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Piwigo

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Piwigo

This page explains the Piwigo one-click installer in GoAdmio. It lets you install a complete Piwigo photo gallery on a domain in a single step — no manual file upload, no database setup, no configuration.

Location: Admin Panel → Scripts → Piwigo
Location (User Panel): Scripts → Piwigo (if enabled for the account)


Overview

Piwigo is a free, open-source photo gallery and image management platform. It is designed for photographers, artists, and organizations that need to publish and organize large collections of images — with albums, tags, permissions, and a plugin ecosystem.

GoAdmio's one-click installer handles the entire setup:

  • Downloads the latest Piwigo release
  • Creates the database and database user
  • Configures Piwigo's local/config/database.inc.php with the correct credentials
  • Installs Piwigo in the chosen directory
  • Runs the installation wizard (gallery name, admin user, admin password)
The result is a fully working photo gallery, ready for images.

> Note: The one-click installer is for new installations. For migrating an existing Piwigo gallery, use Backup Wizard or restore from a Piwigo backup.


What the Page Shows

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Domain | The domain to install Piwigo on (e.g., example.com) |
| Directory | The installation path (e.g., /home/example.com/www) |
| Version | The Piwigo version to install (e.g., Latest Version) |
| Database Name | The database to use — prefixed with the account username |
| Database Username | The database user — prefixed with the account username |
| Database Password | The password for the database user — you must enter a new password |
| Install | Run the installation |

> Important: The Database Password field does not auto-generate. You must enter a new password for the new database. Choose a strong password and store it securely.


Prerequisites

Before installing Piwigo:

  1. A domain is set up on the account — see Create New Account or Addon Domains.
  2. DNS points to the server — the domain resolves to the GoAdmio server. See DNS Manager and Track DNS.
  3. The document root exists — usually www/<domain> — see Change Document Root.
  4. The domain is not suspended — see Suspend Account.
  5. The account has disk space and database limits — see Show Accounts Over Quota and Add/Modify Packages.
  6. PHP and MySQL are running — see Service Status.
  7. PHP version is compatible — Piwigo requires PHP 7.4+ (check the Piwigo documentation for the current minimum). See MultiPHP Manager.
  8. PHP gd or imagick extension is installed — required for image processing. See Install PHP Modules.
> Tip: Photo galleries benefit from adequate PHP memory and upload limits. Ensure memory_limit is at least 256M and upload_max_filesize is generous — see PHP Configuration.

How to Install Piwigo

Step 1 — Open the installer

  1. Log in to the GoAdmio Admin Panel (or User Panel).
  2. Navigate to Scripts → Piwigo.

Step 2 — Select the domain

  1. Choose the Domain from the dropdown.
  2. The Directory field auto-fills with the account's document root.
  3. Adjust the directory if you want Piwigo in a subdirectory (e.g., /home/example.com/www/gallery).

Step 3 — Choose the version

  1. Select the Version — usually Latest Version.
  2. If other versions are available, choose the one you need.
> Tip: Always use the latest version — it includes security fixes and performance improvements.

Step 4 — Configure the database

  1. The Database Name and Database Username are pre-filled with the account's username prefix.
  2. Add a suffix if you want a specific name (e.g., gallery), or leave the default.
  3. Enter a new password in the Database Password field.
- Use a strong password — the installer does not generate one. - Store the password in a password manager.

> Warning: The database password is not auto-generated. If you leave it blank or use a weak password, the database is at risk. Use a strong password and save it immediately.

Step 5 — Install

  1. Click Install.
  2. GoAdmio downloads Piwigo, creates the database, configures the gallery files, and installs Piwigo.
  3. The installation may take a minute or two.
  4. When complete, GoAdmio shows the Piwigo installation wizard or a link to it.

Step 6 — Complete the Piwigo setup

  1. Open the installation wizard at https://<domain>/install.php (or the URL shown).
  2. Follow the wizard:
- Welcome — review the requirements - Database — verify the pre-filled credentials - Admin — set the admin username, password, and email - Gallery — set the gallery name and description
  1. Click Start installation.
  2. Delete the install directory — Piwigo requires this for security.
  3. Log in at https://<domain>/admin.php with the credentials you set.
> Tip: The Piwigo admin username is not the same as the hosting account username. Choose a distinct, non-obvious admin username to reduce brute-force risk.

What the Installer Creates

| Item | Created? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Piwigo files | ✅ Yes | In the chosen directory |
| Database | ✅ Yes | With the account's username prefix |
| Database user | ✅ Yes | With the account's username prefix |
| local/config/database.inc.php | ✅ Yes | With the database credentials |
| Piwigo admin user | ⚠️ Via the wizard | You set it in step 6 |
| Gallery name | ⚠️ Via the wizard | You set it in step 6 |
| SSL certificate | ❌ No | Install separately — see Install Free SSL Certificate |
| Caching | ❌ No | Piwigo has caching — enable it in the admin |
| Security module | ❌ No | Recommended: built-in security features |

> Note: The installer creates a working gallery, but a production Piwigo site also benefits from:
> - SSL — see Install Free SSL Certificate
> - Caching — Piwigo's built-in cache
> - Backups — see Backup Wizard
> - Image processing extensions — gd or imagick


After Installing

| Task | Why |
|---|---|
| Complete the Piwigo wizard | Set gallery name, admin user, and admin email |
| Delete the install directory | Critical security step |
| Log in to the admin | Confirm the gallery works — /admin.php |
| Install an SSL certificate | HTTPS is essential — see Install Free SSL Certificate |
| Redirect HTTP to HTTPS | See Redirect HTTP to HTTPS |
| Configure email | Piwigo sends notifications and password resets — see Email Accounts |
| Enable Piwigo caching | Admin → Configuration → Options |
| Set up backups | Photo galleries need regular backups — see Backup Wizard |
| Update Piwigo | Security and performance |
| Configure upload limits | Ensure upload_max_filesize and post_max_size are large enough — see PHP Configuration |
| Add photos | Begin uploading your collection |

> Warning: The install directory must be deleted after installation. Leaving it in place is a serious security risk — an attacker can reinstall Piwigo and take over the gallery.


Common Scenarios

"The installation succeeded but the gallery does not load"

  1. Check DNS — does the domain resolve to the server? See Track DNS.
  2. Check the document root — is Piwigo in the right directory? See File Manager.
  3. Check the web server — is it running? See Service Status.
  4. Check the SSL certificate — if HTTPS is enforced but no certificate, the site will not load.

"The installation fails with a database error"

  1. Check the database password — it must be filled in.
  2. Check the database limit — the account may have reached its database quota. See Add/Modify Packages.
  3. Check MySQL — is it running? See Service Status.
  4. Check disk space — the account may be over quota. See Show Accounts Over Quota.

"Photo uploads fail"

Large photo uploads require generous PHP limits:

  1. Open PHP Configuration — see PHP Configuration.
  2. Increase:
- upload_max_filesize (e.g., 64M) - post_max_size (e.g., 64M) - max_execution_time (e.g., 300)
  1. Save and restart PHP-FPM.
> Tip: Photo galleries often upload many large files. Set max_file_uploads high enough (e.g., 100) for batch uploads.

"Image processing is slow or fails"

Piwigo relies on PHP image extensions:

  1. Verify gd or imagick is installed — see Install PHP Modules.
  2. Check php -m | grep -E 'gd|imagick'.
  3. If missing, install it.
> Tip: imagick is generally faster than gd for large images.

"Piwigo email is not working"

Piwigo uses PHP's mail() function by default, which is often unreliable.

  1. Create a mailbox — see Email Accounts.
  2. In the Piwigo admin, go to Configuration → Options → Mail.
  3. Enable SMTP.
  4. Enter:
- SMTP host: mail.example.com - Port: 587 (STARTTLS) or 465 (SSL/TLS) - Username: the full email address - Password: the mailbox password
  1. Save and test.
> Tip: Use SMTP, not mail(). See SPF / DKIM for email authentication.

"I want Piwigo in a subdirectory (e.g., /gallery)"

  1. In the Directory field, append /gallery to the document root.
  2. Complete the installation.
  3. The gallery is now at https://example.com/gallery/.

"The customer's Piwigo gallery was compromised"

  1. Reset the Piwigo admin password via the admin or database.
  2. Review the Piwigo users list for unauthorized admins.
  3. Scan for malware — see ClamAV Antivirus.
  4. Update Piwigo — the most common compromise vector.
  5. Check config files for injected code.
  6. Review logs — see FTP Logs and Apache Status.
  7. Consider restoring from a clean backup — see Restore Full Backup.

Security Recommendations

| Practice | Why |
|---|---|
| Delete the install directory | Critical — otherwise the gallery can be reinstalled |
| Install SSL immediately | Protect login credentials and user privacy |
| Use a strong admin username | admin is the most targeted username |
| Use a strong admin password | Admin accounts are brute-force targets |
| Enable 2FA on the admin | Piwigo supports 2FA via plugins |
| Keep Piwigo updated | Outdated versions are the top compromise vector |
| Keep plugins and themes updated | Same reason |
| Remove unused plugins and themes | Every plugin is a potential vulnerability |
| Use a security plugin | Check the Piwigo marketplace |
| Back up regularly | Photo galleries are often large — see Backup Wizard |
| Limit admin users | Fewer admins means fewer targets |
| Use file permissions | See Fix Permissions |
| Monitor the gallery | Check for unusual admin activity |
| Respect image privacy | Photos may be personal or sensitive |

> Warning: A newly installed Piwigo gallery is not automatically secure. The install directory, default admin credentials, and outdated plugins are common compromise vectors.


Related Commands

| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
| /go/conf | Rebuild web server config |
| /go/ssl domain.com | Install SSL for the site |
| /go/repair | Repair the Piwigo database if needed |

See Command Reference for the full CLI list.


Related Pages

Troubleshooting

| Problem | Likely cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Installation fails with "database error" | Wrong password, database limit reached, or MySQL down | Verify the password; check limits; check Service Status |
| Site does not load after install | DNS not pointing to the server, or wrong document root | Check Track DNS; verify the directory |
| "The install directory still exists" | The installer did not remove it | Delete it manually via File Manager |
| Piwigo wizard does not appear | Installation incomplete, or wrong URL | Check the install log; try https://domain/install.php |
| Cannot log in to the admin | Wrong credentials, or the user was not created | Reset the password via the database; see MySQL Databases |
| Photo uploads fail | upload_max_filesize too low, or gd/imagick missing | Raise limits in PHP Configuration; install extensions |
| Image processing fails | gd or imagick not installed | Install via Install PHP Modules |
| Email not working | Piwigo uses mail() by default | Configure SMTP in the admin — see Email Accounts |
| Site shows a blank page | PHP error suppressed | Enable display_errors temporarily in PHP Configuration; check the error log |
| Plugins cannot be installed | File permissions, or PHP limits | Check Fix Permissions and PHP Configuration |
| Gallery is slow | No caching, or PHP version too old | Enable Piwigo cache; use PHP 8.x — see MultiPHP Manager |
| Piwigo is in the wrong directory | Installation path was set incorrectly | Delete and reinstall in the correct directory |


Best Practices

| Practice | Why |
|---|---|
| Use the latest Piwigo version | Security and performance |
| Delete the install directory | Critical security step |
| Install SSL immediately | Protect login credentials and image privacy |
| Use a non-default admin username | admin is the most targeted |
| Use a strong admin password | Brute-force protection |
| Enable 2FA on the admin | Adds a layer beyond the password |
| Configure SMTP for email | Reliable notifications |
| Install gd or imagick | Required for image processing |
| Raise upload limits | Large photos need generous limits |
| Enable Piwigo caching | Improve performance |
| Back up regularly | Galleries can be large — plan storage |
| Keep everything updated | Outdated plugins are the top compromise vector |
| Remove unused plugins and themes | Every plugin is a potential vulnerability |
| Store the database password securely | You will need it for direct database access |
| Monitor the gallery | Check for unusual admin activity |
| Respect image privacy | Photos may be personal or sensitive |


Last updated: 2026-11-08

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