How to Install TYPO3 CMS on Ubuntu

Published on : 06 May 2025

Sanjay Chauhan

TYPO3 Install

Ubuntu is one olf the most popular Linux distributions, known for its large community, user-friendliness, and frequent updates. Installing TYPO3 on Ubuntu is a breeze—perfect for newcomers and seasoned developers alike.

If you’ve ever looked into different operating systems beyond Windows and macOS, you’ve probably come across the name Ubuntu. But what exactly is it? And why do so many developers, businesses, and even casual users love it?

What is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is a free and open-source operating system based on Linux. Think of it like the heart of a computer — it’s the system that lets you run software, browse the internet, manage files, and much more. The beauty of Ubuntu is that it’s built on the idea of freedom and sharing. Unlike Windows or macOS, where you're limited by licenses and paid software, Ubuntu is available for anyone to download, use, and even modify — completely legally and at no cost.

Wait ! Before moving further, are you considering launching or hosting your TYPO3 site on another platform?We recommend checking out our TYPO3 Installation Series below for step-by-step guides on various platforms.

In this guide, we will walk you through how to install TYPO3 on Ubuntu 22.04.

What is TYPO3?

TYPO3 is a free, open-source Content Management System (CMS) built to help businesses and organizations create, manage, and grow their websites. It was founded in 1997 by Kasper Skårhøj and has since become one of the most popular CMS platforms—especially across Europe.

TYPO3 is written in PHP and uses TypoScript, a powerful configuration language that allows for advanced customization and flexibility. You don’t need any special software—TYPO3 runs in your browser and outputs content using standard HTML and JavaScript.

Whether you’re running a small business site, a university portal, or a large enterprise website, TYPO3 can scale to fit your needs.

Imagine an enterprise CMS that evolves as your project grows—without piling on complexity. That’s TYPO3 for you! It’s an open-source powerhouse that excels at:

here are the key reasons that TYPO3 Developers, marketers, and agencies trust TYPO3 for its:

Modularity: Make your website do exactly what you need. No more, no less.
Security & Stability: Regular LTS (Long-Term Support) releases help you stay secure for years.
Scalability: From a tiny local site to a massive global platform, TYPO3 can handle it.
Community-Driven Development: Enjoy a lively global community that refines and evolves TYPO3 continuously.

Did You Know? TYPO3 powers over 500,000+ active websites around the world!

Why use TYPO3?

TYPO3 offers advanced features like granular user roles, multisite management, and a strong ecosystem of extensions. It’s perfect for businesses and agencies that need scalability and long-term support.

Why Run TYPO3 on Ubuntu?

Wide Community Support: Abundant tutorials, forums, and packages for quick troubleshooting.
Regular Security Updates: Canonical provides timely patches, keeping your TYPO3 installation secure.
Flexible: Easily customizable for both development and production environments.
Stability & LTS Releases: Long-Term Support versions offer extended support cycles.

Requirements to Run TYPO3 Ubuntu Smoothly

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (or another LTS release for stability)
Web Server: Apache 2.4+ (or Nginx with manual configuration)
Database: MariaDB 10.4+ or MySQL 5.7+
PHP Version: PHP 8.1 or newer

Who Can Benefit from This TYPO3 Install Guide?

Beginners installing TYPO3 on Ubuntu for the first time.
Developers setting up TYPO3 on Ubuntu servers or cloud platforms.
System Administrators managing TYPO3 in secure Ubuntu environments.
Agencies & Freelancers hosting multiple TYPO3 sites on Ubuntu VPS.
Tech Enthusiasts exploring TYPO3 installation via Composer or classic methods.
Small Business Owners wanting a secure, open-source TYPO3 setup on Ubuntu.

Architecture of Ubuntu & TYPO3

TYPO3 Versions & Support Roadmap

Before diving in, note TYPO3’s release cycles:

LTS (Long-Term Support): Typically three years of updates per major release.
ELTS (Extended LTS): Paid option if you need extra time beyond standard LTS.

Staying on a currently supported LTS means you’ll get important security patches and feature improvements.

View Roadmap

TYPO3 Version & PHP Compatibility for Composer Install

1. PHP & TYPO3 Compatibility

TYPO3 Version	PHP Versions	Status
9 ELTS	7.2–7.4	Active ELTS
10 ELTS	7.2–7.4	Active ELTS
11 ELTS	7.4, 8.0	Active ELTS
12 LTS	8.1–8.4	Active ELTS
13 LTS	8.2–8.4	Active ELTS

2. System Requirements

Web Server: Apache or Nginx
Database: MariaDB/MySQL recommended
Composer: Recommended for a smoother TYPO3 experience

Always verify with TYPO3’s official System requirements to ensure you’re up to date.

Composer vs Classic TYPO3 Installation

Diagram Explanation:

Composer automates versioning, dependency management, and updates.
Classic is manual but sometimes easier on hosts without CLI access.

How to Install TYPO3 on Ubuntu

Step 1. Update & Upgrade Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2. Install Web Server & Database

sudo apt install apache2 -y
sudo systemctl enable apache2
sudo systemctl start apache2

sudo apt install apache2 -y
sudo systemctl enable apache2
sudo systemctl start apache2

MariaDB

sudo apt install mariadb-server mariadb-client -y
sudo mysql_secure_installation

sudo apt install mariadb-server mariadb-client -y
sudo mysql_secure_installation

Create TYPO3 Database

sudo mysql -u root -p
CREATE DATABASE typo3db;
CREATE USER 'typo3user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'supersecret';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON typo3db.* TO 'typo3user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

sudo mysql -u root -p
CREATE DATABASE typo3db;
CREATE USER 'typo3user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'supersecret';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON typo3db.* TO 'typo3user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Step 3. PHP & Composer Setup

sudo apt install php php-cli php-mysql php-xml php-gd php-curl \
             php-zip php-intl php-mbstring php-fpm -y

php -r "copy('https://getcomposer.org/installer', 'composer-setup.php');"
sudo php composer-setup.php --install-dir=/usr/local/bin --filename=composer
composer --version

sudo apt install php php-cli php-mysql php-xml php-gd php-curl \
             php-zip php-intl php-mbstring php-fpm -y

php -r "copy('https://getcomposer.org/installer', 'composer-setup.php');"
sudo php composer-setup.php --install-dir=/usr/local/bin --filename=composer
composer --version

Step 4. TYPO3 Installation

Choose Composer (recommended) or Classic.

Composer Method

cd /var/www/html
sudo composer create-project typo3/cms-base-distribution typo3cms
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data typo3cms
sudo chmod -R 755 typo3cms

Composer Method

cd /var/www/html
sudo composer create-project typo3/cms-base-distribution typo3cms
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data typo3cms
sudo chmod -R 755 typo3cms

Classic Method

Download TYPO3 zip from the official site.
Unzip into /var/www/html/typo3cms.
Set permissions similarly.

Step 5. Web Server Configuration

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName yourdomain.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/typo3cms/public

    <Directory /var/www/html/typo3cms/public>
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/typo3-error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/typo3-access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName yourdomain.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/typo3cms/public

    <Directory /var/www/html/typo3cms/public>
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/typo3-error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/typo3-access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 6. Final Steps

Open YOUR_VM_IP or your custom domain in a browser:

TYPO3 Installer Wizard will appear.
Provide database credentials.
Create an admin account.
Login to the TYPO3 backend, and voilà—you’re set.

See below for a step-by-step guide on how to set up and install TYPO3.

How to Start TYPO3 Installation Wizard

Once all server configurations are complete, it’s time to finish the setup through the TYPO3 Installation Wizard. This user-friendly, step-by-step wizard helps you finalize the installation process directly in your browser.

Step 1. Check the System Environment (detect if any issues)

TYPO3 will scan your server for required PHP extensions, folder permissions, and system settings. Fix any issues listed before proceeding,

Step 2. Setup Your Database Credentials

Enter the database name, username, and password you created earlier. TYPO3 will use this to store your content and configurations.

Step 3. Choose an Existing Database or Create a New

Select an existing empty database or let TYPO3 create a new one for you.

Step 4. Create backend user & Site

Set up the backend administrator account. Make sure to choose a secure password—you’ll use this to log into the TYPO3 dashboard.

Step 5. Installation Process Start

Define your site name and initial setup options. You can also choose to load a distribution or start with a blank site.

You did it! Now you have a running TYPO3 site on AWS.

Step 6. Get Start with Backend Login

TYPO3 will complete the setup and redirect you to the backend login page.

TYPO3 Ubuntu vs Other Platforms

Choosing the right environment for your TYPO3 project depends on your technical needs, budget, and scalability plans. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:

Platform	Best For	Key Benefits	Things to Consider
Ubuntu (Self-Managed)	Developers and teams wanting full control and customization	Free, open-source, highly flexible, large community support, easy optimization for TYPO3	Requires server management skills (updates, security, performance tuning)
Google Cloud Platform	Teams already using Google ecosystem	Easy G Suite integration, powerful analytics tools, scalable infrastructure	Slightly higher learning curve for beginners
AWS (Amazon Web Services)	Scalable production environments	High availability, global reach, flexible resources, strong security	Slightly higher learning curve for beginners
Microsoft Azure	Enterprises using Microsoft technologies	Seamless integration with Windows, Office, Active Directory, hybrid cloud	Licensing and costs may be higher
Docker / Docker Compose	Local dev, testing, or microservices setups	Lightweight, fast to deploy, reproducible environments	Needs Docker expertise, not ideal for large production without orchestration
Platform.sh	Developers focused on CI/CD & automation	Git-based workflows, automatic scaling, zero-downtime deployments	Less control over underlying infrastructure, premium pricing

Top DevOps Tips for Running TYPO3 on Ubuntu

1. TYPO3 CI/CD Pipelines

Use GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Bitbucket Pipelines to automate deployments. Set up jobs to test, build, and deploy TYPO3 updates automatically.

2. TYPO3 Application Context

TYPO3’s Application Context helps you separate dev, test, and production modes. Set the TYPO3_CONTEXT environment variable for environment-specific configurations.

3. Security & Performance Tips for TYPO3

Enable SSL/TLS: Get a free Let’s Encrypt certificate.
Firewall & Security Group Rules: Limit inbound traffic to essential ports.
Caching: Use built-in TYPO3 caching, or go advanced with Varnish or Redis. 40

4. TYPO3 Maintenance & Updates

Composer Upgrades: cd /var/www/html/typo3cms && composer update
Regular Backups: Snapshots via Azure or daily mysqldump exports.
Staging Environments: Test new features or updates before going live

Conclusion

Installing TYPO3 on Ubuntu is straightforward and well-documented. By leveraging Ubuntu’s LTS and large community, you’ll enjoy a stable, secure environment. Once you’re set up, you can easily expand with caching mechanisms, SSL, or multiple site configurations to fit your project’s needs.

Happy TYPO3ing on Ubuntu!

FAQs For TYPO3 Ubuntu

Yes. Just install nginx, configure a server block, and ensure php-fpm is running.

Make sure you run sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/typo3cms.

TYPO3 supports both equally well. MariaDB is a drop-in replacement for MySQL.

Use Let’s Encrypt (certbot) to obtain a free SSL certificate, then update your Apache/Nginx config for port 443.

Tweak PHP settings (/etc/php/8.1/apache2/php.ini), use caching (e.g., Redis or OPCache), and monitor system resources.

Apache logs: /var/log/apache2/. PHP errors may appear in the same or a separate log depending on your config.

Yes. Create multiple virtual hosts, each with its own directory and database.

If using Composer, update composer.json and run composer update. For classic, replace the core files with the new version.

Sanjay Chauhan

CTO at T3Planet & NITSAN

Sanjay Chauhan, Co-Founder of NITSAN (Award winning TYPO3 agency) and Pioneer of T3Planet (first-ever TYPO3 Shop). A true TYPO3 fanatic since 2010. I bring strong TYPO3 experience in building customer-business…

How to Install TYPO3 CMS on Ubuntu

What is Ubuntu?

Why use TYPO3?

1. PHP & TYPO3 Compatibility

2. System Requirements

Step 1. Update & Upgrade Ubuntu

1. TYPO3 CI/CD Pipelines

2. TYPO3 Application Context

3. Security & Performance Tips for TYPO3

4. TYPO3 Maintenance & Updates

FAQs For TYPO3 Ubuntu

Sanjay Chauhan

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