This is a quick post on how to quickly get a forum up and running using a free plugin on your WordPress site. For this task I will be using the plugin bbPress.
First install bbPress plugin. Login to WordPress> Click Plugins and click Add New
Search for bbPress
Install and Activate bbPress
Should show as below when complete
Click Forums> Add New
Create a new forum for a topic of discussion and click Publish
Click Pages and add a new Page called Forum, click Publish
Put the below shortcode in your page
[bbp-forum-index]
Go to Appearance> Menus> Add Forums and click Add to Menu then click Save Menu
Click Settings> General and check the box next to “Anyone can register” to allow registrations on your website. Then click Save changes
Click Pages> Add New and name the page Register. Add the shortcode as below and click Publish
[bbp-register]
Click Pages> Add New and name the page Lost Password. Add the shortcode as below and click Publish
[bbp-lost-pass]
Create a new page called Login and click Publish
Go to Appearance> Menus> Select the Login page you just created and click Add to Menu. I use MegaMenu but this may vary slightly depending on what you use. Click Save Menu
Click the Mega Menu settings button
Change to Standard Layout
Select the bbPress Login Widget
Edit the settings to show the URL of the Register and Lost Password Pages you created
Close the window and click Save Menu
