```{eval-rst}
:hidetoc: 1
```

# Getting started

```{note}
   These instructions assume familiarity with virtual environments and the
   [Django web framework](https://www.djangoproject.com/).
   For more detailed instructions, see [](tutorial).
   To add Wagtail to an existing Django project, see [](integrating_into_django).
```

## Dependencies needed for installation

-   [Python 3](https://www.python.org/downloads/).
-   **libjpeg** and **zlib**, libraries required for Django's **Pillow** library.
    See Pillow's [platform-specific installation instructions](https://pillow.readthedocs.io/en/stable/installation.html#external-libraries).

## Quick install

Run the following commands in a virtual environment of your choice:

```sh
pip install wagtail
```

(Installing wagtail outside a virtual environment may require `sudo`. sudo is a program to run other programs with the security privileges of another user, by default the superuser)

Once installed, Wagtail provides a command similar to Django's `django-admin startproject` to generate a new site/project:

```sh
wagtail start mysite
```

This will create a new folder `mysite`, based on a template containing everything you need to get started.
More information on that template is available in
[the project template reference](/reference/project_template).

Inside your `mysite` folder, run the setup steps necessary for any Django project:

```sh
pip install -r requirements.txt
python manage.py migrate
python manage.py createsuperuser
python manage.py runserver
```

Your site is now accessible at `http://localhost:8000`, with the admin backend available at `http://localhost:8000/admin/`.

This will set you up with a new stand-alone Wagtail project.
If you'd like to add Wagtail to an existing Django project instead, see [Integrating Wagtail into a Django project](/getting_started/integrating_into_django).

There are a few optional packages which are not installed by default but are recommended to improve performance or add features to Wagtail, including:

-   [Elasticsearch](/advanced_topics/performance)
-   [Feature Detection](image_feature_detection)

```{toctree}
---
maxdepth: 1
---
tutorial
demo_site
integrating_into_django
the_zen_of_wagtail
```

(common_installation_issues)=

## Common issues

### Python is not available in `path`

```sh
python
> command not found: python
```

For detailed guidance, see this guide on [how to add Python to your path](https://realpython.com/add-python-to-path/).

### python3 not available

```sh
python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip
> command not found: python3
```

If this error occurs, [the `python3` can be replaced with `py`](https://docs.python.org/3/faq/windows.html#how-do-i-run-a-python-program-under-windows).