Grav CMS is a modern flat-file content management system that’s lightweight, fast, and easy to use. Whether you're testing it locally or deploying it to a live server, setting up Grav is a breeze. Here’s a complete guide to installing Grav CMS on both localhost and a live hosting environment.

✅ Installing Grav CMS on Localhost

Step 1: Requirements

Before installation, make sure your local environment has:

PHP 7.3 or higher

Apache/Nginx or a local server like XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP

PHP extensions: mbstring, openssl, gd, curl, zip

Step 2: Download Grav

Visit the Grav CMS official site

Download the Grav Core + Admin package (recommended for beginners)

Step 3: Extract & Place in Local Server

Unzip the package

Move it to your local server directory (e.g., htdocs/grav for XAMPP)

Step 4: Access Grav

Start Apache from your local server

Navigate to http://localhost/grav/admin in your browser

Follow the admin setup wizard and you’re done!

🌐 Installing Grav CMS on a Live Server

Step 1: Choose a Hosting Provider

Ensure your hosting supports PHP 7.3+ and allows .htaccess files.

Step 2: Upload Grav

Download the Grav package

Upload it via FTP or File Manager to your public directory (like /public_html)

Unzip the files

Step 3: Set Permissions

Make sure cache/, logs/, images/, and assets/ directories are writable (755 or 775)

Step 4: Visit Your Domain

Go to yourdomain.com/admin and complete the setup.

💡 Pro Tips

Use Admin Panel for easy content creation

Backup frequently using the built-in backup plugin

For performance, enable Grav's caching system

Conclusion

Installing Grav CMS is simple whether you're working locally or deploying to a server. Its flat-file structure makes it fast and secure. Follow these steps and start building your website with Grav today!