The weather’s perfect here, so I filmed this one outdoors to let a little sunshine in through your screen.
If you’re craving warmth where you are, I hope this brings some of it your way.

I know, I know… it’s been a while since the last video.
I’ve been waiting on new spotlights to improve the quality—eBay timing can be… creative—so thanks for your patience!

Huge thanks as well for all the support and encouraging messages about Tiki.
Don’t worry, I’ll keep publishing tutorials—at least through next summer. That’s the plan.

In this Tiki Express tutorial, I’m sharing as many practical tips as possible about Tiki Administration.
They’re great for beginners and still packed with tricks advanced users will appreciate—some for everyday work, others for when things don’t behave.

In this video you’ll see how to:

  • Set up and use the Quick Admin module
  • Navigate the Admin Bar effectively
  • Turn on Advanced settings (and save your preference)
  • Use Admin Search to find and edit options fast
  • Check and adjust permissions for different users
  • Fix issues when things don’t work as expected
  • Do a super-quick tour of Tiki-check and phpinfo


I’ve said it a dozen times: in Tiki there are usually several ways to do the same thing, and that’s true for administration, too.
There’s no “right” or “wrong” way—just the way that helps you work accurately and quickly.
If you have a Tiki trick I didn’t show, please share it in the comments!

On my screen you’ll see a fresh Tiki installed from scratch with default settings, and I’m logged in as Admin.
From the menu, go to Settings → Control Panels to reach the main admin page, where you’ll find all panels and preference pages (General, Features, File Galleries—covered in earlier tutorials—and more as you enable features).

How to use the Quick Admin module

This small module is a favorite among Tiki pros. Depending on your version, it might not be enabled by default—here’s how to assign it if it’s missing from the header.

It’s already installed on my site, so I quickly unassign/reassign it to demonstrate:
From the module page, Add Module → Quick Admin → Module Options.
In Groups, select Admin so only admins see it, and in Appearance set NoBox = Y to keep it compact. That’s it.

Back on the homepage, notice two icons at the top: a clock and a chevron—now visible on every page.
The chevron opens shortcuts to commonly used features (like Users) and actions (like clearing caches).
The clock lists recently changed preferences and keeps auto-populating as you make edits.

How to use the Admin Bar

At the top of the main admin page, the Admin Bar gives you quick access to commands, pages, panels, and preferences.

On the left, toggle Basic / Advanced. Basic shows essential options; Advanced unlocks the full set.
In Advanced mode, use Preference Filters, choose what you want to see, then click Set as my default to save it.

You’ll also find a fast-access menu organized as Access, Content, System, and Tools.
Do a quick fly-over—you’ll discover items that speed up your daily tasks.

Admin Search preferences

On the left, the Admin Search form—my favorite. It’s the quickest way through thousands of options.
Try a simple search, like “time zone.”

From the results, you can set preferences directly or jump to the panel where they live.
Going to General shows the setting you’re after plus related ones you might want to adjust together.

For broader terms (like “Title”), use the Panel name link to reach the right area quickly.
Note: MySQL by default doesn’t search strings shorter than 4 characters. Searches like “url” won’t return results.

If results feel incomplete, Rebuild Admin Index from the preference filter menu. That usually does the trick.

How to check permissions for different users and adjust them

Admins see everything, but your users shouldn’t. A simple way to test: open two browsers with two different users.

Here in Firefox I’m logged as Admin and I’ll edit the HomePage.
Using the Wiki plugin help, I add a Group plugin so Admins see one content and Anonymous users see another.

After saving, Firefox (Admin) shows the admin content.
Switch to the second browser (Anonymous), refresh, and you’ll see the public content.

You can simulate any groups or users this way to compare what each one sees.

What to do when things are not working as expected

If changes don’t seem to apply, first clear the Tiki caches (there are multiple access points—handy because you’ll use this often).

Much of Tiki’s content and search depends on the Unified Index.
Refresh/rebuild it periodically to keep results and displays up to date.
You’ll find the command in the Quick Admin menu or in the search panel.

For more, see the Tiki documentation.
Re-indexing regularly is healthy maintenance.

Tiki-check and phpinfo

Tiki includes PHP tools to help admins check server health.

Server Check is a standalone script that diagnoses your environment and variables.
Use it on an existing Tiki or before installation—great for any PHP app, with 50+ checks and contextual feedback.

phpinfo is available from the Settings menu.
It displays detailed information about your current PHP configuration.

Thanks for watching this #TikiExpressTutorial—I hope it helps you set up and run Tiki more smoothly.
If the video was useful, please like, share, and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Your comments are invaluable—they help me improve and choose future topics.
Dale, I didn’t forget your banner tutorial request, and I’ve had several for trackers and PluginList—those are coming soon (with the new spotlights)!

That’s it for now—thanks for watching, and may the power of Tiki be with you!

More useful links