System Updates

October CMS has a built-in update system that handles the core, plugins, and themes. Let's explore it by checking the changelog, managing some plugins, and optionally registering your installation.

# View the Changelog

1. Navigate to Settings → Updates & Plugins.
2. You will see the current version of October CMS and a list of recent changes. Browse through the changelog entries to see what has been updated.
3. Click the Check for Updates button to see if anything new is available.

This is the page you will visit whenever you want to keep your site up to date.

# Manage Plugins

Your installation comes with a few plugins already active. Let's get familiar with plugin management.

# Disable the Demo Plugin

October CMS ships with a demo plugin that provides some example pages. You don't need it anymore, so let's disable it.

1. On the Settings → Updates & Plugins page, click Manage Plugins.
2. Find October.Demo in the list.
3. Click the toggle or disable button to turn it off.

The demo plugin is now disabled. Its routes and components are no longer active, but its files are still on disk in case you want to re-enable it later.

# Install a New Plugin

Let's install a plugin from the marketplace. We will use RainLab.GoogleAnalytics as an example.

1. On the Settings → Updates & Plugins page, click Install Plugins.
2. Search for Google Analytics in the marketplace search.
3. Click on RainLab.GoogleAnalytics in the results.
4. Click Install to add it to your site.
5. Wait for the download and installation to complete.

After installation, the plugin may add new settings pages or dashboard widgets. Check Settings for a new Google Analytics entry.

# Clear the Application Cache

If things ever look stale or out of date after making changes, clearing the cache can help.

1. On the Settings → Updates & Plugins page, look for the Clear Cache button (or find it under the utilities menu).
2. Click it to flush all cached data.

This forces October CMS to rebuild its internal caches on the next page load.

# Register Your Software

Registering your installation connects it to the October CMS marketplace, which unlocks automatic updates and access to premium plugins.

1. On the Settings → Updates & Plugins page, look for the registration or license key section.
2. If you have an account at octobercms.com (opens new window), enter your license key.
3. If you don't have an account yet, you can sign up (opens new window), or skip this step and come back to it later.

# Next Steps

You now know how to manage plugins, check for updates, and keep your site in good shape. The Backend Panel section is complete. Next, let's start building pages. Continue to Understanding Themes to create a theme and start working with the editor.