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XenForo installation

Forum Fortress provides a XenForo 2 add-on. Install it through the XenForo Admin control panel like any other add-on.

Once enabled, the add-on starts protecting your forum straight away.

Before you start

Make sure you have:

  • XenForo 2.x
  • super administrator access
  • permission to install add-ons
  • outbound HTTPS access from your server to Forum Fortress services

Some hosts block unfamiliar outbound connections by default. If the connection test fails, check hosting firewall, WAF, DNS, and proxy settings.

Privacy and outbound access

Forum Fortress needs outbound HTTPS access to provide spam checks.

If your server uses an outbound firewall, allow HTTPS traffic on port 443 to hosts ending in:

*.ffapi.net

Before enabling the add-on on a live community, you may need to update your forum's privacy policy. Forum Fortress receives forum activity details for spam analysis, including submitted content and user details relevant to each check.

Read Privacy and network access before installing.

Install steps

  1. Download the latest XenForo ZIP from the marketing site: open forumfortress.com and use Download now (platform cards link to /downloads/…).
  2. In the XenForo Admin control panel, go to Add-ons → Install/upgrade from archive.
  3. Upload the Forum Fortress ZIP.
  4. Install and enable the add-on when XenForo prompts you.
  5. Open the Forum Fortress options and enter your forum's public URL as visitors see it.
  6. Run Tools → Forum Fortress → Connection test to confirm the forum can reach the service.
  7. Optionally open the customer portal and connect the forum to your account.

You can read more about account linking here: Your account and forums.

What happens after install

Forum Fortress begins checking supported actions such as registrations, logins, posts, replies, and profile updates.

Depending on the decision and your settings, an action may be allowed or blocked.

Held items may appear in XenForo's normal moderation flow and, where available, in the Forum Fortress portal.

Optional: Soft Delete Purge

Soft Delete Purge is a separate free add-on for cleaning up old soft-deleted content.

It is not required for Forum Fortress spam protection. Install it only if you want that cleanup feature.

You can download it from the same Download now section on the marketing site.

Updating the add-on

When a new version is available:

  1. Download the latest ZIP from forumfortress.com/#platforms (same Download now section).
  2. In XenForo, use Add-ons → Install/upgrade from archive.
  3. Upload the new ZIP and follow the normal XenForo upgrade flow.
  4. Run the Forum Fortress connection test afterwards if you want to confirm everything is healthy.

Troubleshooting

Symptom What to check
Connection test fails Outbound HTTPS, DNS, firewall, WAF, reverse proxy, or host-level egress rules.
HTTP 429 or repeated timeouts Hosting rate limits, WAF rules, or unusually aggressive security software.
Held items appear in moderation This can be expected. Forum Fortress may send uncertain cases to review rather than allow them publicly.
Portal does not show the forum Confirm the forum is connected to the same email/account you are using in the portal.
Public URL looks wrong Update the Forum Fortress options so the forum URL matches what visitors actually use.

For help:

  1. Check the FAQ and troubleshooting guide
  2. Use Contact in the portal for specific issues

Include your forum URL, XenForo version, add-on version, and the approximate time the issue happened.