Installing Sitecore 10.4 – A Step-by-Step Guide

Published on : June 19, 2025

Sitecore 10.4 introduces new features, performance improvements, and enhanced support for container-based development. Whether you’re setting up a dev environment or preparing for production deployment, getting the installation right is crucial. In this blog, we’ll walk through the installation process of Sitecore 10.4 using the Sitecore Installation Framework (SIF) and containers (Docker), highlighting prerequisites, configurations, and common pitfalls.

Before beginning the installation, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

  • Windows 10/11 or Windows Server 2019/2022
  • .NET 6.0 SDK
  • Visual Studio 2022 (v17.6 or later)
  • SQL Server 2019 or 2022
  • Docker Desktop (for container-based installation)
  • PowerShell 5.1 or later
  • Sitecore License File

Tip: Ensure your machine has at least 32GB RAM (especially for Docker-based setups) and that virtualization is enabled.

  • Visit Sitecore Downloads Portal and download the XP Single Developer (XP0) topology for Sitecore 10.4.
  • Extract the package and locate the XP0-SingleDeveloper.ps1 script under the XP0 folder.

Install:

Install-Module SitecoreInstallFramework -Force

Install-Module SitecoreFundamentals -Force

Update parameters such as:

  • License file path
  • SQL Server instance name
  • Prefix for Sitecore instance
  • Admin password

.\XP0-SingleDeveloper.ps1

Error MessagePossible CauseSolution
Access DeniedLack of admin rightsRun PowerShell as Administrator
Solr is not reachableIncorrect Solr path or portDouble-check Solr URL in solr.xml and ensure Solr is running
xConnect SSL errorCertificate issuesInstall trusted SSL certificates or disable validation during local dev
SQL Connection FailureWrong SQL instance or credentialsVerify server name, credentials, and SQL service status
License not foundInvalid path or formatEnsure the path is correct and the license is valid XML
Port is already in useConflicting application or previous installChange port numbers in configuration files or free up the port

Sitecore 10.4 is designed with container-first principles. Let’s install it using Docker.

  • Enable Windows Containers
  • Allocate CPU: 6+ cores, Memory: 10GB+, and Disk: 20GB+

git clone https://github.com/Sitecore/docker-examples.git

cd docker-examples/10.4.x

Update:

  • SITECORE_LICENSE
  • EXTERNAL_* URLs
  • TRAEFIK_* ports (if necessary)

docker-compose -f docker-compose.xp.yml up -d

IssueCauseSolution
Error: no matching manifest for windows/amd64Wrong Windows OS or Docker not in Windows containers modeSwitch Docker to Windows containers
Traefik fails to startPort conflict (usually 443 or 80)Modify .env to use alternate ports like 8443
Invalid license fileCorrupted or empty licenseUse a valid Sitecore license from the customer portal
xConnect fails to startTrust issues or wrong hostnameEnsure self-signed certs are installed and trusted; use mkcert if needed
SOLR container crashesInsufficient memory or corrupted volumeIncrease Docker memory allocation or remove volumes and rebuild
Timeout during service startupSlow machine or resource constraintWait a few minutes longer or ensure system resources meet the minimum

Pro Tip: Run docker logs <container_name> for detailed diagnostics.

  • Access your CM instance via https://cm.localhost/sitecore
  • Change default admin password
  • Validate SOLR, xConnect, and Identity Server
  • Set up SSL trust chain (especially important for Docker environments)


While the installation might throw some curveballs, understanding common errors and how to solve them saves time and ensures a smoother experience.

If you’re facing issues or would like us to assist with your Sitecore setup, don’t hesitate to reach out — our experts are here to help!

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