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Create a new user account in MediaWiki

This guide shows how to add a new user to your MediaWiki site, either through the site or with a command.

CMS and Apps2 min read11 steps

What is MediaWiki?

MediaWiki is the free program that runs Wikipedia. You can use it to build your own wiki, which is a website where many people can write and edit pages together. Each person needs a user account, so the wiki knows who made each change.

Method 1: Use the wiki

  1. Open your wiki in a browser.
  2. Log in with an account that has the right to create users, such as an administrator.
  3. Click your name at the top right, or look for the link named Create account.
  4. If you cannot find it, type this at the end of your wiki address: /index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount
  5. Type a Username. Pick something short, with no secret details.
  6. Type a Password and type it again to confirm. Use a long password with letters, numbers and symbols.
  7. Type an Email address if the form asks. The wiki can use it to send password resets.
  8. Click Create account (or Create your account).

The new person can now log in.

Method 2: Use a command (needs SSH)

If you have SSH access, you can add a user from the server. SSH lets you type commands on your server from far away. This is also handy if you are locked out.

  1. Log in to your server over SSH.
  2. Go to the folder where MediaWiki is installed. Use the cd command, which means change directory.
  3. Run this command. Replace the words in capitals with your own values:
php maintenance/createAndPromote.php NewUser StrongPassword123

This creates the user named NewUser with the given password. To make the user an administrator, add the word --sysop before the name. Delete this command from your shell history afterwards, as it holds a password.

Tip: Your wiki might be set so only some people can create accounts. If the link is missing, ask your wiki administrator, or Hostvento support if you manage the server.

Give the user more rights

Log in as an administrator. Open the page Special:UserRights. Type the username and click Load user groups. Tick a group such as Administrators and save.

Quick recap

  • Each editor on a wiki needs a user account.
  • Use the page Special:CreateAccount to add one.
  • With SSH you can run createAndPromote.php.
  • Use Special:UserRights to change what a user may do.