Installing WordPress Locally Using XAMPP - Full Tutorial

WordPress is a popular Content Management System (CMS) for managing websites and blogs. It offers flexibility, ease of use, and a vast array of plugins and themes, making it an ideal choice for many website owners.

However, before you take your WordPress site live, testing it on a local server can be highly beneficial. This is where XAMPP comes in. XAMPP is a free, open-source software package that provides an easy-to-use local testing environment.

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the complete steps of installing WordPress locally using XAMPP.

Continuing with the article, the term "installing WordPress locally" means you create a 'localhost' environment on your personal computer where you can install and run WordPress just as you would on a live server.

What is XAMPP?

XAMPP is a software package that installs Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and Perl on your computer, creating a local server environment. The acronym “XAMPP” stands for these four components - 'X' (meaning cross-platform), 'A' for Apache HTTP Server, 'M' for MariaDB, 'P' for PHP, and 'P' for Perl.

The big advantage of using XAMPP is its simplicity. It's easy to install and to set up, making it an excellent tool for PHP and MySQL development.

Step-by-Step Guide to Install WordPress Locally Using XAMPP

Download and Install XAMPP

First, visit the official website of Apache Friends and download the XAMPP installer for your operating system. Once the download is complete, run the installer and follow the instructions to install XAMPP on your machine.

Run XAMPP

Upon installation, run XAMPP from your computer. Follow the prompts to start the Apache server and MySQL database.

Download WordPress

Now, go to WordPress.org and download the latest version of WordPress. Upon completion, extract the downloaded file to a new folder.

Create a Database for Your WordPress Site

You'll first need to create a database for WordPress to use. Go to your browser and type "localhost/phpmyadmin". In phpMyAdmin, click on the 'Databases' tab and then create your new database.

Install WordPress

Go back to XAMPP and click on the 'Admin' button next to 'Apache'. You'll be redirected to 'localhost/dashboard'. Now, in your browser, navigate to "localhost/name-of-your-wordpress-folder". Follow the instructions, fill the necessary details, and install WordPress.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed WordPress locally using XAMPP.

Final Thoughts

Installing WordPress locally using XAMPP is a great step to take before launching your website publicly. It offers a safe environment to test and fine-tune your website useful for development and testing. Hopefully, this tutorial has helped you understand the process and made it easy for you to follow.

Remember, the more you familiarize yourself with these steps, the easier it will become to create a local web server and install WordPress. So, get started and bring your website to life!