Guide

Get up and running

Download and installation

  1. We provide two downloadable kits for you to get started with.

Starterkit

The Starterkit is a full-blown Kirby installation with a lot of example content, blueprints, templates and more. It is ideal for new users to explore many of Kirby's options and get to know the Panel.

Plainkit

The Plainkit is a minimal Kirby setup with the basics you need to start a project from scratch. It is the ideal choice if you are already familiar with Kirby and want to start step-by-step.

  1. Extract the contents of the ZIP file into your server's web root
  2. Visit your new Kirby site in your browser at yourdomain.com
  3. Visit the Panel at yourdomain.com/panel

Requirements

Web server PHP
Any of the following:
  • Apache 2
  • Nginx
  • LiteSpeed
  • Caddy
Server Features:
  • URL rewriting
  • PHP 7.2, 7.3 or 7.4
    (PHP 7.3 or 7.4 are recommended)
  • mbstring extension
  • curl extension
  • ctype extension
  • gd extension

The server OS must be POSIX compatible.

If you want to use PHP's built-in server, you have to start it up with Kirby's router:

php -S localhost:8000 kirby/router.php

Other servers may work, but are not officially supported.

Browsers for the Panel

Kirby does not modify the output of your site's templates and thus has no effect on its browser requirements. The Panel is built on modern browser features though and has a couple browser requirements which need to be met by your site's editors.

Desktop Mobile
  • Chrome 57+
  • Firefox 54+
  • Safari 10.1+
  • Edge 16+
  • Opera 44+
  • Mobile Safari 10.3+
  • Android Browser 67+
  • Chrome for Android 70+

Alternative ways to install Kirby

There are alternative installation methods for advanced users who prefer to install and update Kirby using commands on the command line or in their version control tool. Check them out and use whichever method you prefer.

Installation guides for webhosts

Some providers have created dedicated guides how to install Kirby on their servers. If you are with one of these providers, keep on reading:

Create your first account

Kirby's control panel (aka. the Panel) comes without any pre-installed accounts. Open http://yourdomain.com/panel in the browser to start the installer and create the first account.

Register your installation

Once you publish your website, you need to purchase a Kirby license. We will send you a unique license code for your domain. You can register your installation with the following steps.

  1. Open the Panel at http://yourdomain.com/panel and log in.
  2. Click on "Register" at the top.
  3. Enter your license code and your email address and press "Ok".

Without using the Panel

Since 3.3.0

If you don’t want the Panel to connect to our server, registration via the Panel fails, or you are not using the Panel at all, you can download your license files directly from our licenses website:

  1. Visit licenses.getkirby.com.
  2. Log in with the email you used when you purchased the license and any order number.
  3. In the list of your licenses, click on the key you want to register.
  4. Use the "Download license file" button to download the license file.
  5. Rename the downloaded file to .license (without extensions).
  6. Place it in the /site/config/ folder of your Kirby installation.

Updates

To update Kirby, download the latest version and replace the kirby folder.

That's it! Because Kirby does not use a database by default, you don't have to run any database migrations.

Updating Kirby with the advanced methods

If you used one of the advanced installation methods, you can also use them to update Kirby:

Where to go from here

A tour around the house

Now that you have successfully installed Kirby on your server, it's time to explore your new CMS. Get yourself a cup of tea (or whatever you like most) and go on a tour to explore the Starterkit with us.

Kirby in a nutshell

Get a concise overview of how Kirby works and what to keep in mind when you start your project. It's all about what you wish you had known when you started your first Kirby project.

Guide

Our guide introduces you to every aspect of Kirby. From your first template to complex extensions. It should always be the starting point for your research.

Reference

Once you have familiarized yourself with the basics, the Reference is the number one resource you will keep getting back to. It's a collection of every method, option, helper, tag, root, url and more.

Cookbook

The Cookbook is a collection of solutions you can build with Kirby, explaining how to build them step by step. Starting from simple things like menus to frontend authentication, headless CMS setups and more.

Plugins

Our plugin developers created dozens of fantastic plugins for Kirby. Check out our official plugin repository before creating your own solution for common features.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any problems, make sure to check our guide on some common pitfalls and how to solve them.

Forum

The community in the Kirby Forum is always there to help out whenever you get stuck. It's likely that someone already had the same problem, so using the search function might uncover a solution within seconds. If you can't find a helpful topic, drop us your question.