Step-by-Step Guide to Installing XAMPP and Setting Up WordPress Locally

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The combination of XAMPP and WordPress is widely popular for website development. XAMPP offers a local server environment, while WordPress is a powerful web development platform. As one of the most commonly used localhost applications, XAMPP supports cross-platform compatibility, making it accessible on Windows, Linux, and macOS. In this guide, brought to you by TemplateToaster—a leading WordPress theme generator and builder—I will walk you through installing XAMPP and WordPress on Windows.

Installing XAMPP

Getting Started with the Setup

Download XAMPP for Windows from apachefriends.org. Run the installer to begin setting up XAMPP on your system.

Select Components

Understanding XAMPP Components
In the component selection wizard, all components are selected by default. You can uncheck any components you don’t intend to use. Here’s a quick overview of each:
Apache: The HTTP web server is essential for running websites.
MySQL: MySQL is the database server for managing website data.
FileZilla FTP Server: Used to set up an FTP server.
Mercury Mail Server: Facilitates a mail transport system.
Tomcat: A server designed to run Java-based web applications efficiently.
PHP: A server-side scripting language for creating dynamic web pages.
Perl: Widely used by programmers for writing CGI scripts.
phpMyAdmin: A critical tool for administering MySQL databases.
Webalizer: A log file analyzer that generates statistical reports on website traffic and user behavior.
Fake Sendmail: This simulates email transfers on localhost and is helpful for projects involving email functionality.
Choose components based on your project needs to optimize your setup.

Selecting Components for InstallationWe selected Apache, MySQL, PHP, and phpMyAdmin for the WordPress installation as these are essential components. We unchecked the rest of the components because they were unnecessary for our purpose.

Installing XAMPP

After selecting the necessary components, you will be asked to choose an installation directory. Specify your desired location, and the setup will proceed with the installation process.

Start Apache and MySQL

Post-Installation: Launching XAMPP Control Panel

Once the installation is complete, navigate to the XAMPP folder (default location: C:\xampp) and open the xampp-control.exe file to launch the XAMPP Control Panel.

Starting Apache and MySQL

In the control panel, start the Apache and MySQL components. Once started, their respective “Admin” links will become clickable. To proceed to phpMyAdmin, click the “Admin” button next to MySQL or directly open it in your browser by visiting http://localhost/phpmyadmin.

Installing WordPress

Creating a Database in phpMyAdmin

On the phpMyAdmin interface, locate the “Databases” tab at the top-left corner. Click it to create a new database. For this guide, we’ll name the database wordpress.

Unzip the WordPress Package

Once the database is created, download the WordPress package from the official website. After downloading, extract the zip file to C:\xampp\htdocs\. The “wordpress” folder will appear in the htdocs directory if extracted correctly.

Select Language and Proceed

On the installation screen, select your preferred language and click Continue to proceed.

Enter Database Information

In the next step, fill in the required database details to connect WordPress to the database you created earlier.

Enter Database Details

Database Name: Enter the name you created earlier (e.g., wordpress).

Username: Type root.

Password: Leave this field blank.

Database Host: Enter localhost.Specify a custom prefix for all database tables in the last field. Once all fields are completed, click Submit to proceed.

Enter Website Information

In the next step, you will be asked to enter your website’s details, including the site title, username, password, and email address. Complete the required fields and click Install WordPress.That’s it! WordPress is now installed, and you’re ready to start building your site.    

Log in to the Dashboard

You have successfully installed WordPress locally. To access the dashboard, click the Log In button. Explore our collection of free templates and WordPress themes to get started.

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