Installing WordPress Locally Using XAMPP - Beginner's Guide

WordPress has established its dominance in the realm of website creation, yet many beginners find themselves clueless about how to install and set up WordPress on their local server.

Hence, in this guide, we simplify the entire process of installing WordPress locally using XAMPP, ensuring even beginners can comprehend the steps and successfully establish their first WordPress website.

Understanding WordPress and XAMPP

Firstly, to understand why and how you install WordPress locally using XAMPP, it's important to understand what WordPress and XAMPP are.

WordPress is a Content Management System (CMS) that allows you to create and manage a website. It powers a significant portion of websites on the internet, providing users with various tools and plugins to customize their website as they desire. It can be downloaded and installed on any local server.

XAMPP, on the other hand, acts as that local server. It is a popular, free, and open-source cross-platform web server solution that enables you to install and run WordPress. XAMPP stands for Cross-Platform (X), Apache (A), MariaDB (M), PHP (P), and Perl (P).

Why Install WordPress Locally On XAMPP?

Installing WordPress on XAMPP gives you a safe and controlled environment to test new themes, plugins, and code without affecting your live website. This is especially handy for beginners who want to learn and experiment with WordPress before taking their site live.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing WordPress Locally on XAMPP

Follow these simple steps to install and setup WordPress on your local sever with XAMPP.

Step 1: Download and Install XAMPP on Your Local Computer

Firstly, you'll need to download XAMPP. You can do this by visiting https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html and clicking on the 'XAMPP for Windows' button.

Once downloaded, run the installer. Just click 'Next' on all the screens to install the software with the default settings. It's generally recommended to install XAMPP in C:\ drive, as some users have reported problems when its installed in other drives.

Step 2: Start the Modules and Test Your Server

Open XAMPP control panel then start Apache and MySQL. Once started, visit http://localhost/ in your web browser. You should see the XAMPP dashboard or welcome page, confirming that the server is running correctly.

Step 3: Add The WordPress files

Next, download the latest version of WordPress from https://wordpress.org/download/. After downloading, you’ll need to extract the zip file. Once done, rename the extracted folder to your desired site name and move this newly renamed folder into the XAMPP’s htdocs folder, usually located at C:\xampp\htdocs.

Step 4: Create a Database for WordPress

Open a new browser tab and go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin/. Then, click on Databases, enter a name for your database and click Create.

Step 5: Install WordPress

Now, visit http://localhost/your_site_name/ in your browser. You will see the WordPress installation wizard, fill in the details, and click Install WordPress.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed WordPress on your local machine using XAMPP.

In conclusion, while it might seem a bit complex initially, installing WordPress locally on a XAMPP server is relatively straightforward and provides you with a safe environment to learn, experiment, and make mistakes without causing any damage to a live site.

So why wait? Give your ideas a loaded platform and create beautiful websites using WordPress on your local server powered by XAMPP.