
If you’re planning to build a modern, reliable, and scalable website for your business, TYPO3 is a powerful open-source CMS that delivers enterprise-level performance. With the release of TYPO3 version 13, many companies and developers are exploring how to get started. If you're using Ubuntu (a popular and stable Linux-based operating system), this article will guide you through the process of installing TYPO3 v13 on your server in a simple, clear, and professional way — without overwhelming technical commands.
In the digital-first era, your website is often the cornerstone of your brand and business operations. To ensure maximum flexibility, security, and future readiness, choosing the right Content Management System (CMS) is critical. TYPO3, a robust open-source enterprise CMS, has long been trusted by companies, universities, and government institutions across Europe and beyond.
With the release of TYPO3 version 13, this CMS brings even more performance, security, and editor-friendly enhancements to the table. And if you’re running your server on Ubuntu — one of the most secure and popular Linux distributions — you’re already starting from a strong foundation.
This article will walk you through the TYPO3 v13 installation process on Ubuntu, written especially for business professionals, content editors, project managers, and curious beginners. No complex commands — just a clear overview to help you understand the what, why, and how.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Linux, Microsoft Windows, or macOS (including deployment on all major cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud) |
| Web Server | Apache HTTP Server, Nginx, Microsoft IIS, or Caddy Server |
| Supported Browsers | Chrome (latest version), Edge (latest version), Firefox (latest version), Safari (latest version) |
| Composer | Composer version ≥ 2.1 |
| Database Systems | - MariaDB ≥ 10.4.3 ≤ 11.0.0 - MySQL ≥ 8.0.17 - PostgreSQL ≥ 10.0 - SQLite ≥ 3.8.3 |
| Hardware (Memory) | Minimum 256 MB RAM (higher recommended for production environments) |
| PHP Version | PHP ≥ 8.2.0 ≤ 8.4.99 (with all required extensions such as gd, mbstring, xml, curl, etc.) |
Go to the official TYPO3 download page:
https://get.typo3.org/
Once you're on the site, select version 13.4.14 (or the latest v13 release). You’ll be taken to a page like the one shown in your screenshot.
Under the "Download" section, look for the heading:
“Package Download (tar.gz, zip, signatures) – The classic way”
You will find multiple links. Click on the one that ends with .zip:
get.typo3.org/13.4.14/zip
This will download the entire TYPO3 source package as a .zip archive — ideal if you're installing TYPO3 manually without using Composer.
For security purposes, you can also download the .sig files to verify the integrity and authenticity of the package, but this is optional for beginners.
In this initial step, TYPO3’s Install Tool performs a system check to ensure your web server environment meets all necessary technical requirements.
It checks for:
PHP version compatibility (e.g., PHP 8.1 or later)
Required PHP extensions (like mysqli, mbstring, json, xml, etc.)
File and folder permissions (especially on typo3conf, fileadmin, var, etc.)
Database server availability
Web server configuration and general readiness
✅ What you should see:
A green message saying: "No problems detected, continue with installation"
This means your hosting environment (in this case, DDEV) is properly configured and ready for TYPO3. If any issues are detected, TYPO3 will display warnings or errors that need to be fixed before continuing.
TYPO3 now needs to connect to a MySQL-compatible database to store content, configuration, user data, and extension settings.
Fields you need to fill in:
Why "db"?
In a DDEV environment, db is the hostname for the MySQL container (defined in docker-compose). It allows TYPO3 to access the database server correctly from within the Docker network.
✅ Once all values are correctly entered, click Continue to test and establish the database connection.
After a successful connection, TYPO3 gives you the option to either:
Database names should be lowercase and avoid spaces or special characters. Underscores are allowed.
✅ Click Continue to have TYPO3 automatically create the new database and prepare it for use.
This step sets up your website and your first administrative account.
Fields to complete:
This user will have full backend access as a TYPO3 administrator and will also be able to access the Install Tool.
✅ Click Continue to save your admin user and website name.
The final screen confirms that TYPO3 is now installed.
You have two post-installation options:
Additional Option:
☑️ Create default backend user groups
This will generate two default groups:
These groups are useful when working with a team or content editors and can be customized later.
✅ Click Open the TYPO3 Backend to begin managing your website.
Congratulations — TYPO3 is now installed successfully! You're now ready to begin building and customizing your website. Here’s what you should do next:
Log in to the administrative interface using your credentials at:
<your-project>.ddev.site/typo3
This is your control center for managing content, templates, users, and extensions.
Head over to the Extension Manager to install TYPO3 system extensions or a Site Package to kickstart your development. Site packages provide pre-built layouts, templates, and configurations.
Use the Page Module to create your site's structure (also known as the "Page Tree"). Assign templates to your root page and begin adding content using Fluid-based content elements.
Set up and fine-tune:
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to secure your Install Tool (typo3/install.php) with a password and configure trusted hosts in your LocalConfiguration.php.