# Connecting a server to an existing school

> Academium SMS Help › Setting up a new school
> For: School Owner · Server Edition
> Web page: https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-connecting-a-server-to-an-existing-school
> Last updated: 2026-10-06

Use **Log In** on a new Server Edition when your school already exists in Academium, for example when you are replacing the server computer, or the school was set up on a server before.

## Connecting

1. Open the Server Edition. On **This server has not been set up yet**, choose **Log In**.
2. Enter the **email address** and **password** of the Academium Account that **owns** the school this server will run.
3. If your account has more than one branch, Academium asks **Which branch does this server run?** Pick one. This server serves only the branch you pick.
4. Academium connects the server to your school and gets it running.

## Moving to a new server computer

1. On the **old** server, take a backup and copy it to an external drive. See [Backing up and restoring school data](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-backing-up-and-restoring.md).
2. Set up the **new** server with **Log In**, as above, using the same Academium Account.
3. On the new server, choose **Restore from another location** and pick the backup.

## Common issues

**"No branch is set to Server Edition."** The school was registered as an online school, from the Individual Edition, so it has no branch set up for a school server. Contact Academium support to move the school, or a branch, to the Server Edition.

**"Could not reach the portal. Please check your internet connection and try again."** Connecting needs the internet, once. Check the server's connection.

**I am not the owner.** Only the Academium Account that owns the school can connect a server. Ask the school owner to do it.

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