Post-install checklist

The tasks to finish on the first day, in the order that makes the rest easier.

The installer leaves you with a working site, but nothing is published until the cron job runs, and users cannot connect a channel until you have registered at least one network. Work through these tasks in order. Menu paths start from the admin sidebar.

1. Add the cron job

   Create a cron job that runs every minute. Without it, scheduled posts, token renewal, webhooks and feeds all stand still. Confirm it under Publishing → Settings: System health shows the Cron job line as passed once the scheduler has run. See Cron and queue.

2. Change the default admin login

   Open your account menu at the bottom of the sidebar. Use Profile to set your own Email address and Security → Password to set a new password. The default [e-mail] and admin12345 are public. See Profile and security to turn on two-factor authentication.

3. Set the site address

   In .env, set APP_URL to the public https address of the site. Networks send people back to this address after they connect a channel, and System health warns on the Site address line when it is wrong. See Manual and .env setup.

4. Set the site name, URL and time zone

   Open Platform → Backend Settings → Global Settings and review Website Name, Website URL, Default Main Theme and Time Zone. See Global settings.

5. Configure email

   Open Platform → Backend Settings → SMTP Settings, fill in the SMTP details, save, and use Test Connection to send a test message. Registration emails, password resets and failed-post notices all depend on it. See Email and SMTP.

6. Decide who can register

   Open Platform → Backend Settings → Registration Settings to set User Registration, Email Verification and Subscribe During Registration. Social sign-in is configured under Auth Settings. See Registration and login.

7. Register the networks

   Open Publishing → Platforms and add credentials for each network you want to offer, then tick Available to users. Users only see networks that are saved and enabled. See Channel credentials and Publishing channels.

8. Review publishing settings

   Open Publishing → Settings and review how posts are sent, the retry and waiting limits, the Uploads ceilings, the watermark and the Default timezone. Read the System health list and fix every failed line. See Publishing settings.

9. Turn on AI features (optional)

   Open Publishing → Writing Models and Publishing → Media Models, add a provider key and switch at least one model on. Until you do, Write with AI in the Composer tells users that an administrator needs to set it up. See AI models and Integrations.

10. Set registration credits and storage

    Open Platform → General Settings and review Default Registration Credits and Default Storage. Free tier limits and features are set on the Free tier page instead, which is part of the Finance menu. See General settings.

11. Brand the website

    Under Platform → Frontend Settings upload your Logos, fill in the SEO Manager and review Pages. Under Platform → Backend Settings → GDPR Settings set up the cookie notice. See Website content and Privacy and cookies.

12. Turn on billing (optional)

    If you plan to sell plans, open Platform → General Settings, go to the Plugins tab, open SaaS Business and switch on Enable SaaS Business. The Finance menu then appears, with Pricing Plans, Free tier, Payment Gateways and Finance Settings. See SaaS overview and Payment gateways.

13. Confirm the license

    Open Platform → Activation and check that the status reads Activated. See License activation.

Do the first test post yourself before you invite users. The Quickstart walks through it.