WordPress 101

How to install WordPress in localhost ?

WordPress is one of the best platforms to create sites as well as easy to use. The most flexible part of WordPress is even a non-coder can create a site with the themes and plugins available. A lot of beginners ask questions about how to install WordPress in localhost as well as other servers. Sometimes they simply face difficulties in installing WordPress. Well, now you don’t need to worry as we are going to cover the installation process in the local server here in this article.

Install WordPress in local server

Generally, the purpose of setting up WordPress on a local machine mainly is to set up a website and work on it, before going live. Downloading WordPress on local is all about playing and learning the tools, codes and so on. As the site will be visible only to you if you install WordPress locally.

If you are a blogger your purpose of the installation could be owning a blogging site so that you can show your articles to others.  And as a blogger another purpose to install WordPress in localhost could be checking your blogging site or learning to use WordPress tools with adequate articles.  A lot of people depend on WordPress to create sites, which covers 30% of the websites around the world. You will need a web hosting account to make your website live. Some of the web hosting platforms are SiteGround, GoDaddy, Bluehost, WPEngine and so on. You can choose any of them as per your requirements.

WordPress installation in Windows PC

You can use Xampp or Wampp for Windows computer and if you are using a Mac, Mamp will be suitable for you.

XAMPP installation

First of all, you need to download XAMPP on your Computer, For that, visit XAMPP’s site and download from it.

XAMPP installation

After downloading, launch the installer. You may receive warnings during the installation like if you are sure you want to install the software and the installer prompting you about antivirus software. Then click on ‘yes’ to continue.

Click on “Next” as the XAMPP setup will guide you through the installation.

XAMPP setup, WordPress installation in localhost

After that, you will be asked to select the components you want to install such as Apache and PHP are essential to running the software.

XAMPP setup, install WordPress in localhost

Next, select the folder where you would like to install XAMPP on your machine. Create a new folder in C:\Program Files\XAMPP.

XAMPP setup

After this, XAMPP is now ready to install. Click Next.

XAMPP setup, Localhost WordPress installation

After installation, you will be asked either you would like to start the XAMPP Control Panel. Tick the options button and click finish.

XAMPP setup

The Control Panel will automatically open. But if you uncheck the option, then you can go to the XAMPP folder in your PC and open XAMPP Control Panel.

The Control Panel will open and start up both Apache and MySQL.

XAMPP Control Panel, localhost WordPress installation

And now finally you can download the latest version of WordPress. Then, unzip the WordPress in XAMPP folder and open htdocs folder – C:/Program Files/XAMPP/htdocs.

Install WordPress

 

Then, unzip the WordPress in XAMPP folder and open htdocs folder – C:/Program Files/XAMPP/htdocs and give it a name according to your project.

WordPress Installation

As you can see here, we have given the folder name “Employee” as our project name. You can give any other name related to your project.

Setting up a MySQL database

After that, you have to set up your MySQL database. For that, you need to visit http://localhost/phpmyadmin/.

WordPress localhost database setup

Click on “New” to create a new database. Give it a name. And then click “CREATE” and close the window.

WordPress localhost Database setup

For further setup go to your browser and open http://localhost/your-projectname. In our case, the project name is ‘Employee‘ and our URL will be http://localhost/Employee. You will see the translation screen shown below:

WordPress Localhost Installation

Here in the database name, you have to put the same database name you created before in PhpMyAdmin. Then set the username “root” and for password leave it blank.

Set the site title, username, password, e-mail and click on Install WordPress Button.

Install WordPress in localhost

Now you are ready to login. Login with the Username and Password you have set for your WordPress Dashboard.

WordPress Setup

You can check your dashboard in http://localhost/Employee/wp-admin/.  To check your site, you can go through http://localhost/Employee/.

Voila, it’s done. Don’t you think it is easy to install WordPress in localhost by just following these simple steps? If you have any queries with the installation process feel free to comment on the section below.