How to Install WordPress Locally on Windows?

Having a local WordPress installation on your Windows machine is a great tool for testing new add-ons and themes and customizing them before making those changes on the live website. Besides this, you will be able to play and check out different features of WordPress stress-free, and you can apply your changes in a safe, isolated environment before you deploy such changes to your production site.

Here, we shall discuss installing install WordPress on Windows using XAMPP, WampServer, and DesktopServer.

Prerequisites:

As we start, make sure you have the operating system of the same software installed on your Windows PC:

Providing a web server solution of your choice XAMPP, WampServer, or DesktopServer can be your option.

Contrary to the complex and full-of-error word processors, the seemingly underserving text editor, like Notepad++ or Sublime Text/Visual Studio Code, provides such powerful features and is strictly free from errors.

A widespread browser may be, for instance, a browser for searching the web (like Google Chrome, Firefox, or MS Edge).

Step 1: Install a Web Server Solution

First, you need to get a web server that includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP as solutions. Through such parts, we can create a WordPress website on our local computer. The options are many, at this stage, you can pick one of the current top choices:

XAMPP (https://www.apachefriends.org/download.html)

WampServer (https://www.wampserver.com/en/)

DesktopServer (https://serverpress.com/get-desktopserver/)

Download and install your preferred solution; read the on-screen how-to guide for further instructions. Unlike most regular computers, during the setup process, you might be required to choose specific programs or software that you want to install. Check whether your container is Apache, MySQL, and PHP.

Step 2: Start the Web Server

After installing the web server solution, you'll need to start the Apache and MySQL services:

For XAMPP:

Launch the XAMPP Control Panel

Go ahead and Click on the "start" buttons that are next to the Apache and MySQL services to start them.

For WampServer:

Open the WampServer menu from the system tray

Select "Start All Services"

For DesktopServer:

Open the DesktopServer application

Click the "Start" button to start the server

Step 3: Download and Extract WordPress

Next, you'll need to download the latest version of WordPress from the official website (https). This approach requires installing WordPress directly from the website (//wordpress.org/download/).

Navigate to the downloads folder and extract the WordPress ZIP file to a location of your choice (e.g., C:( https://mydomain.com/wordpress/)

Step 4: Create a Database for WordPress

WordPress uses a MySQL database that retains their posts and settings. Then we proceed to make a new database and add the desired user right:

For XAMPP:

Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost/phpmyadmin/

Click on "Databases" on the navigation menu

With your own name, give to your local database (in this case, "wordpress_local") as the "Create database" field and on to clicking "Create".

Click on the "Privileges icon" and then choose the "User account" option.

Write login (e.g., "wpuser") and also password in and then click the "Go" button.

Select the option of "Data" and press "Go" to give the user entire tasks on the newly created database.

For WampServer and DesktopServer, the process is similar. Refer to their respective documentation for creating a database and user.

Step 5: Configure WordPress

Now you have a database and already have a user, you will set up are go to the next step by configuring WordPress:

Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost/wordpress (type the address where you copy-pasted the WordPress contents in the browser)

From there, you should follow the steps provided by the WordPress installation wizard. Click on the language you would like and hit "Enter."

The next step in the process is to demonstrate how to complete the following screen, which requires entering the created database name, username, and password.

If the ib connection is successful, (you/you being) will be prompted to start and finish the installation. Click "Run the installation"

Enter the necessary details for your local WordPress installation, such as site title, admin username, password, and email address

Click "Install WordPress" to complete the installation process

Step 6: Access Your Local WordPress Installation

Upon finishing the installation, you should see a success message with a link that directs you to the installation of WordPress on the local server and also a login link that leads you straight into the WordPress dashboard.

Click the "Login" link or navigate to http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin (replace "WordPress" with your chosen installation folder name)

As a proof of concept, input the admin username and password that you assigned during the installation.

By now, you should have the WordPress admin dashboard in the folder where you installed the local version on your laptop.

Step 7: Configure Your Local Environment (Optional)

Contrasting that, though your local WordPress instance is now set up, you might want to go the extra mile to configure it further so that you may optimize your development environment:

Adjust WordPress Settings: In the WordPress admin dashboard, you can go to "Settings" and adjust some options, including whether permalinks for links are permanent, the timezone, and the language you use.

Install Plugins and Themes: You can go ahead and do all the installation and testing for plugins and themes locally now without any fears that it will mess with your live site.

Create Test Content: Click around your local copy of WordPress to create the test posts, pages, and media and to see how they will render on the live version of your site.

Enable Debug Mode: This feature will be useful for debugging and development. For this, add this line to your wp-config.php file: define('WP_DEBUG', true);

Set Up Version Control: You can establish a local version control (e.g., Git) for WordPress to trace changes and ease announcing that you are working on the same task as other colleagues.

Final Words

These are some of the simple steps on how to install WordPress locally. This will allow you to carry out complicated changes and customizing operations without adversely affecting the live website. Make a point of having regular backups for local installations and keeping them up to date with the latest versions of WordPress and security patches.