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Install MyBB

Install MyBB with Softaculous, then configure registration, human verification, email and forums from the MyBB Admin CP.

TutorialBeginner30 min to completeLast updated
On this page
  1. Step 1: Install MyBB with Softaculous
  2. Step 2: Log in to the Admin CP
  3. Step 3: Registration and verification
  4. Step 4: Set up email
  5. Step 5: Create your forums
  6. Step 6: Back it up
  7. Check it worked
  8. If something’s wrong
Level
Beginner
Time
About 30 min
Steps
6
You’ll finish with
A working MyBB forum on your domain with spam protection and working email

Before you start

  • A Traxio account with your domain (or a subdomain) pointing at Traxio
  • A mailbox on your domain for forum email (create one)

6 steps

MyBB is free forum software with a straightforward admin panel and a tidy plugin and theme system. It installs in one click with Softaculous. Its settings live in the Admin CP, at yourdomain/admin (or inside your forum folder), and most are under Configuration › Settings, which has its own search box.

Install MyBB with Softaculous

  1. In DirectAdmin, open Softaculous and find MyBB under Forums. Click Install.
  2. Choose https:// and your domain. Leave the directory empty, or use forum.
  3. Enter the board name, an admin username (not “admin”), a strong password and your email.
  4. Click Install.

Log in to the Admin CP

Visit your forum, log in, and follow the Admin CP link at the top. Check the version on the dashboard and any notices about updates.

Registration and verification

Configuration › Settings › User Registration and Profile Options:

  • Set Registration Method to Send Email Verification for most forums, or Administrator Activation for private ones.
  • Set a minimum registration time, so instant bot sign-ups are refused.

Then search the settings for Human Verification and turn on a verification method for registration, such as security questions. Add questions only genuine members could answer.

Set up email

Search the settings for Mail Settings:

  1. Set Mail handler to SMTP mail.
  2. SMTP hostname: your mail server from your email settings. Port: 465 with SSL encryption, or 587 with TLS.
  3. Username: the full mailbox address. Password: the mailbox password.
  4. Set the forum’s Admin Email and return address to the same mailbox.
  5. Save, then test with Forgot password on a test account.

Create your forums

Forums & Posts › Forum Management. Rename the sample category and forum, then add your own. Check the permissions on each forum so registered members can post and guests can read (or not, for private boards).

Back it up

Take a full account backup in DirectAdmin and download it. MyBB’s Tools & Maintenance › Database Backups is useful before upgrades. Take a full backup.

Check it worked

Ready for members

If something’s wrong

  • The Admin CP won’t load. Make sure you’re using the address Softaculous showed after installing, including any folder name.
  • Emails don’t arrive. Recheck the SMTP details and try the other port, then check spam.
  • Spam gets through. Change your security questions and switch to administrator activation for a while.

Spotted something out of date or unclear? Tell us and we’ll fix it.

Keep going

Next: Running a forum: spam, email, updates and backups