---
title: "System maintainer area"
manual: "Getting Started"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:system-maintainer-area@main"
source: "Concepts/Backend/SystemMaintainerArea/Index.rst"
modified: "2026-09-15T08:44:38+00:00"
---

# System maintainer area

In the [User Management](https://docs.typo3.org/m/typo3/reference-coreapi/main/en-us/Administration/UserManagement/Index.html#user-management) chapter we covered the
*Access* and *Backend Users* module. In this section we take a look
at the remaining modules.

The following modules are available in a full TYPO3 installation:

-   [Maintenance](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:system-maintenance@main)
-   [Settings](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:system-settings@main)
-   [Upgrade](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:system-upgrade@main)
-   [Environment](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:system-environment@main)
-   [Extensions](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:system-extensions@main)
-   [Database](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:system-modules-database@main)
-   [Configuration](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:administration-modules-configuration@main)
-   [Content Security Policy](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:system-csp@main)

-   [Accessing the system maintainer area](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:accessing-the-system-maintainer-area@main)
-   [Accessing the Install Tools without TYPO3 Backend access](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:accessing-the-install-tools-without-typo3-backend-access@main)

## Accessing the system maintainer area

The system maintainer area can only be accessed from the backend if:

-   [`typo3/cms-install`](https://packagist.org/packages/typo3/cms-install) is installed. This system extension is
    optional.
-   The currently logged in backend user has admin privileges and is a system
    maintainer.
-   On systems in the [application context "Production"](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:production-settings@main)
    the user has to reconfirm their login.

If the TYPO3 backend is not accessible you can access the "Install Tool", which
features the Admin Tool modules provided by [`typo3/cms-install`](https://packagist.org/packages/typo3/cms-install):

## Accessing the Install Tools without TYPO3 Backend access

On any TYPO3 installation with [`typo3/cms-install`](https://packagist.org/packages/typo3/cms-install) you can access the
Install Tools by calling the following URL: `https://example.org/typo3/index.php`.

To prove that you have writing access to the file system where TYPO3 is installed
you **have to** create a file in path `var/transient/ENABLE_INSTALL_TOOL`
or `config/ENABLE_INSTALL_TOOL`. The file can be empty, TYPO3 has to have
write access to the file. You can create it like this on:

```bash
touch config/ENABLE_INSTALL_TOOL
```

See also [TYPO3 Explained, ENABLE_INSTALL_TOOL](https://docs.typo3.org/m/typo3/reference-coreapi/main/en-us/Administration/DirectoryStructure/FlagFiles.html#file-config-enable-install-tool).

You **must** now enter the Install Tool password.

> [!NOTE]
> **New in version 14.0**
>
> You can now set a new Install Tool password using the console command
> [vendor/bin/typo3 install:password:set](https://docs.typo3.org/m/typo3/reference-coreapi/main/en-us/ApiOverview/CommandControllers/ListCommands.html#console-command-install-password-set).

**Composer-mode**

```bash
vendor/bin/typo3 install:password:set
```

**Classic mode**

```bash
typo3/sysext/core/bin/typo3 install:password:set
```

**DDEV**

```bash
ddev typo3 install:password:set
```

Or you can set a new password by entering your desired password on the
Install Tool login page, then copying the calculated hash:

![Screenshot demonstrating copying the calculated hash in the install tool](../../../Images/ManualScreenshots/AdminTools/InstallToolHash.png)

Open file `config/system/settings.php` and adjust the Install tool
password like so:

**config/system/settings.php (Difference)**

```diff
 <?php
 return [
     'BE' => [
-        'installToolPassword' => '$argon2i$v=19$m=65536,t=16,p=1$Z1BRbnZDdGx4T3pJVmpLVw$Bjhz+rSW1Bps5hIdXUBXrtlZ52E4Qx4lw4NU0MiEUyg',
+        'installToolPassword' => '$argon2i$v=19$m=65536,t=16,p=1$Z0tiZjVVdzN5VUEuLzhmYw$xTalKXJVMCALCO+0OklDt24Y/7NkffNc1bOeg2jo00I',
         'passwordHashing' => [
             'className' => 'TYPO3\\CMS\\Core\\Crypto\\PasswordHashing\\Argon2iPasswordHash',
             'options' => [],
         ],
     ],
 ];
```