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Launcher Login - Web Script

Launcher Login Script Installation Guide

This guide is written for beginners. You do not need to be a web developer to install this system, but you will need working web hosting with PHP and MySQL support. Before starting, make sure you have already purchased web hosting and know how to upload files to your hosting account.

What This Script Does

The Launcher Login Script is the website side of your Game Launcher Creator login system. It allows your launcher to connect to your website, authenticate users, manage access, and let you configure the system from an admin area after installation.

Before You Start

You should have the following ready before running the installer

  • Your website hosting account.
  • A domain or subdomain, or at least a folder/subfolder where you want to install the script.
  • A way to upload files, such as your hosting File Manager or an FTP program.
  • Your database details, including host, port, database name, username, and password.
  • An email address you want to use as the first administrator account.
  • Optional: SMTP mail details if you want emails to send immediately.
  • Optional: Stripe keys if you plan to use payment-related features.


If you do not yet know how to upload files or create a database, these guides may help:


Step 1: Upload the Script Files

Upload all of the script files to the location where you want the system to live. This can be:


  • Your main website folder.
  • A subfolder such as /launcher or /login.
  • A subdomain, depending on how your hosting is set up.

Example install locations:


  • https://yourdomain.com/
  • https://yourdomain.com/membership/
  • https://account.yourdomain.com/

Important:

  • Upload the entire package, not only selected files.
  • Do not remove the vendor folder if it is included.
  • Do not rename files unless you have been specifically instructed to do so.

Step 2: Open the Installer

Once the files are uploaded, open install.php in your browser.

Examples

  • https://yourdomain.com/install.php
  • https://yourdomain.com/launcher/install.php

The installer will guide you through the setup process step by step.

Step 3: System Check

The installer will first check whether your hosting is suitable. It may check things such as:

  • PHP version.
  • Required PHP extensions.
  • Whether important folders are writable.
  • Whether all required package files exist.
  • Whether the installer has already been locked after a previous installation.

If something fails here:

  • Read the message shown by the installer.
  • Contact your web host if you do not understand what setting must be enabled.
  • Do not continue until all required checks pass.

If you need help understanding PHP features or extensions, your hosting support should be able to assist. You can also read more here:

Step 4: Enter Site Details

The installer will ask for your site details.

Install URL / Base URL

This should be the full public website address where the script is installed.

Examples:

  • https://yourdomain.com
  • https://yourdomain.com/launcher

Use the exact location where the script will run. If the script is in a subfolder, include the subfolder.

Site Admin Email

This is the main administrator or owner email for the website.

Support Email

This is optional. It can be used as a support contact for your users.

Require Email Verification

This setting controls whether newly registering users must verify their email addresses.

  • Choose Yes if you want better account quality and reduced spam.
  • Choose No if you want the simplest possible user onboarding.

Step 5: Enter Database Details

The installer will ask for your MySQL database connection details.

Database Host

This is usually something like localhost, but it depends on your host. Some hosts use a custom server name instead.

Database Port

This is usually 3306 unless your host tells you otherwise.

Database Charset

Leave this at the default unless you have a specific reason to change it. Most users should use utf8mb4.

Database Name

The name of the MySQL database you created in your hosting panel.

Database User

The MySQL username with permission to access that database.

Database Password

The password for that MySQL user.

Create Database Automatically If Missing

If this option is available, it tells the installer to try creating the database if it does not exist.

  • Leave this enabled if your hosting account allows database creation through the connection user.
  • Disable it if your host requires you to create the database manually in the hosting panel first.

Common beginner issue:

  • You may have created a database, but forgotten to assign the database user to it.
  • If the installer says access is denied, check that the user has full privileges on that database.

More information:

Step 6: Configure Mail Settings

The installer will ask how the system should handle outgoing emails. This can affect account verification, password resets, and other email-based features.

From Name

This is the sender name users will see in emails.

From Email

This is the sender email address used by the system.

Mail Transport Options

  • Log to storage/emails: Recommended if you are unsure. Emails are not truly sent; they are written to log files for testing.
  • PHP mail(): Uses your hosting server's built-in mail function. This may or may not work well depending on your host.
  • SMTP: Recommended if you already have proper mail credentials from your host or mail provider.

If You Choose SMTP

You may need the following:

  • SMTP host.
  • SMTP port.
  • Encryption type such as TLS or SSL.
  • SMTP username.
  • SMTP password.

If you do not know these details, ask your host or email provider.

It is recommended to use an SMTP provider over PHP Mail to guarantee delivery of your emails for the system.

Step 7: Create the First Admin Account

The installer can create your first administrator account automatically.

Admin Email

This is the login email for the admin account you will use after installation.

Admin Password

Choose a strong password. Use a password manager if possible.

Recommended:

  • Use a unique password.
  • Do not reuse passwords from other websites.
  • Store it somewhere safe.

Step 8: Optional Settings

The installer may show optional settings. These are usually safe to skip if you want the fastest path to a working installation.

Branding

  • Header title.
  • Header subtitle.
  • Logo URL.
  • Favicon URL.
  • Footer text.

These control how the site appears to your users.

Security Tuning

  • Token lifetime.
  • Rate limits for login attempts.
  • Rate limits for sending email codes.

Most users should leave these at the default values unless they understand what they do.

Stripe Settings

  • Mode: test or live.
  • Currency.
  • Webhook secret.
  • Publishable keys.
  • Secret keys.

Only fill these in if you are actually using Stripe-related features. Otherwise, leave them blank and configure them later.

Stripe documentation:

Step 9: Review and Start Installation

Before clicking the install button:

  • Check the URL is correct.
  • Check the database credentials carefully.
  • Check the admin email is correct.
  • Make sure you understand any warnings shown by the installer.

When you start installation, the installer should:

  • Connect to the database.
  • Create or verify the required database structure.
  • Write the configuration file.
  • Create storage folders if needed.
  • Create the first admin account.
  • Create the default launcher API key.
  • Lock the installer for safety.
  • Run smoke tests.

Step 10: Read the Final Results

After installation, the installer should show you:

  • Whether the install completed successfully.
  • The smoke test results.
  • The admin login URL.
  • The launcher API/auth URL or URLs.
  • Your initial admin account email.
  • The generated API key details, if shown.

Save these details somewhere secure.

What To Do After Installation

  • Log in to the admin area using the admin account you created.
  • Review the site settings and make sure they match your needs.
  • Configure SMTP properly if you installed using log mail mode.
  • Test user registration, login, and password reset.
  • If your launcher uses the API, copy the correct API/auth URL into Game Launcher Creator.
  • Store API keys securely and do not share secret keys publicly.
  • Consider enabling extra security features after mail has been confirmed working.

Important Things To Know

  • The installer is normally locked after a successful installation for safety.
  • You should not rerun the installer on a live working installation unless you know exactly why you are doing it.
  • If you move the site to a different folder, subfolder, subdomain, or domain later, your URL-related settings may need to be updated.
  • If your hosting does not support URL rewriting, some direct PHP entry URLs may still be used depending on how the script is configured.
  • If emails are not sending, the site may still install successfully, but email-based features may not work until mail is configured correctly.
  • If database permissions are limited, you may need to create the database manually before running the installer.

Common Problems and Edge Cases

The installer says files or folders are not writable

Your hosting account may not have the required file permissions. This is common on some shared hosting setups. Contact your host if you are unsure how to fix file permissions safely.

The installer cannot connect to the database

  • Check the host, port, database name, username, and password.
  • Check that the user has permission to access the database.
  • Check whether your host requires a database prefix in the name.

The installer says the database already exists or cannot create it

This usually means your host does not allow automatic database creation from the installer connection user. Create the database manually in your hosting panel, then try again with the create option disabled if needed.

The website is in a subfolder and links do not look correct

Make sure the install URL/base URL includes the full subfolder path exactly as installed.

I installed it, but email features do not work

This is usually a mail configuration problem, not a full install failure. Check your transport choice and SMTP details.

I changed domain or moved hosting after install

You may need to update your configuration and retest URLs, login flow, and launcher connectivity.

I do not understand a server or hosting error

That is normal for beginners. Copy the exact error message and send it to your hosting support, or to the product support team if appropriate.

Beginner Advice

  • Do not rush through the database step. Most installation issues happen there.
  • Start with the default settings unless you are sure you need to change them.
  • If SMTP is confusing, use log mode first and configure email later.
  • Keep a note of your admin login details and final API URLs.
  • Test everything once before giving the launcher to your own users.

Final Checklist

  • Files uploaded to the correct folder.
  • Installer opened successfully.
  • System check passed.
  • Base URL entered correctly.
  • Database credentials entered correctly.
  • Mail settings chosen.
  • Admin account created.
  • Optional settings reviewed if needed.
  • Installation completed.
  • Smoke tests reviewed.
  • Admin login and launcher URL saved.

Once everything above is complete, you can log in to the admin area and continue configuring the system for your launcher and your users.


Once everything is completed, use the GLC documentation to navigate and find out what all the settings do.