How To Install Wordpress On A Local Server

WordPress is a powerful content management system (CMS) based on the PHP scripting language and MySQL database. It allows you to build websites without coding skills by simply dragging and dropping elements.

Whether you're creating a blog or a business website, WordPress makes the process faster and more accessible.

Why Install WordPress Locally?

Installing WordPress on a local server before going live is highly recommended because:

• It ensures faster loading times during development
• It offers a smoother workflow
• You can test site changes, plugins, and themes safely
• Mistakes won’t affect your live website

What You’ll Need

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• XAMPP or WampServer installed (for setting up a local server)
• The WordPress package from wordpress.org

With that in place, let’s get started!

Step 1: Install XAMPP on Your PC

This is the first step to ensure that your computer has an active local server running.

I’ve already created a full and brief tutorial on How to Install XAMPP on Windows. If you experience any issues, feel free to revisit that guide.

Step 2: Download WordPress

Visit www.wordpress.org, click on Get WordPress, and you’ll be directed to a page with the download option.

Download the latest version of WordPress.

Once the download is complete:

1. Open your Downloads folder
2. Copy the WordPress zipped file
3. Navigate to where you installed XAMPP (typically C:\xampp)
4. Open the htdocs folder
5. Paste the copied WordPress zip file inside
    

Right-click on the zipped file and extract its contents using any tool (e.g., WinRAR). Open the extracted folder (e.g., wordpress-5.2.3).

Inside that folder, you’ll find another folder named WordPress. Copy this folder.

Paste this copied folder directly into the htdocs directory.

Step 3: Configure WordPress

Open the newly pasted WordPress folder inside htdocs. Find a file named wp-config-sample.php and do the following:

1. Open this file in your preferred text editor (e.g., Sublime Text)
2. Replace the following placeholders with your actual database details:
   

Note: Ensure you’ve already created the database using phpMyAdmin before editing this file.

Save the file and rename it from wp-config-sample.php to wp-config.php.

Step 4: Launch the WordPress Installer

Now, open your browser and go to: http://localhost/wordpress

You should see a screen prompting you to choose your language.

Select your preferred language and click Continue.

Fill in the installation form with:

• Site Title
• Username
• Password
• Email

Then click Install WordPress to complete the setup.

Step 5: Log In and Start Customizing

Once installed, you’ll be redirected to the login page. Log in using the credentials you just created.

Image here: WordPress login screen or dashboard

From here, you can:

• Install and activate themes
• Add plugins
• Customize your site freely

All changes will be safely contained in your local environment.

Conclusion

And that’s it! You now have the essential skills to install WordPress locally and build your dream site in a secure and test-friendly environment.

Have fun creating your website and exploring everything WordPress has to offer!