How to Install WordPress on XAMPP Localhost in Just 5 Minutes
Introduction
What’s wonderful is to have WordPress on your local server by using XAMPP and it will be useful for you while learning to develop and test your WordPress sites before publishing them online. Working both being a starter and an already successful developer, saves some time and gives the security of safe play-around places. Well, in this article, we will guide you through the process of installing WordPress on XAMPP localhost in just 5 minutes. No expertise is needed!
What is XAMPP and Why Use It for WordPress?
It is free, open source software that can install a local server directly onto your personal computer. XAMPP includes an Apache web server, MySQL database management, PHP programming language for WordPress, and phpMyAdmin, the database administration tool. This pack is absolutely great for WordPress development because it will give you everything you need to produce and test your WordPress website locally, without getting access to a live web host.
Having WordPress using XAMPP, it boasts of some favorable factors that include the following;
Development without internet: One is able to develop the WordPress site disconnected from the internet.
Totally free & Open Source: XAMPP & WordPress are totally free.
Testing: One is able to test their WordPress installations without breaking his live site-test your plugins, themes, and other alterations that you are making to your WordPress.
So let’s dive into the 5-minute process of installing WordPress on localhost using XAMPP. Here is how to step by step, install WordPress in XAMPP
How to Install WordPress in XAMPP Locahost Step by Step Installation
Step 1: Download and install XAMPP
Download XAMPP: Go to the official website of XAMPP, then download a version for your operating system whether you are in Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Installation of the package: You need to open up the downloaded file and follow only the installation wizard. It installs by default to C:\\\xampp on Windows. Feel free to instal it elsewhere if you want to.
Launch XAMPP Control Panel: Once downloaded, launch the XAMPP Control Panel and click Start beside Apache and MySQL so both your web server and your database server will be running
Step 2: Download WordPress
WordPress.org: Official WordPress download site
Download Latest Version: Click Download WordPress to get a ZIP archive of the most recent version of WordPress
Extract the Files: Once you download you need to extract the archive to a folder
Step 3: Copy WordPress files to your XAMPP directory
Find the htdocs Directory: In the installation folder of your XAMPP -usually C:\\ on windows you will find the folder named htdocs which contains your local websites
Copy WordPress into the htdocs Directory: Copy over the extracted WordPress folder. You want to rename the folder to something like “mywordpresssite” because that will make it neater
Step 4: Install the WordPress Database
Open phpMyAdmin: You ought to see an Admin button next to the MySQL in your XAMPP Control Panel. Click that button to open phpMyAdmin in your browser.
Create a Database: You are now in phpMyAdmin. On the left hand side, select the Databases tab and create a new database for your WordPress site. In this example you will name it wordpress_db .
Step 5: Install WordPress
Open WordPress: From your browser you will want to go to http://localhost/mywordpresssite or whatever you named your WordPress folder.
Step 6: Configure Your WordPress Site
Website Information: WordPress will now ask for basic information about your website.
Website Name: Enter a name for your WordPress website.
Username: Enter the administrator’s username, for example, admin
Password: Provide a good password for your WordPress administrator account
Email: Enter your email address; you may use any valid e-mail that you have.
Install WordPress : Once you fill out details for your site, you’ll click on Install WordPress .
Log In : Once installed, you’ll then click Log In. You’ll be using the username and password you created for your WordPress administration account to see the WordPress Dashboard.
You Made It! Congratulations, you have now succeeded in installing WordPress on XAMPP!
Congratulations! You’ve installed WordPress in 5 minutes on your localhost XAMPP. Now set free to go wild creating and testing WordPress themes, plugins, and customizations without affecting a live site.
WordPress Installation Screen: You should see a WordPress installation screen. Select your desired language. Then click Continue.
Database Configuration:
Database Name: Enter the database name you created in phpMyAdmin (wordpress_db).
Username: Enter root because this is the default XAMPP.
Password: You should leave it blank because the default user in XAMPP does not actually require a password to enter MySQL
Database Host: Enter localhost.
Table Prefix: It will be already set to the default, or you can change it as you want. For example, you will use wp_
Run Installation: Click Send then Run the Installation.
Step 6: Configure Your WordPress Site
Website Information: WordPress will now ask for basic information about your website.
Website Name: Enter a name for your WordPress website.
Username: Enter the administrator’s username, for example, admin
Password: Provide a good password for your WordPress administrator account
Email: Enter your email address; you may use any valid e-mail that you have.
Install WordPress : Once you fill out details for your site, you’ll click on Install WordPress .
Log In : Once installed, you’ll then click Log In. You’ll be using the username and password you created for your WordPress administration account to see the WordPress Dashboard.
You Made It! Congratulations, you have now succeeded in installing WordPress on XAMPP!
Congratulations! You’ve installed WordPress in 5 minutes on your localhost XAMPP. Now set free to go wild creating and testing WordPress themes, plugins, and customizations without affecting a live site.
Bonus: Take the Full WordPress Course
Now that you have a local WordPress site up and running, let’s see what else you might do. If you want to be a WordPress developer, then there’s a lot more waiting for you! Check out this next:
Theme Development: The art of creating a WordPress theme from scratch.
Plugin Development: How to code up plugins to make WordPress even better.
Advanced Customizations: Dive into PHP, JavaScript and WordPress Hooks in building advanced feature sets.
WordPress Security: Protecting Your WordPress Website
Conclusion
It’s never easier to set up WordPress on XAMPP. A seriously powerful local development environment stands before your very eyes after just 5 minutes of learning and growing as a WordPress developer. Customizing themes and plugins is the closest companion to building a portfolio alone on a personal blog for local WordPress development. So, happy coding and enjoy the building process of WordPress!
With this simple tutorial, you will be prepared and ready to have a fully functional WordPress site at localhost for testing. Of course, developing and testing do not put the pressure of influencing a live website, which is what XAMPP offers. And mostly, it’s great for learning new skills in WordPress development.