--- title: "How to Install VirtueMart 3" description: "In this tutorial: Installing VirtueMart 3 Enabling Database Update Tools Setting the Safe Path In this tutorial we will show you how to install VirtueMart 3 in Joomla 3. After installing VirtueMart 3..." url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/virtuemart-3/installation/ date: 2014-12-12 modified: 2022-03-31 author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor" categories: ["VirtueMart"] type: post lang: en --- # How to Install VirtueMart 3 ## In this tutorial: [Installing VirtueMart 3](#vm-core) [Enabling Database Update Tools](#database-update-tools) [Setting the Safe Path](#safe-path) In this tutorial we will show you **how to install [VirtueMart 3](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/virtuemart-3/installation/) in Joomla** 3. After installing VirtueMart 3 we will complete the setup by enabling Database Update Tools, and setting up a Safe folder path. You can then begin creating an e-commerce website, using this powerful shopping cart software. ## Installing VirtueMart 3 1. [Install Joomla 3 using Softaculous](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/product-guides/softaculous/install-software-softaculous/). 2. Download the [VirtueMart 3](https://virtuemart.net/downloads) core and AIO file. At the time this article was written, the file is titled **com_virtuemart.3.0.0_extract_first.zip**. [![Acquire VM3 files](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_downloading-vm3-core-aio.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_downloading-vm3-core-aio.png) 3. [Extract](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/cpanel/compressing-uncompressing-files/) the file you downloaded in **Step 1** to your computer, it will contain 2 files. 4. [Login to the Joomla 3 Dashboard](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/joomla/how-to-log-in-to-administrative-dashboard/). Click **Extensions**, then **Extension Manager**. [![VM3 Extension installation](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_extension-manager.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_extension-manager.png) 5. You will then be on the *Upload & Install Joomla Extension* page. Click the **Choose File** button, select the core file (**com_virtuemart.3.0.0.tar.gz**), then click the **Upload & Install** button. See the steps in the screenshot below: [![Adding VM3 files](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_uploading-installing-vm3-core.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_uploading-installing-vm3-core.png) You will then see a *Notice*, with a summary of what was done. There will also be a message stating “*Installing component was successful.*” [![VM3 Installation notice](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_vm3-install-notice.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_vm3-install-notice.png) 6. Scroll down and click the **Choose File** button again. This time select the *aio* file (**com_virtuemart.3.0.0_ext_aio.tar.gz**), then click the **Upload & Install** button. The image below shows you the steps to take. [![VM3 Installation setup](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_uploading-installing-vm3-core.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_uploading-installing-vm3-core.png) You are finished when you see a message stating “*Installing component was successful*.” 7. **Optional:** Click the **Install Sample Data** button, to include example products and store information. This can be helpful when you are learning to use VirtueMart 3 for the first time. ## How to Enable Database Update tools in VirtueMart 3 [![VM3 error](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_to-use-these-tools-fully-you-must-check-enable-database-update-tools-in-configuration-panel.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_to-use-these-tools-fully-you-must-check-enable-database-update-tools-in-configuration-panel.png) After installing VirtueMart 3, you will want to **Enable database Update tools**, which allows you to utilize the tools included with VirtueMart 3. We will now show you how to **Enable Database update** tools in VirtueMart. 1. [Login to the Joomla 3 Admin Dashboard](/support/edu/joomla/how-to-log-in-to-administrative-dashboard/). 2. In the navigation menu click **VirtueMart**, then **Configuration**. [![VM3 Config](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_virtuemart-3-configuration.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_virtuemart-3-configuration.png) 3. Scroll down to the *Advanced Settings* section, and click the box next to **Enable database Update tools**. [![VM3 DB updating](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_enable-database-update-tools-in-vm3.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_enable-database-update-tools-in-vm3.png) 4. Click the **Save** button to complete the setup. ## Setting the Safe Path in VirtueMart 3 After installing VirtueMart 3, you will see the following message: “*Warning, the Safe Path is empty, for safety reasons it is very important to create a folder in a path not accessible by an URL, create also a folder invoices in it to store your sensitive data secure*.” We will now show you how to set the **Safe Path** in VirtueMart 3. 1. [Create a folder](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/create-new-file/) titled **vmfiles** in the */home* directory. Make sure the [permissions](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/cpanel/change-file-permissions/) on the *vmfiles* folder is set to **777**. Then, create another folder titled **invoices** inside the *vmfiles* folder. When you are finished, it should be structured like this: home/userna99/vmfiles/invoices/ [![Creating Safe Paths in VirtueMart](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_vmfiles-invoices-safe-path.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_vmfiles-invoices-safe-path.png) 2. Login to the Joomla 3 Admin Dashboard. 3. In the navigation menu click **VirtueMart**, then **Configuration**. 4. On the next page, click the **Templates** tab. The following images show the steps in order. [![VirtueMart Config Templates](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_virtuemart-configuration-templates.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_virtuemart-configuration-templates.png) 5. Scroll down to the *Safe Path* field, and enter the path to files we created. For example: **home/userna99/vmfiles/invoices/** [![VM3 Safe Path setup](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_adding-safe-path-in-virtuemart.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/virtuemart_adding-safe-path-in-virtuemart.png) 6. Click the **Save** button. You are finished when you see a “*Configuration Saved*” message. Congratulations, now you know how to successfully install VirtueMart 3 for Joomla 3! Now you can begin building your e-commerce store.