Exploring the Backend

The backend is your control center. This is where you manage pages, content, media, settings, and everything else about your site. Let's log in and take a quick tour.

# Log In

Open your browser and navigate to your site's URL followed by /admin:

http://localhost:8000/admin

Enter the administrator username and password you created during installation. After logging in, you will land on the Dashboard.

# Look Around the Main Menu

The main navigation runs along the top of the screen. Click through each section to see what is there:

1. Dashboard: your home base. It shows widgets with at-a-glance information about your site. We will customize this in the next article.
2. Editor: click into this section. You will see Pages, Layouts, Partials, and Content in the side panel. This is where you build and edit your site's templates.
3. Media: your file manager. Click into it and you will see an empty library. This is where you upload images, documents, and other files.
4. Settings: the configuration area. Click through a few items to get a sense of what is here, including administrator management, mail settings, updates, and more.

Don't worry about memorizing everything. The goal right now is just to know what lives where.

# Check Your Profile

1. Click your name (or avatar) in the top-right corner of the backend.
2. Select My Account from the dropdown.
3. This is where you can change your password, upload an avatar, and set your preferred language.
4. Click Back or navigate away when you are done looking.

# Try a Keyboard Shortcut

While you are here, try pressing Ctrl+S (or Cmd+S on macOS) in any editor. This saves the current page. It's a small thing, but it will save you a lot of mouse clicks as you work.

# Next Steps

Now that you know your way around, let's customize your dashboard. Continue to Dashboard & Statistics to rearrange widgets and generate some sample data.