How To Install WordPress Locally With XAMPP
This tutorial show how to install WordPress locally on your computers using a software called XAMPP.
Setting up a local server environment on your computer with XAMPP means you can regularly test or develop WordPress themes, plugins and WordPress widgets.
Install WordPress Locally With XAMPP
What is XAMPP: XAMPP stands for Cross-Platform (X), Apache (A), MySQL (M), PHP (P) and Perl (P).
It is a simple, lightweight Apache distribution that makes it extremely easy for developers to create a local web server for testing purposes.
WordPress requires that the computer you are installing to have a web server (such as Apache, Litespeed, or IIS), PHP 4.3 or greater, and MySQL 4.0 or greater. And XAMPP provides perfect web server environment which WordPress needs.
It is recommended that you create a website and test it on local before you actually do it on your WordPress hosting.
Advantage of running a WordPress website on local is that sites run much quicker than they would do online, and also you will have a much safer testing environment away from a live site.
We assume that you have an XAMPP installation running locally on your machine. This tutorial does not discuss the installation of XAMPP. For more information about XAMPP and installing process, follow this handbook.
Setting Up Your MySQL Database
Before we install WordPress, we need a database.
On your XAMPP Control Panel, click the “Admin” button in the MySQL section. A new browser window will automatically open with the phpMyAdmin interface.
Click on “Databases” near the top-left and you’ll be prompted to create a new database. Let’s name it “WordPress.” Click on “Create” and close the window.
Download and Install WordPress
Download the latest version of WordPress from wordpress.org and unzip it. When it’s done, all the files will be extracted to a folder name “WordPress.”
In order to get WordPress working with XAMPP you need to transfer this folder into the htdocs folder where you have installed XAMPP. Click on the “Explorer” of your XAMPP control panel, locate the “htdocs” folder and copy/paste the “WordPress” folder which contains all the files. Please ensure that the web server environment is running properly before carrying out this process.
Now we are ready for installing WordPress.
Open your favorite web browser and go to http://localhost/wordpress/
You will arrive at page as shown in the image below. Next, click on “Let’s go.”
Next, you will be asked to enter your database connection details.
Please use the details as given below:
Database Name: wordpress User Name: root Password: blank (please keep this box empty) Database Host: localhost Table Prefix: wp_
After entering all the details you can click on “Submit” >> “Run the install.”
You should see the welcome screen for the famous five minute WordPress installation process. Enter your details and click “Install WordPress.” Your WordPress installation is now complete.