-* Location of database, usually localhost even on a hosting service. It can be a specific host's server such as <code>''dbserver1.yourhost.com''</code>?
+* Location of database, usually ''localhost'' even on a hosting service. It can be a specific host's server such as <code>''dbserver1.yourhost.com''</code>.
 * The database name
 * The database user's name
@@ Line 53: / Line 54: @@
 <translate>
 <!--T:11-->
-Download the current release of Joomla! from the link on the [https://developer.joomla.org/ Joomla Home] page</translate>
+Download the current release of Joomla! from the link on the [https://downloads.joomla.org/ Download Joomla] page</translate>
 <translate>
@@ Line 62: / Line 63: @@
 {{tip|text=<translate>
 <!--T:14-->
-It is better to move the downloaded zip package to your server and unpack it there than to unpack it locally and then move the file tree. Normally you upload your web files to the root folder of your hosting service.  This is typically named "public_html" but other variations include "htdocs" and this depends on how your host has the set up the server.  For Joomla purposes, you can load the files directly into "public_html" or a sub-folder you have created within it.</translate>|title=<translate>
+It is better to move the downloaded zip package to your server and unpack it there than to unpack it locally and then move the file tree. Normally you upload your web files to the root folder of your hosting service. This is typically named ''public_html'' but other variations include ''htdocs'' and this depends on how your host has the set up the server. For Joomla purposes, you can load the files directly into ''public_html'' or a sub-folder you have created within it.</translate>|title=<translate>
 <!--T:15-->
 Your Server's "root" Folder</translate>}}
@@ Line 70: / Line 71: @@
 Warning!</translate>|<translate>
 <!--T:17-->
-If you unpack the files on your own computer, then copy them to your server, be sure to move only the folders and files contained '''INSIDE''' the Joomla package.  If you unpack the folders and files into a folder, for example called,</translate> <code>''Joomla''</code> <translate>
+If you unpack the files on your own computer, then copy them to your server, be sure to move only the folders and files contained '''inside''' the Joomla package. If you unpack the folders and files into a folder, for example called,</translate> <code>''Joomla''</code> <translate>
 <!--T:18-->
 and then upload that folder, your site will have to be accessed at</translate> <code>''yoursitename.com/Joomla''</code> <translate>
 <!--T:19-->
-instead of</translate> <code>''yoursitename.com''</code>. <translate><!--T:74--> You can rename the sub-directory from Joomla to something more site appropriate, such as jblog, and you might find that convenient. Note: directory names should be lower case, without spaces and using minus signs rather than underlines to separate words.</translate>}}
+instead of</translate> <code>''yoursitename.com''</code>. <translate><!--T:74--> You can rename the sub-directory from Joomla to something more site appropriate, such as jblog, and you might find that convenient. '''Note''' directory names should be lower case, without spaces and using minus signs rather than underlines to separate words.</translate>}}
-<translate><!--T:75--> With the package zip file in place, extract the files. With cPanel File Manage you can select it and use the Uncompress button. That will place the extracted files in the current folder. Extraction on your local computer depends on your OS. Try a right-click and see if there is an extract menu. In this case your OS may put the files in a folder with the same name as the zip file. After extraction you may delete the zip file and rename the extraction folder to something short and suitable for use in a url.</translate>
+<translate><!--T:75--> The zip package files can be extracted directly on the host using various command line tools (e.g. unzip), which needs to be installed on the server. If your hosting service uses the admin tool cPanel, the Extract button can be pressed in the File Manager. Apart from that, the free third-party tool [https://www.akeeba.com/products/akeeba-kickstart.html Akeeba Kickstart] may also be used for this purpose. The unzipped files and directories will be placed in the current folder. Extraction on your local computer depends on your OS. Try a right-click and see if there is an extract menu. In this case your OS may put the files in a folder with the same name as the zip file. After extraction you may delete the zip file and rename the extraction folder to something short and suitable for use in a url.</translate>
 <translate>
@@ Line 92: / Line 93: @@
 <translate>
 <!--T:27-->
-Joomla will try to identify the '''Select Language''' field automatically from your browser's language. You can change this if needed.
+Joomla will try to identify the ''Select Language'' field automatically from your browser's language. You can change this if needed.
 <!--T:28-->
@@ Line 99: / Line 100: @@
 <!--T:29-->
-When everything on the first page is completed, click the '''Setup Login Data''' button to proceed:</translate>
+When everything on the first page is completed, click the ''Setup Login Data'' button to proceed.</translate>
 {{-}}
@@ Line 112: / Line 113: @@
 <!--T:32-->
 Fill in the following information.
-*'''Real Name''': The name of the Super User. This is how Joomla will greet you when you log in!
+*'''Real Name''': The name of the Super User. This is how Joomla will greet you when you log in.
-*'''Super User account username''': The username for the '''Super User'''. Avoid using admin (a good [[S:MyLanguage/Security_Checklist/Joomla!_Setup#Change the default administrator username|Security measure]]) or use [[S:MyLanguage/Help40:Site_My_Profile|My Profile]] in the ''Administration'' interface to change it later.
+*'''Super User account username''': The username for the ''Super User''. Avoid using ''admin'' (a good [[S:MyLanguage/Security_Checklist/Joomla!_Setup#Change the default administrator username|Security measure]]) or use [[S:MyLanguage/Help40:Site_My_Profile|My Profile]] in the ''Administration'' interface to change it later.
-*'''Admin Password''': Remember that Super User has maximum control of the Site and Administrator interfaces, so try to use a difficult password. Use [[S:MyLanguage/Help40:Site_My_Profile|My Profile]] in the ''Administration'' interface to change it later.
+*'''Admin Password''': Remember that a Super User has maximum control of the Site and Administrator interfaces, so use a difficult password. Use [[S:MyLanguage/Help40:Site_My_Profile|My Profile]] in the ''Administration'' interface to change it later.
 *'''Super User Email Address''': The Super User email address. Enter a valid email in case you forget your password. This is the email address where you'll receive a link to change the Super User password.
 <!--T:33-->
-When everything on the second page is completed, click the '''Setup Database Connection''' button to proceed:</translate>
+When everything on the second page is completed, click the ''Setup Database Connection'' button to proceed.</translate>
 {{-}}
@@ Line 131: / Line 132: @@
 For simplification, these instructions are a reference to installing with a [[wikipedia:MySQLi|MySQLi]] database. The instructions on the installation page are self explanatory, but here they are again:
 * '''Database Type''': MySQLi is the common database used
-* '''Hostname''' Where your database is located. Common is <code>''localhost''</code>, even on hosting services. However, some hosts use a specific database server such as</translate> <code>''dbserver1.yourhost.com''</code>
+* '''Hostname''' Where your database is located. Common is ''localhost'', even on hosting services. However, some hosts use a specific database server such as</translate> ''dbserver1.yourhost.com''.
 <translate>
 <!--T:37-->
@@ Line 137: / Line 138: @@
 * '''Password''': The password for the database user (not your Administrator password)
 * '''Database Name''': The name of the database
-* '''Table Prefix''': This is generated automatically as a security feature. You can accept the randomly generated default or change it.  Just don't forget to put the underscore character</translate> (<code>_</code>) <translate>
+* '''Table Prefix''': This is generated automatically as a security feature. You can accept the randomly generated default or change it. Just don't forget to put the underscore character</translate> (<code>_</code>) <translate>
 <!--T:38-->
 at the end of the prefix.
@@ Line 144: / Line 145: @@
 <translate>
 <!--T:39-->
-All these choices and more can be edited on the [[S:MyLanguage/Help40:Site_Global_Configuration#Server|Site Global Configuration]] page, under Server Options after the installation is completed. Note, you will break your installation if you change these settings after installation unless you have a complete copy of the current database being used by the Joomla installation. Common uses would be to update the username and password of the database or to complete a move of an existing installation to a new host with different parameters.
+All these choices and more can be edited on the [[S:MyLanguage/Help40:Site_Global_Configuration#Server|Site Global Configuration]] page, under ''Server Options'' after the installation is completed. Note, you will break your installation if you change these settings after installation unless you have a complete copy of the current database being used by the Joomla installation. Common uses would be to update the username and password of the database or to complete a move of an existing installation to a new host with different parameters.
 <!--T:40-->
-After you click the '''Install Joomla''' button, you should see the Joomla logo spinning. Once the installation completes, you should see the success page!</translate>
+After you click the ''Install Joomla'' button, you should see the Joomla logo spinning. Once the installation completes, you should see the success page.</translate>
 {{-}}
@@ Line 161: / Line 162: @@
 <translate>
 <!--T:76-->
-If you want to start using Joomla right away without [[S:MyLanguage/J4.x:Installing_Joomla#Installing_Extra_Languages|installing extra languages]] you can select '''Open Administrator''' to go to the '''Administrator Dashboard''' or select '''Open Site''' to go to the Site Home page.</translate>
+If you want to start using Joomla right away without [[S:MyLanguage/J4.x:Installing_Joomla#Installing_Extra_Languages|installing extra languages]] you can select ''Open Administrator'' to go to the ''Administrator Dashboard'' or select ''Open Site'' to go to the Site Home page.</translate>
 <translate>
 <!--T:43-->
@@ Line 170: / Line 171: @@
 <translate>
 <!--T:45-->
 As part of the Joomla installation process you are given the opportunity to install additional languages before you complete the installation.</translate>
 <translate>
 <!--T:46-->
-To do this select the Install Additional Languages button</translate>'''
+To do this select the Install Additional Languages button</translate>
 <translate>
@@ Line 188: / Line 189: @@
 [[File:<translate>
 <!--T:51-->
-J40_Installation_screen_page_5.png</translate>|right|500]]
+J40_Installation_screen_page_5.png</translate>|right|500px]]
 <translate>
 <!--T:52-->
-Select up to 3 languages you wish to install (more than 3 at once can cause timeout issues - you can install more later).
+Select up to 3 languages you wish to install. (More than 3 at once can cause timeout issues; you can install more later.)
 <!--T:65-->
@@ Line 199: / Line 200: @@
 <!--T:53-->
 * Language packs included in custom distributions will not be listed at this stage as they are already installed.
 * A version of the packs proposed will match the Joomla Major version (4.0.x, 4.1.x, etc.). The minor version of the pack may not correspond, e.g. you are installing version 4.0.3 and a 4.0.2 language pack is shown.
 * Unmatched language packs in the above example may have untranslated strings.
 * The unmatched language packs will be offered as an update when the packs are updated by the registered Translation teams. The available update will be shown in the Control panel as well as in {{rarr|Extensions Manager,Update}}. This behaviour is similar to {{rarr|Extensions Manager,Install Languages}}.
 <!--T:54-->
-Click '''Next''' and a progress bar will be display while the language pack or packs are installed.</translate>
+Click ''Next'' and a progress bar will be displayed while the language pack or packs are installed.</translate>
 {{clear}}
-<translate>==== Choose Default Language ==== <!--T:55--> </translate>
+<translate>==== Choose the Default Language ==== <!--T:55--> </translate>
-<translate><!--T:56--> When the installation of the languages is complete you will now be presented with a very similar '''Congratulations! Your Joomla site is ready.''' screen. The difference will be a list of the installed languages allowing you to select the default language for the Site and the Administrator interface.</translate>
+<translate><!--T:56--> When the installation of the languages is complete you will now be presented with a similar ''Congratulations! Your Joomla site is ready.'' screen. The difference will be a list of the installed languages allowing you to select the default language for the Site and the Administrator interface.</translate>
 <!--T:58-->
@@ Line 218: / Line 219: @@
 <translate>
 <!--T:59-->
-* When you have selected the default language, click the '''Set default language''' button to confirm.
+* When you have selected the default language, click the ''Set default language'' button to confirm.
-* A system message will be displayed confirming Joomla has set the default ADMINISTRATOR and SITE language. That message can be closed.
+* A system message will be displayed confirming Joomla has set the default '''Administrator''' and '''Site''' language. That message can be closed.
 </translate>{{-}}
@@ Line 225: / Line 226: @@
 <translate>
 <!--T:61-->
-You can now can navigate to the '''Administrator Dashboard''' log in by selecting '''Open Administrator''' or go right to your site Home page by selecting '''Open Site'''.</translate>
+You can now can navigate to the ''Administrator Dashboard''. Log in by selecting ''Open Administrator'' or go right to your site Home page by selecting ''Open Site''.</translate>
+<translate>== Related Information == <!--T:77--> </translate>
+<translate>
+<!--T:78-->
+*[[Special:MyLanguage/J4.x:Hosting_Setup|Hosting Setup]]
+*[[Special:MyLanguage/Security_Checklist/Hosting_and_Server_Setup|Hosting and Server Setup]]
+*[[Special:MyLanguage/Creating_A_VPS_Testing_Server|Creating A VPS Testing Server]]
+*[[Special:MyLanguage/J4.x:Setting_Up_Your_Local_Environment|Setting up your local environment]]
+*[[Special:MyLanguage/J4.x:Joomla_CLI_Installation|Joomla CLI Installation]]
+ </translate>
 <noinclude>

J4.x