Install Concrete CMS on Windows with XAMPP

What you need

• Windows. Any current version.
• A web server. Apache (comes with XAMPP) or IIS.
• PHP. Concrete CMS needs a recent PHP version (check the requirements of your version).
• A database. MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.2+.
• A modern browser.

Step 1: Install XAMPP

1. Download XAMPP from the Apache Friends website.
2. Run the installer and follow the steps. Keep the default folder C:\xampp and the components Apache, MySQL, PHP and phpMyAdmin.
3. Start XAMPP when it finishes.

Step 2: Start Apache and MySQL and create the database

1. In the XAMPP Control Panel, click Start next to Apache and MySQL.

   

2. Click Admin next to MySQL, or open http://localhost/phpmyadmin.

   

3. In phpMyAdmin, click New, enter a database name such as concrete5 and click Create.

   

Step 3: Install Concrete CMS

1. Download Concrete CMS (zip) from the Concrete CMS website and extract it into C:\xampp\htdocs\concrete5.

   

2. Open http://localhost/concrete5/index.php/install in your browser.

   

3. Check that the system requirements pass.
4. Enter the site name, the admin email and password.
5. Enter the database details:
   - The database server, usually localhost
   - The database user name (root in a default XAMPP setup)
   - The password for that user (empty by default in XAMPP)
   - The name of the database you created

   

6. Choose a starting point and click Install Concrete CMS.

   

7. When it ends, open http://localhost/concrete5 to see your site.

   

Quick recap

• Install XAMPP, start Apache and MySQL, and create a database.
• Extract Concrete CMS into htdocs.
• Finish the web installer.