After installing TYPO3, it's time to professionally set up your website. A good basic configuration ensures better performance, security, and user-friendliness. In this guide, we will go through all the essential settings.

Backend Access

The TYPO3 backend is the management center of your website.

Opening the Backend

1. Open your browser
2. Go to https://jouwdomein.nl/typo3
3. Log in with your admin credentials
4. You will arrive at the TYPO3 backend dashboard

Understanding Backend Navigation

The backend consists of different modules:

• Web: Page and content management
• File: File management (fileadmin)
• Admin Tools: System configuration
• System: Advanced settings

Configuring Important Settings

Start with the basic settings.

Accessing the Install Tool

1. Go to Admin Tools and then Settings
2. Or go directly to https://jouwdomein.nl/typo3/install.php
3. Log in with the Install Tool password

Basic Site Settings

In the Install Tool, go to Settings:

1. Click on Configure Installation-Wide Options
2. Configure the main options:
• sitename: The name of your website
• BE/lockSSL: Enable for HTTPS-only backend
• BE/sessionTimeout: Set session timeout
• SYS/trustedHostsPattern: Allowed hostnames

Configuring Email

Set the mail settings in:

// In config/system/settings.php
'MAIL' => [
    'transport' => 'smtp',
    'transport_smtp_server' => 'mail.jouwdomein.nl:587',
    'transport_smtp_username' => 'info@jouwdomein.nl',
    'transport_smtp_password' => 'your-password',
    'transport_smtp_encrypt' => 'tls',
    'defaultMailFromAddress' => 'info@jouwdomein.nl',
    'defaultMailFromName' => 'My Website',
],

Creating Site Configuration

TYPO3 12+ uses site configurations for URL handling.

New Site Configuration

1. Go to Site Management and then Sites
2. Click on + Add new site
3. Configure the basic settings:
• Identifier: unique-identifier
• Root Page ID: ID of your root page
• Base: https://jouwdomein.nl/

Language Settings

Configure languages for your site:

1. In the site configuration, go to Languages
2. By default, there is a Default language
3. Add additional languages if necessary:
• Click on Create new language
• Select the language
• Set the URL prefix (e.g., /en/ for English)

Error Handling

Set error pages:

1. Go to Error Handling in the site configuration
2. Configure handlers for:
• 404: Page not found
• 403: No access
• 500: Server error
3. Refer to special error pages

Building the Page Tree

Create the structure of your website.

Creating the Root Page

1. Go to Web and then Page
2. Right-click on the root and choose Page
3. Create a page with:
• Title: Homepage or Website name
• Type: Standard
4. This will be your root page

Adding Subpages

1. Right-click on the root page
2. Choose New page
3. Create pages for:
• About Us
• Services
• Contact
• etc.
4. Drag to adjust the order

Page Properties

Each page has properties:

1. Select a page
2. Go to Page properties
3. Configure:
• General: Title, navigation title
• Metadata: SEO title, description
• Appearance: Template selection
• Access: Publication and access

Setting Up Templates

Templates determine the appearance of your site.

Installing Site Package

TYPO3 uses site packages for templates:

# Via Composer
composer require vendor/site-package
# Or create your own package

TypoScript Basics

TypoScript configures the rendering:

1. Go to Web and then Template
2. Select your root page
3. Click on Create new website
4. Add basic TypoScript:

page = PAGE
page {
    10 = FLUIDTEMPLATE
    10 {
        templateName = Default
        templateRootPaths.10 = EXT:site_package/Resources/Private/Templates/
        partialRootPaths.10 = EXT:site_package/Resources/Private/Partials/
        layoutRootPaths.10 = EXT:site_package/Resources/Private/Layouts/
    }
}

Fluid Templates

Create HTML templates with Fluid:

<!-- Templates/Default.html -->
<f:layout name="Default" />
<f:section name="content">
    <main>
        <f:render partial="Header" />
        <f:cObject typoscriptObjectPath="lib.mainContent" />
    </main>
</f:section>

Creating Backend Users

Create accounts for content managers.

Adding a User

1. Go to System and then Backend Users
2. Click on Create new record
3. Fill in:
• Username: username
• Password: strong password
• Realname: Full name
• Email: Email address
4. Assign a group

User Groups

1. Go to Backend User Groups
2. Create groups such as:
• Editors: Can edit content
• Admins: Full access
3. Configure rights per group:
• Access to modules
• Language rights
• Page rights

Configuring Cache

Optimize caching for performance.

Clearing Cache

In the backend:

1. Click on the lightning icon in the top right
2. Select Flush frontend caches or Flush all caches

Via command line:

vendor/bin/typo3 cache:flush

Cache Settings

In config/system/settings.php:

'SYS' => [
    'caching' => [
        'cacheConfigurations' => [
            'hash' => [
                'backend' => 'TYPO3\\CMS\\Core\\Cache\\Backend\\ApcuBackend',
            ],
            'pages' => [
                'backend' => 'TYPO3\\CMS\\Core\\Cache\\Backend\\FileBackend',
                'options' => [
                    'compression' => true,
                ],
            ],
        ],
    ],
],

Setting Up Scheduler

Schedule automatic tasks.

Activating Scheduler

1. Go to Admin Tools and then Scheduler
2. View available tasks
3. Activate tasks such as:
• Clearing cache
• Updating index
• File cleanup

Configuring Cronjob

Via DirectAdmin:

*/15* * * * cd /path/to/typo3 && vendor/bin/typo3 scheduler:run

This runs the scheduler every 15 minutes.

Next Steps

Now that your TYPO3 is configured:

• Install required extensions
• Create your first content
• Configure forms
• Set up redirects

Related Articles

• TYPO3 System Requirements
• Installing TYPO3
• TYPO3 Performance

Need Help?

We are here for you! Are you facing any issues or do you have questions? Our support team is happy to assist you personally. Send us a message via the ticket system - we usually respond within a few hours and are happy to help.