Install a Quickstart Package - Guides for every template | JoomShaper

Install a Quickstart Package

Updated 8 Oct 2026 6 min read

A Quickstart package gives you a complete Joomla website with a JoomShaper template, demo content, required extensions, and template settings already configured. Once installed, your website will closely match the template demo and give you a ready-made starting point.

Important: A Quickstart package includes the Joomla core and must be installed as a fresh Joomla website. You cannot install a Quickstart package inside an existing Joomla website through the Joomla Extension Manager.

The Quickstart package may not include all of the images shown on the demo site due to licensing restrictions.

Before You Begin

Before installing the Quickstart package, make sure you have:

  • A hosting account or local development environment
  • A fresh database
  • The Quickstart package for your chosen template
  • A supported PHP version
  • Access to your hosting control panel or SFTP/FTP
  • A domain or subdomain pointing to the installation directory

If you're new to JoomShaper templates, we recommend installing the Quickstart package on a testing or development environment first. This lets you explore the demo pages, settings, modules, and extensions before building your own website.

Technical Requirements

Make sure your server meets the requirements for Joomla and the JoomShaper Quickstart package.

Server Requirements

We recommend a Linux-based server running Apache or a compatible web server. You can also install Joomla locally using tools such as XAMPP, MAMP, WAMP, or similar environments.

Recommended requirements:

  • PHP: 8.2, 8.3, or 8.4
  • PHP memory limit: 256 MB or higher
  • PHP post max size: 128 MB or higher
  • PHP upload max filesize: 32 MB or higher
  • PHP max execution time: 300 seconds or higher
  • MySQL: 8.0 or higher
  • MariaDB: 10.4.0 or higher

Required PHP features and extensions include:

  • cURL
  • OpenSSL
  • file_get_contents()
  • GD
  • mb_* functions

Some templates and extensions may have additional requirements.

Important: PHP 7.x and PHP 8.0 are no longer supported. If your server uses an older PHP version, update it through your hosting control panel or contact your hosting provider.

What Does the Quickstart Package Include?

A Quickstart package typically includes:

  • Joomla CMS
  • JoomShaper template
  • Helix Ultimate framework
  • Required extensions
  • Demo content
  • Template settings and configurations
  • SP Page Builder Pro, where included
  • Demo pages and layouts

The package is designed to reproduce the structure and functionality of the template demo.

Demo content is provided to demonstrate the template's features. You can replace or delete it once you start building your own website.

Step 1: Download the Quickstart Package

Download the Quickstart package for your template from the official JoomShaper website.

Make sure you download the Quickstart package, not the standalone Template package.

Security note: Only download JoomShaper installation packages from the official JoomShaper website. Packages from unofficial sources may contain modified or malicious files.

Step 2: Extract the Package

After downloading the Quickstart package:

  1. Extract the downloaded ZIP file on your computer.

  2. Open the extracted folder.

  3. Make sure you can access the Joomla installation files.

  4. Keep the extracted files ready for upload.

Do not upload the ZIP file as a Joomla extension. The Quickstart package is a complete Joomla installation.

Step 3: Create a New Database

Before uploading the Quickstart files, create a database for your new Joomla installation.

From your hosting control panel:

  1. Open your database management or database wizard.

  2. Create a new MySQL or MariaDB database.

  3. Create a database user.

  4. Assign the user full permissions to the database.

  5. Keep your database name, username, password, and host details available for the installation.

We recommend using a fresh database for a Quickstart installation.

Step 4: Prepare the Installation Directory

Choose where you want to install the website.

This could be:

  • Your main domain
  • A subdomain
  • A subdirectory
  • A local development directory

If you're reusing a directory that already contains Joomla files, remove the existing Joomla configuration.php file before starting the new installation.

If an index.html file exists in the installation directory, remove it as well so it doesn't prevent the Joomla installer from loading.

Important: Make sure you are working in the correct directory before deleting or replacing files.

Step 5: Upload the Quickstart Files

Upload the extracted Quickstart files and folders to your chosen installation directory.

For a typical hosting setup, this may be the public_html directory or the document root of your domain or subdomain.

You can upload the files using:

  • SFTP
  • FTP
  • Your hosting control panel's file manager

If you're using FTP or SFTP, keep the connection available during the installation in case you need to make any file changes.

Step 6: Start the Joomla Installation

Open your domain or subdomain in a browser.

For example:

https://yourdomain.com

or:

https://demo.yourdomain.com

You should be taken to the Joomla Web Installer.

Follow the installation steps and provide:

  1. Site information: Enter your website name and other required details.
  2. Administrator account: Create your Super User account and password.
    Security tip: Do not use admin as your Super User username. Choose a unique username instead.
  3. Database configuration: Enter the database name, username, password, host, and table prefix when requested.
  4. Installation: Complete the Joomla installation and wait for the process to finish.

The Quickstart package will install the Joomla core, template, included extensions, configurations, and demo data.

Step 7: Complete the Installation

Once the installation finishes successfully, Joomla will display a confirmation message.

Follow any instructions shown by the installer to complete the setup.

After installation:

  1. Check that your website loads correctly.
  2. Log in to the Joomla administrator area.
  3. Go to your template and extension settings.
  4. Open the frontend and compare it with the template demo.

Your Quickstart installation should now contain the template's demo pages, menus, modules, and content.

Step 8: Configure .htaccess

If you're using an Apache server and want to enable Joomla's URL rewriting, locate the htaccess.txt file in your Joomla root directory and rename it to:

.htaccess

Before doing this, make sure your hosting environment supports Apache .htaccess files.

If you're unsure about your server configuration, contact your hosting provider.

Step 9: Explore the Demo Website

Before replacing the demo content, take some time to explore how the template is built.

Check:

  • SP Page Builder pages
  • Joomla articles
  • Menus
  • Mega menu
  • Off-canvas menu
  • Site modules
  • Header and footer
  • Template settings
  • Helix Ultimate options
  • Dynamic Content, where used
  • Included extensions

The Quickstart installation is useful as a reference because it shows how the different parts of the template work together.

Step 10: Replace the Demo Content

The demo content is only provided as an example. You can remove or replace it with your own content.

Replace:

  • Demo text
  • Images
  • Articles
  • Menu items
  • Modules
  • SP Page Builder content
  • Contact information
  • Social links
  • Other sample content

The Quickstart gives you the structure and configuration. You can then adapt it to your own website.

Quickstart Installation Problems

If the installation gets stuck, takes unusually long, or freezes while creating database tables, check your server configuration first.

Make sure:

  • PHP is a supported version
  • PHP memory limit meets the requirements
  • max_execution_time is high enough
  • post_max_size meets the requirements
  • upload_max_filesize meets the requirements
  • MySQL or MariaDB meets the requirements
  • Required PHP extensions are enabled

Quickstart packages contain considerably more data than a standalone template, so insufficient server resources can cause installation timeouts.

If the problem continues after confirming the requirements, contact your hosting provider or JoomShaper support with the installation details and any relevant error messages.

Before You Start Building

Once the Quickstart installation is complete:

  • Replace the demo content
  • Replace demo images where required
  • Review your menus
  • Review your modules
  • Check your SP Page Builder pages
  • Configure your template settings
  • Review the header and footer
  • Check your site on desktop and mobile
  • Create a backup before making major changes

Your Quickstart website is now ready to customize.