---
title: "TYPO3 setup on first installation"
manual: "Getting Started"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:typo3-setup@main"
source: "Installation/Setup.rst"
rendered: "2026-10-01T14:56:29+00:00"
---

# TYPO3 setup on first installation {#typo3-setup}

You can set up TYPO3 either via a console command or by using the web-based
Install Tool.

-   [Set up TYPO3 using the console](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:set-up-typo3-using-the-console@main)
-   [Set up TYPO3 using the web installer (1-2-3 install tool)](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:set-up-typo3-using-the-web-installer-1-2-3-install-tool@main)
-   [Set the application context for local development](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:set-the-application-context-for-local-development@main)
-   [Next steps: Create a basic website](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:next-steps-create-a-basic-website@main)

## Set up TYPO3 using the console {#typo3-setup-console}

To perform an interactive guided setup, run:

```bash
# Run TYPO3 CLI setup (database credentials are pre-filled)
ddev typo3 setup --server-type=other --driver=mysqli --host=db --port=3306 --dbname=db --username=db --password=db
```

When prompted, provide the following answers to match the default DDEV
configuration:

```text
Admin username (user will be "system maintainer") ? j.doe
Admin user and installer password ?
Admin user email ? j.doe@example.org
Give your project a name [default: New TYPO3 Project] ? My Project
Create a basic site? Please enter a URL [default: no] https://my-project.ddev.site
✓ Congratulations - TYPO3 Setup is done.
```

## Set up TYPO3 using the web installer (1-2-3 install tool) {#install-access-typo3-via-a-web-browser}

Alternatively, you can use the web-based Install Tool to set up TYPO3.

1.  Create a file named `FIRST_INSTALL` in your webroot:

    ```bash
    ddev exec touch public/FIRST_INSTALL
    ```
1.  Open the TYPO3 installer in your browser:

    ```bash
    ddev launch /typo3/install.php
    ```
1.  After completing the setup, access the TYPO3 backend:

    ```bash
    ddev launch /typo3
    ```

Log in using the credentials you just created during the setup process.

## Set the application context for local development {#typo3-setup-application-context}

After completing the setup, TYPO3 will run in the "Production" application
context by default.

For local development, it is recommended to switch to the "Development/DDEV"
context for better error reporting, debugging features, and developer-friendly
features.

Edit your `.ddev/config.yaml` and add:

**.ddev/config.yaml**

```yaml
web_environment:
  - TYPO3_CONTEXT=Development/DDEV
```

Restart DDEV to apply the changes:

```bash
ddev restart
```

## Next steps: Create a basic website {#typo3-setup-next}

If you installed the [Default theme](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:installation-typo3-default-theme@main)
and chose to create a basic site during installation, open the frontend and
have a look at the basic website in a browser of your choice:

```bash
ddev launch
```

You should see a default website like the following:

![Frontend screenshot of a website using the default theme "Camino" with text "Welcome to your default website"](../Images/ManualScreenshots/Theme/NewSite.png)

Access the TYPO3 backend:

```bash
ddev launch /typo3
```

Log in using the credentials you just created during the setup process. Navigate
to the **Content > Layout** module. You should see something like the
following:

![Backend screenshot of a freshly installed TYPO3 installation, demonstrating the Camino theme with its content areas in the "Content > Layout" module](../Images/ManualScreenshots/Theme/NewSiteBackend.png)

You can customize the example theme using the
[Site settings](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:settings-site-settings@main)
or create new [Sub pages](https://docs.typo3.org/m/typo3/tutorial-editors/main/en-us/Pages/CreatingPages/Index.html#pages-creating)
and [Creating content](https://docs.typo3.org/m/typo3/tutorial-editors/main/en-us/ContentElements/CreatingContent/Index.html#content-creating).

**Trouble shooting:**

If there is an error message instead, try clearing the cache:

```bash
ddev typo3 cache:flush -v
```

If you can still see no default website, log into the backend and continue to
[create a root page manually](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3start:create-root-page@main)
if none was created automatically.