Beginner’s Guide to Installing and Using Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)

Logging Into AEM

Default login credentials:

• Username: admin
• Password: admin

After logging in, you will see the AEM Start Screen.

Understanding Author and Publish

AEM usually runs as two instances:

Author

• Used to create and edit content
• Default port: 4502

Publish

• Serves content to end users
• Default port: 4503

Beginners usually start with Author only.

Starting and Stopping AEM

Start AEM

From the AEM folder:

java -jar aem-author-p4502.jar

Stop AEM

• Press Ctrl + C in the terminal
• Or stop it from the operating system

Always shut down AEM properly.

Navigating the AEM Interface

Main areas:

• Sites – manage website pages
• Assets – manage images and files
• Tools – system configuration

Most beginners will use Sites and Assets.

Creating Your First Page

Step 1: Open Sites

• Click Sites from the Start Screen

Step 2: Select a Project Folder

• Navigate to an existing site or folder

Step 3: Create Page

1. Click Create → Page
2. Choose a template
3. Click Next
4. Enter a page title
5. Click Create

Editing a Page

When the page opens:

• You are in Edit mode

Add Content

1. Click the + icon
2. Select a component (Text, Image, Title)
3. Place it on the page

Edit Content

• Click the component
• Click the Edit (wrench) icon
• Save changes

Managing Assets

Upload Assets

1. Open Assets
2. Choose a folder
3. Click Create → Files
4. Upload images or documents

Assets can be reused across pages.

Publishing Content

Publishing makes content visible to users.

Publish a Page

1. Select the page
2. Click Quick Publish
3. Confirm

The page is sent from Author to Publish.

Common Beginner Problems

• AEM does not start → Check Java version
• Page not visible → Content not published
• Slow startup → Normal for first run
• Permission errors → Check user role

Best Practices for Beginners

• Always preview before publishing
• Do not delete shared components
• Keep page names simple
• Stop AEM when not in use

Conclusion

Installing and using Adobe Experience Manager becomes manageable when broken into clear steps. Start with a local Author instance, learn how pages and components work, and publish carefully. Over time, AEM becomes easier and more efficient to use.

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