This guide explains how to set up XenForo and shows you all the main parts you'll use. We cover everything from the first steps to advanced features for your website.
When you buy XenForo for your server, check out the Installation part of this guide. Just follow those steps first, then come back here when everything works right. For people who signed up for XenForo Cloud instead, you can find your control panel link with your account details.
The main place you'll work is the admin control panel, or ACP. This area is separate from what regular visitors see on your site. Only people with special admin rights can enter this part of your website. You reach it by adding "/admin.php" to your website address or by clicking the Admin link when you log in with admin rights.
The system asks you to log in again for safety reasons. You use the same name and password as your regular account. After you log in, you'll notice a bar stuck to the top of your screen plus a side menu with different headings that open when clicked.
The top bar lets you quickly jump to important places. The home button takes you back to the main admin page. Your site name opens your public website. The gears icon gives quick access to settings. The magnifying glass helps you search for things inside the admin area.
The side menu is the main way to find features. It splits everything into logical groups that open when you click them. The right section opens by itself when you visit that part of the admin area. Throughout this guide, we show locations using the format Main Section > Sub-Section > Link > Item.
Finding stuff becomes easy with the search feature. When you don't know where something lives, try searching first. Just click the magnifying glass in the corner or press the slash key on your keyboard. Results appear as you type what you need.
XenForo checks automatically for new versions that work with your license. It tells you when updates become available. The system also makes sure your license stays valid, warning you if your update access ends or if your website address doesn't match what appears in your customer account.
When you buy XenForo for your server, check out the Installation part of this guide. Just follow those steps first, then come back here when everything works right. For people who signed up for XenForo Cloud instead, you can find your control panel link with your account details.
The main place you'll work is the admin control panel, or ACP. This area is separate from what regular visitors see on your site. Only people with special admin rights can enter this part of your website. You reach it by adding "/admin.php" to your website address or by clicking the Admin link when you log in with admin rights.
The system asks you to log in again for safety reasons. You use the same name and password as your regular account. After you log in, you'll notice a bar stuck to the top of your screen plus a side menu with different headings that open when clicked.
The top bar lets you quickly jump to important places. The home button takes you back to the main admin page. Your site name opens your public website. The gears icon gives quick access to settings. The magnifying glass helps you search for things inside the admin area.
The side menu is the main way to find features. It splits everything into logical groups that open when you click them. The right section opens by itself when you visit that part of the admin area. Throughout this guide, we show locations using the format Main Section > Sub-Section > Link > Item.
Finding stuff becomes easy with the search feature. When you don't know where something lives, try searching first. Just click the magnifying glass in the corner or press the slash key on your keyboard. Results appear as you type what you need.
XenForo checks automatically for new versions that work with your license. It tells you when updates become available. The system also makes sure your license stays valid, warning you if your update access ends or if your website address doesn't match what appears in your customer account.
