WordPress on XAMPP: Installing WordPress locally using XAMPP
There is no denying the fact that WordPress is worth learning. And installing WordPress is the first step in the direction of becoming a WordPress expert. So, in this tutorial we will show you how to install WordPress on XAMPP locally on your laptop or desktop computer.
WordPress started as a simple tool to build personal Blogs. But, over the years it has matured and evolved into an advanced Content Management System which is used not only by individual bloggers, but also by medium and big businesses. Its authority as a Blogging tool has grown significantly, and no doubt it is widely considered as the Number One Blogging Platform.
In this detailed step by step tutorial below, we will show you how to install WordPress on XAMPP with screenshots.
Installing WordPress on XAMPP is quite easy, just follow the simple steps in the guide below.
Note: If you don't know how to install XAMPP on Windows you can see How to install XAMPP on Windows?
Let's start installing WordPress on XAMPP
1) Download WordPress
Visit http://wordpress.org/download/, and download the latest stable release of WordPress. It is available for download in the compressed ZIP and TAR.GZ formats. Every WordPress version requires a minimum version of both PHP and MySQL. It is recommended to check whether your XAMPP installation meet these requirements. You can always download and install the latest version of XAMPP to meet the requirements.
For this tutorial we are using WordPress Version 4.6.1.
After downloding WordPress, extract the contents of the downloaded file on your computer. You will need this extracted "wordpress" folder later in this tutorial.
2) Create a MySQL Database
A MySQL database is required for installing WordPress, so now we will create a MySQL database using phpMyAdmin. WordPress uses a database to store your Blog's configuration information and Blog posts. Remember, the files such as images and videos which are used in Blog posts are stored in the file system and not in the database. But, meta information associated with these files (meta data) such as image URL, caption, and description are stored in the database.
Related: We have a tutorial on creating a MySQL database using phpMyAdmin.
We are using “wp_db” as the database name.
3) Keep the "wordpress" folder in the "htdocs" directory of XAMPP
Copy the “wordpress” folder which you have extracted from the file downloaded from wordpress.org. Paste it inside "C:\xampp\htdocs" directory. The "wordpress" folder path should look like "C:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress".
If you are in doubt whether you are doing it correctly or not, make sure that the contents of the C:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress folder look as shown below in the image.
Important: Either follow step 4 or follow step 5. Step 4 is easier than step 5.
4) Enter the database connection details in WordPress
Run XAMPP control panel if it is not running already. Make sure both Apache and MySQL are running. Start a web browser. Go to "localhost/wordpress" from the browser. You will see the page as shown below. In this page, you can see the database details which are required to install WordPress. Click Let's go.
Enter the database connection details for the database created in the step 2.
Write the name of the database you created earlier in the Database Name field.
Write the user name associated with the database in the “User Name” field. If you have not changed the default global user name for MySQL, the default global “User Name” would be “root”. (You can see the XAMPP security console here http://localhost/security/xamppsecurity.php. You can change the language at http://localhost/security/index.php)
Write the password associated with the user name in the “Password” field. If you have not changed the default password associated with the user 'root', keep the “Password” field blank.
Keep the “Database Host” and the “Table Prefix” fields at their default values as shown below. Click on the Submit button.
If you see the page as shown below, WordPress is now ready to be installed. Click on “Run the install”.
5) Enter details like Site Title, Username, Password, etc.
You will see the WordPress welcome page for installation process as shown below.
Write Site Title, Username, Password, E-mail, and check the Privacy checkbox if you want to allow search engines to index this site.
Note: All these information may be changed after the installation.
Click on the Install WordPress button.
You should see the page as shown below. It says “WordPress has been installed”.
Click on Log in button.
Log in with the username and password you created in the step 6.
After successful login you will see the page as shown below.
Now, your dream WordPress blog is ready to be configured.
