BuddyPress install + setup

Modified on September 25, 2020

In this tutorial I will teach you how to install and set up the BuddyPress social networking plugin.

Before watching this video…

  1. Install and set up WordPress.

1. Install BuddyPress (0:28)

  1. Log into your WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins > Add New.
  2. Search for “buddypress”.
  3. BuddyPress should be the first result. Click “Install Now”.
  4. After WordPress finishes downloading the plugin, click “Activate Plugin”.

2. Activate BuddyPress components (2:04)

  1. Go to Settings > BuddyPress > Components.
  2. Activate the components you plan on using. Do not activate all of them unless you need them all!
  3. Click “Save Settings”.

3. Attach pages to BuddyPress components (2:43)

  1. Go to Settings > BuddyPress > Pages.
  2. BuddyPress should have automatically created and attached pages to your components. If not, or if you want editable pages for the “Register” and “Activate” components (not necessary) first create the pages at Pages > Add New and then return to here and select your new pages for each component.
  3. Click “Save Settings”.

4. Configure BuddyPress settings (3:54)

  1. Go to Settings > BuddyPress > Settings.
  2. Select the settings you desire, such as Group creation, Account Deletion, etc.
  3. Click “Save Settings.”

Option: Allow new users to create accounts on your site

  1. Go to Settings > General. Select “Anyone can register” under Membership.
  2. Go to Settings > BuddyPress > Settings. Make sure “Show the Toolbar for logged out users” is set to “Yes”.

5. Set up user profile fields (6:28)

  1. Go to Users > Profile Fields.
  2. Add all profile fields you want to collect during initial user sign ups into the “Base” profile group (you can rename this).
  3. Create new profile field groups for collecting information after signup. Add the desired profile fields to these groups.