In this tutorial, you will learn how to install SMF in Softaculous, using the cPanel dashboard, available to users on one of Hosted.com’s cPanel Web Hosting plans.
Simple Machines Forum (SMF) is a feature-rich platform for building and administering social networks, discussion forums, and online communities. It has become popular with individuals, companies, and organizations because of its simplified interface, customization possibilities, moderation tools, and security features that help create a vibrant online community.
This tutorial assumes you have cPanel and are logged in.
Table of Contents
Install SMF from Softaculous
1. SMF can be found under the dropdown list for Forum; expand this menu and select “SMF” from the list.

2. Once you click “SMF”, you will be taken to the Overview page to view more information about this software.

For Quick Install
3. Click “Quick Install” from the Install tab. The next two boxes require you to type in your selected Domain and the Directory. The Directory is relative to your domain and should not exist. e.g. To install at http://mydomain/dir/, type “dir”. To install only in http://mydomain/, leave this empty.

4. Fill in your Admin Account details and click “Install”.
For Custom Install
3. The Custom Install process is similar: Select the option from the Install tab. Under Software Setup, choose your Protocol, Domain, and Directory, which should be empty. If you have multiple Domains on one account, you can select where to install them.

Note: The directory is relative to your Domain and should not exist. e.g. To install at http://mydomain/dir/, type “dir”. To install only in http://mydomain/, leave this empty.
4. Under Board Settings, enter a Board Name, choose the type of Visual verification image to display, and Board Email, if necessary. These can be changed later from the application’s Admin Panel. Next, fill in your Admin Account details and select the language. You can also change this later from the Software’s Admin Panel.
After Quick & Custom Installations
5. After clicking “Install” in both processes, the software will be installed, and you can view your new site by clicking the Installation link.
That’s it. Your new SMF installation is ready to use.
You’ve reached the end of the tutorial. Now you know how to install SMF from Softaculous.
<a href=”https://softaculous.com/” alt=”Link to Softaculous – Apps and WordPress Manager” title=”Softaculous – Apps and WordPress Manager” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>
Additional Information:
Key Benefits Of Using SMF
Installing Simple Machines Forum (SMF) can be beneficial for various reasons, especially if you want to create an online community or discussion platform. Here are some more of the key benefits of using SMF:
Community Building
With SMF, you can establish and oversee virtual gathering places where people can communicate, exchange knowledge, and hold debates. SMF offers a space for assembling a devoted following around shared passions or subjects.
User Engagement
Through providing features like user groups, private messaging, discussion boards, and member profiles, SMF encourages user involvement. It promotes communication and active engagement among community members.
Content Organization
SMF makes it simple for users to locate pertinent subjects and information by allowing you to place group discussions into categories and subforums. Boards can be made for specific subjects, occasions, or hobbies to make conversations accessible and well-structured.
Customization
SMF has several customization options, including themes, templates, and plugins, enabling you to customize the look and feel of your forum to your branding or personal tastes. You can make a distinctive and eye-catching forum by altering the design, fonts, colors, and more.
Moderation
Powerful moderation tools assist you in running your community efficiently. Moderators can enforce forum rules, approve posts, ban users, and manage reported content. This guarantees that conversations stay courteous.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO benefits include XML sitemap creation, customizable meta tags, and URLs optimized for search engines. This helps increase your forum’s exposure in search engine results and draws in more guests and possible members.
Security Feature
SMF has built-in safety measures to protect your forum against common security risks like spam, hackers, and hostile assaults. The platform is regularly updated and patched to fix security flaws and guarantee the data privacy of your community members.
Scalability
SMF is easily scalable and can handle expanding communities. Regardless of how large or small your community platform is, this platform can manage enormous traffic volumes and a large user base without compromising stability or performance.