Simple Machines Community Forum

To help you find answers to your questions faster, the SMF team has put many common problems in the FAQ category of the online manual.

You can find them all at http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Category:FAQ

Here is a selection of FAQs currently available:

A

• Add a smiley set (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Add_a_smiley_set)
  
• Administration - I accidentally lost my admin account! What can I do (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Administration_-_I_accidentally_lost_my_admin_account!_What_can_I_do)
  
• All about permission profiles (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/All_about_permission_profiles)
  
• Archives - How do I extract files in an archive (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Archives_-_How_do_I_extract_files_in_an_archive)
  
• Avatars - How do I add new avatars (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Avatars_-_How_do_I_add_new_avatars)

B

• Backup (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Backup)
  
• Board Permissions (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Board_Permissions)
  
• Board Permissions - Limit posting location for newbies (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Board_Permissions_-_Limit_posting_location_for_newbies)
  
• Buttons - How do I add buttons to SMF 2.0 (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Buttons_-_How_do_I_add_buttons_to_SMF_2.0)

C

• CHMOD - What's that all about (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Using_chmod)
  
• Context - What is $context (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Context_-_What_is_$context)
  
• Conversions - How do I convert from my current software to SMF (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Conversions_-_How_do_I_convert_from_my_current_software_to_SMF)
  
• Copyright Information (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Copyright_Information)
  
• Creating a recycle board (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Creating_a_recycle_board)
  
• Cross references for other software (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Cross_references_for_other_software)
  
• Custom tabs - How do I add them to the Core (default) theme menu (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Custom_tabs_-_How_do_I_add_them_to_the_Core_(default)_theme_menu)

D

• Database - What is an SQL Database (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Database_-_What_is_an_SQL_Database)
  
• Default theme - What is it and why can't I delete it (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Default_theme_-_What_is_it_and_why_can't_I_delete_it)
  
• Directory - The directory where SMF is installed (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Directory_-_The_directory_where_SMF_is_installed)
  
• Disallow and Deny - What's the difference when it comes down to permissions (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Disallow_and_Deny_-_What's_the_difference_when_it_comes_down_to_permissions)
  
• Donate - How do I donate to SMF (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Donate_-_How_do_I_donate_to_SMF)

E

• E-Mails - Why are members not getting emails sent from the forum (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/E-Mails_-_Why_are_members_not_getting_emails_sent_from_the_forum)
  
• Error in mod installation (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Error_in_mod_installation)

F

• FTP - How do I use FTP (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/FTP_-_How_do_I_use_FTP)
  
• Fatal error: Cannot redeclare (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Fatal_error:_Cannot_redeclare)
  
• Favicon.ico (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Favicon.ico)
  
• Features (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Features)
  
• File check.php - What is it and what does it do (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/File_check.php_-_What_is_it_and_what_does_it_do)

H

• Hacking - I think I have been hacked (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Hacking_-_I_think_I_have_been_hacked)
  
• Help - Is help available in other languages (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Help_-_Is_help_available_in_other_languages)
  
• Help, I keep going back to the list of topics when I make a post (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Help,_I_keep_going_back_to_the_list_of_topics_when_I_make_a_post)
  
• How can I install a mod that doesn't work in my SMF version (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/How_can_I_install_a_mod_that_doesn't_work_in_my_SMF_version)
  
• How do I get rid of a Byte Order Mark (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/How_do_I_get_rid_of_a_Byte_Order_Mark)
  
• How do I set the forum width (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/How_do_I_set_the_forum_width)
  
• How to change the default forum language (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/How_to_change_the_default_forum_language)
  
• How to change the logo (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/How_to_change_the_logo)
  
• How to change your forum name to a new one (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/How_to_change_your_forum_name_to_a_new_one)
  
• How to create a new administrator or global moderator (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/How_to_create_a_new_administrator_or_global_moderator)
  
• How to put the forum in maintenance mode and back (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/How_to_put_the_forum_in_maintenance_mode_and_back)
  
• How to upload a fresh set of files (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/How_to_upload_a_fresh_set_of_files)

I

• Illegal installation - Why does it say I'm running an illegal SMF installation (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Illegal_installation_-_Why_does_it_say_I'm_running_an_illegal_SMF_installation)
  
• Images - How do I add images to the board's description (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Images_-_How_do_I_add_images_to_the_board's_description)
  
• Images - Why am I getting borders around images (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Images_-_Why_am_I_getting_borders_around_images)
  
• Installation - How do I install a theme (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Installation_-_How_do_I_install_a_theme)

J

K

• Karma - How do I reset karma totals to zero (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Karma_-_How_do_I_reset_karma_totals_to_zero)
  

L

• Languages - How do I add a new language (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Languages_-_How_do_I_add_a_new_language)
  
• Languages - How do I fix this "Installer unable to find language files" error I am getting (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Languages_-_How_do_I_fix_this_"Installer_unable_to_find_language_files"_error_I_am_getting)
  
• Languages - How to add or change phrases used by the forum software (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Languages_-_How_to_add_or_change_phrases_used_by_the_forum_software)
  
• Local Board Permissions (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Local_Board_Permissions_for_SMF_1.1.x)
  
• Logo - How do I remove the simple machines logo (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Logo_-_How_do_I_remove_the_simple_machines_logo)

M

• Manually setting a package installed or uninstalled (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Manually_setting_a_package_installed_or_uninstalled)
  
• Membergroups - How do I change a member's membergroup (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Membergroups_-_How_do_I_change_a_member's_membergroup)
  
• Membergroups - How do I create a board for certain membergroups only (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Membergroups_-_How_do_I_create_a_board_for_certain_membergroups_only)
  
• Mod security - Having problems with mod security (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Mod_security_-_Having_problems_with_mod_security)
  
• Moderators - How do I assign members as local moderators (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Moderators_-_How_do_I_assign_members_as_local_moderators)
  
• Modifications - A mod broke my forum what should I do (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Modifications_-_A_mod_broke_my_forum_what_should_I_do)
  
• Modifications/Mods - What is a mod (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Modifications/Mods_-_What_is_a_mod)
  
• MySQL has gone away / Lost connection to server during query (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/MySQL_has_gone_away_/_Lost_connection_to_server_during_query)

O

• On file and directory permission and ownership (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/On_file_and_directory_permission_and_ownership)
  
• One of my members forgot his/her password. How can I retrieve it (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/One_of_my_members_forgot_his/her_password._How_can_I_retrieve_it)

P

• Packages - How to upload packages using FTP (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Packages_-_How_to_upload_packages_using_FTP)
  
• Permissions - How do I set up post-count based membergroup permissions (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Permissions_-_How_do_I_set_up_post-count_based_membergroup_permissions)
  
• Personal messages - Are administrators able to view their members' PMs (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Personal_messages_-_Are_administrators_able_to_view_their_members'_PMs)
  
• PhpMyAdmin (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/PhpMyAdmin)
  
• What is phpinfo() (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/What_is_a_phpinfo%28%29_file)
  

R

• Recent posts - How do I show the most recent posts on the main page of my website (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Recent_posts_-_How_do_I_show_the_most_recent_posts_on_the_main_page_of_my_website)
  
• Redistribution - Am I allowed to redistribute a modified copy of the SMF software (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Redistribution_-_Am_I_allowed_to_redistribute_a_modified_copy_of_the_SMF_software)
  
• Redistribution - Am I allowed to redistribute mods (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Redistribution_-_Am_I_allowed_to_redistribute_mods)
  
• Registration - How do I edit the registration/welcome email (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Registration_-_How_do_I_edit_the_registration/welcome_email)
  
• Repair settings.php (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Repair_settings.php)

S

• Spam - my forum is flooded with spam, what can I do (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Spam_-_my_forum_is_flooded_with_spam,_what_can_I_do)
  

T

• Themes - I don't like or want the default theme - can't I just change it (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Themes_-_I_don't_like_or_want_the_default_theme_-_can't_I_just_change_it)

U

• UTF-8 Readme (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/UTF-8_Readme)
  

V

• Visual verification code - It doesn't work. What should I do (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Visual_verification_code_-_It_doesn't_work._What_should_I_do)

W

• What members are allowed to see and do (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/What_members_are_allowed_to_see_and_do)
  
• What the white screen of death means (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/What_the_white_screen_of_death_means)
  
• Why do I have partially blank or missing text in posts (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Why_do_I_have_partially_blank_or_missing_text_in_posts)
  
• Why is my new post indicator missing in the message index (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/Why_is_my_new_post_indicator_missing_in_the_message_index)
  
• www.redirect (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/WwwRedirect)
  

X

• XML feeds (http://wiki.simplemachines.org/smf/XML_feeds)
  

Nice guide, or what you would like to call it AngelinaBelle ;)
Good job.

Good to have this info all in one place, thanks!

We have Illori to thank for producing this list.
Thank you Illori