Install XAMPP on Windows

What is XAMPP

XAMPP is a free package with Apache, MariaDB (MySQL), PHP and Perl. It lets you run a web server on your own PC for testing websites.

Benefits:

• One installer for the whole stack.
• Works on Windows, Linux and macOS.
• Good for testing PHP sites such as WordPress.

Install XAMPP

1. Download the installer from the Apache Friends website.

   

2. Run the installer and click Next.

   

3. Select the components. Apache, MySQL and PHP are the main ones. phpMyAdmin is useful too.

   

4. Choose the install folder, normally C:\xampp.

   

5. Choose the language.

   

6. Click Next until it is ready to install.

   

7. Click Finish.

   

Start the services

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

Open http://localhost in a browser. The XAMPP welcome page shows that it works.

If Apache does not start

Another program may use port 80 or 443, such as Skype or IIS. Stop that program or change the port in the Apache settings, then start again.

Create a test page

1. Open C:\xampp\htdocs and create a folder named testsite.

   

2. Create a file index.php in it with this content:

<?php echo "Hello from XAMPP"; ?>

1. Open http://localhost/testsite.

   

Uninstall XAMPP

Stop the services first. Then:

1. Open Control Panel.

   

   

2. Go to Uninstall a program, select XAMPP and click Uninstall.

   

3. Confirm the question.

   

   

Delete the C:\xampp folder afterwards if files remain. Back up any databases first.

Quick recap

• Install, start Apache and MySQL, open http://localhost.
• Put your sites in C:\xampp\htdocs.