Where Does Simple Machines Forum Store Data?
SMF reads Settings.php for database and paths with posts in MySQL. Attachments and avatars live in forum folders.
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SMF centers on Settings.php in the forum root: database credentials, table prefix, board URL, and directory paths for sources, cache, attachments, and avatars. Posts, members, and permissions live in MySQL. Uploads land in attachments/ and avatars/ (relocatable outside web root for security), themes and smileys beside them.
Moves break two things at once: credentials and absolute paths. The repair_settings.php tool fixes both in the right order (database first, paths second), then must be deleted since it leaks secrets on screen. Package manager mods live in Packages/ with backups; include them in file copies or restores lose modifications while keeping their database traces.
Where Simple Machines Forum stores this, by platform
Settings.php (forum root)
DB credentials, board URL, directory paths. Repair tool fixes post-move breakage in database-then-paths order; delete it after use. Never upload old Settings.php over a new version on upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
how do i back up smf
Copy Settings.php plus a MySQL dump plus attachments/, avatars/, Smileys/, and Themes/ with the forum offline. Posts reference files by id; one without the other breaks threads or images. Repair_settings.php fixes paths after moves.
how do i fix smf after moving servers
Upload repair_settings.php to the forum root, run it, fix database and path sections in order (database first), then delete the file. It displays credentials in-browser, so removal is mandatory, not polite.
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