Are you a beginner looking to start building your WordPress website locally before taking it live? Or do you want to test and experiment with different themes, plugins, and settings without affecting your live site? Installing WordPress on localhost via XAMPP is the perfect solution!
In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the process of installing WordPress on your local machine using XAMPP. Let's get started!
What is XAMPP?
XAMPP is a free, open-source software stack that includes Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and Perl. It's a popular choice for developing and testing web applications locally, including WordPress.
Step 1: Download and Install XAMPP
1. Visit the XAMPP website ((link unavailable)) and download the latest version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
2. Run the installer and follow the prompts to install XAMPP on your local machine.
3. Make sure to select the components you want to install, including Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and phpMyAdmin.
Step 2: Start XAMPP
1. Open the XAMPP Control Panel (usually found in the Start menu or Applications folder).
2. Start the Apache and MariaDB modules by clicking the "Start" buttons next to each.
3. You should see a green "Running" status indicator next to each module.
Step 3: Create a Database for WordPress
1. Open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost/phpmyadmin.
2. Log in with the default credentials (username: "root", password: "") or your custom credentials if you've set them up.
3. Create a new database by clicking the "Databases" tab and then the "Create" button.
4. Name your database (e.g., "wordpress_local") and click "Create".
Step 4: Download and Extract WordPress
1. Visit the WordPress website ((link unavailable)) and download the latest version.
2. Extract the WordPress files to a folder on your local machine (e.g., "C:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress").
Step 5: Configure WordPress
1. Open the "wp-config.php" file in a text editor (usually found in the WordPress folder).
2. Update the database settings to match your local database:
- Database name
- Username (usually "root")
- Password (usually "")
- Hostname (usually "localhost")
3. Save the changes to the "wp-config.php" file.
Step 6: Install WordPress
1. Open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost/wordpress.
2. Follow the WordPress installation prompts to complete the setup.
3. Choose your language, site title, and administrator credentials.
Step 7: Access Your Local WordPress Site
1. Open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost/wordpress.
2. Log in with your administrator credentials to access your local WordPress site.
Congratulations! You've successfully installed WordPress on localhost via XAMPP. You can now start building, testing, and experimenting with your WordPress site locally before taking it live.
Remember to keep your XAMPP and WordPress versions up-to-date to ensure security and compatibility. Happy coding!