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If you’re looking to build a WordPress website, one of the first things you’ll need to do is install WordPress on your local machine. Installing WordPress on localhost using XAMPP is a straightforward process that allows you to create and test your site locally before launching it to the web. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to install WordPress on your local machine.

 

What is XAMPP?

XAMPP is an open-source software package that provides a complete web development environment for PHP, Apache, and MySQL. It allows you to create a local web server on your computer, which is ideal for testing and developing websites before they go live. XAMPP is free and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

 

Step 1: Download XAMPP Installer File

The first step is to download XAMPP from the Apache Friends website. Choose the appropriate version for your operating system and download the installer.

 

Step 2: Install XAMPP

Once you’ve downloaded the installer, run it and follow the installation wizard to install XAMPP on your computer. The default installation location is usually “C:\xampp” on Windows and “/Applications/XAMPP” on Mac.

 

Step 3: Start XAMPP Control Panel

Once XAMPP is installed, start the Control Panel. On Windows, you can do this by clicking the “XAMPP Control Panel” shortcut on your desktop. On Mac, you can find it in your “Applications” folder.

 

Step 4: Start Apache and MySQL

In the Control Panel, click the “Start” button next to “Apache” and “MySQL” to start the web server and database server.

 

Step 5: Download WordPress

Next, download the latest version of WordPress from the official WordPress website. Unzip the downloaded file to a folder in the “htdocs” directory of your XAMPP installation. For example, you could create a folder called “wordpress” in “C:\xampp\htdocs” on Windows or “/Applications/XAMPP/htdocs” on Mac.

 

Step 6: Create a Database

Before installing WordPress, you’ll need to create a new MySQL database. In the XAMPP Control Panel, click the “Admin” button next to “MySQL” to open phpMyAdmin in your web browser.

In phpMyAdmin, click the “Databases” tab and enter a name for your new database. Click the “Create” button to create the database.

 

Step 7: Configure wp-config.php

With your database created, you now need to configure WordPress to use it. In the folder where you extracted WordPress, find the file called “wp-config-sample.php” and rename it to “wp-config.php”.

Open the wp-config.php file in a text editor and enter the name of the database you just created, along with the username and password for the MySQL user account that has access to the database. Save the file and close the text editor.

 

Step 8: Install WordPress

Now that everything is set up, you can install WordPress. Open your web browser and navigate to “http://localhost/wordpress“. If you named your WordPress folder something different than “wordpress”, use that name instead.

You’ll see the WordPress installation screen. Choose your language and click the “Continue” button.

On the next screen, enter the name of your site, choose a username and password for the administrator account, and enter your email address. Click the “Install WordPress” button to complete the installation.

 

Step 9: Log in to WordPress

Once the installation is complete, you’ll be taken to the WordPress login screen. Enter the username and password you just created to log in to your new WordPress site.

 

Bonus Read: How to copy any HTML template from Themeforest

 

In conclusion, installing WordPress on localhost using XAMPP is a straightforward process that allows you to create and test your website before going live. The software provides an easy-to-use development environment that includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP, all of which are essential components of a WordPress website. By following the step-by-step guide above, you can have a fully functional WordPress website up and running on your local machine in no time.

Using a local development environment to install WordPress has many advantages. It allows you to experiment and test different themes and plugins without affecting your live site. It also makes it easier to troubleshoot any issues that may arise during development, as you have complete control over your local environment. Overall, installing WordPress on localhost is a great way to get started with WordPress development and build a website that meets your needs.

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