How to Install WordPress on a Local Server (XAMPP)

A Comprehensive Guide on Installing WordPress on a Local Server (XAMPP)

Imagine that you can work on your website offline, make all the changes and improvements without the fear of something going wrong on the live site. You can certainly do this if you install WordPress on a local server like XAMPP. This configuration offers a safe environment for testing and development, keeping your website always perfectly functional on the web.

In this guide, we will take you through a simple and straightforward process for how to install WordPress on a local server using XAMPP. We will break down the process into easily understandable steps that even a beginner can follow.

What is XAMPP?

Before we dive into the installation process, it's essential to know what XAMPP is. XAMPP is a free, open-source software that enables you to create a local web server on your computer. The acronym XAMPP stands for Cross-Platform (X), Apache (A), MySQL (M), PHP (P), and Perl (P).

A local server allows you to work on your website privately on your computer and test any changes or updates before applying them to your live site.

Install XAMPP on Your Computer

First, you need to download and install the XAMPP software onto your computer. To do this, visit the XAMPP website and download the version that suits your operating system. Once downloaded, run the installer, follow the prompts, and install XAMPP on your computer. Remember to ensure that the Apache and MySQL services option are checked during the installation process as you require these for your local WordPress site.

Download WordPress

Now that we have XAMPP installed, the next step is to download the latest version of WordPress. You can do this by visiting the WordPress.org website. After downloading, extract the contents of the WordPress package to a new folder.

Prepare Your Local Server for WordPress

Navigate your way to the XAMPP directory on your computer (usually C:/XAMPP) and find a folder called ‘htdocs’. Drop the extracted WordPress files into this folder. Feel free to rename the WordPress folder to your own liking, as this will be the name of your local website.

Create a Database for Your Local WordPress Site

The next step is to create a database for your local WordPress website. To do this, you need to access 'phpMyAdmin' on your local server. You can do this by typing 'localhost/phpmyadmin/' in the address bar on your preferred web browser, this should bring up the phpMyAdmin dashboard.

From the dashboard, click on the 'Database' tab, enter a name for your new database, and click 'Create'. This database name should be easy to remember as you require it for the WordPress installation process.

Install WordPress on XAMPP

At this point, you're ready to install WordPress. To do this, open a new browser tab and type 'localhost/your-site-name' into the address bar. Replace 'your-site-name' with the name you selected for the WordPress folder located in the ‘htdocs’ folder.

Following these steps and the prompts, you should be able to install WordPress on your local server using XAMPP successfully. While a local server may seem daunting at first, it offers a great way to develop and test your website offline. Happy developing!