Welcome to Vivolens! In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing WordPress on XAMPP. Follow the steps below to set up your WordPress site locally.
Download Required Software
1. Starting XAMPP
After installing XAMPP, open the XAMPP Control Panel and start the Apache and MySQL services.
Next, click on the Admin button next to MySQL to open the phpMyAdmin interface.
2. Creating a Database
In phpMyAdmin, create a new database. Choose a name (e.g., wordpress_db), select the collation utf8_general_ci, and click Create.
Step 1: Click on Databases in the top menu.
Step 2: Enter your database name, select utf8_general_ci collation.
Step 3: Click Create to make your database.
3. Setting Up WordPress Files
Go to the XAMPP Control Panel and click on Explorer to open the XAMPP installation directory. Open the htdocs folder, create a new folder (e.g., wordpress_site), and paste the downloaded WordPress .zip file there.
Step 1: Unzip the WordPress file in the newly created folder.
Step 2: Delete the WordPress .zip file after extracting.
Step 3: Rename the wp-config-sample.php file to wp-config.php.
4. Configuring the wp-config.php File
Open the wp-config.php file in a code editor (e.g., Visual Studio Code or Notepad++). Modify the database settings as follows:
define('DB_NAME', 'wordpress_db');
define('DB_USER', 'root');
define('DB_PASSWORD', '');
On line 23 in your code editor
Step 1: Change DB_NAME to your database name.
Step 2: Set DB_USER to root.
Step 3: Leave DB_PASSWORD empty but keep the single quotes ''.
Step 4: Save the file (Ctrl + S) or from File > Save.
5. Completing WordPress Installation
In your browser, go to localhost/wordpress_site/wp-admin. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Choose a site title and set your username and password. Warning: Don't forget these credentials!
Step 2: Enter your email address.
Step 3: Click on Install WordPress.
After installation, log in with the credentials you set. You’re now ready to start building your WordPress site on XAMPP! For more details about WordPress, check out this guide.
FAQs
1. Why should I choose utf8_general_ci as the collation?
utf8_general_ci is a standard collation for compatibility, supporting most characters and languages without extra overhead.
2. Can I change my database name after installation?
Yes, but it requires additional changes in the wp-config.php file and potentially in the database itself.
3. How do I solve a blank screen error after setup?
Check your wp-config.php file and ensure there are no typos in the database credentials.
4. How do I reset my WordPress password?
Go to localhost/phpmyadmin, open your database, find wp_users, and reset it via the database.
5. What if Apache or MySQL won’t start?
Try closing other applications using port 80 or 443, like Skype or other servers.
6. How do I uninstall WordPress from XAMPP?
Simply delete the WordPress folder from htdocs and remove the database in phpMyAdmin.
7. Do I need to install any plugins?
Plugins are optional and can be installed based on your project needs.
8. Can I share this local site with others?
Yes, through local network sharing or using tools like Ngrok.
9. Will updates break my local WordPress site?
Updates are safe but may require PHP/MySQL compatibility; backup your data.
10. Can I later migrate this local site to a live server?
Absolutely, use plugins like All-in-One WP Migration or manual methods to migrate.
For more help, visit our contact page for support. Watch our video tutorial for further guidance.
