Flash Sale:75% Off Hosting + Free DomainEnds in13h47m14sView Plans
Hostvento logoHostvento
Get Started

Install WordPress on your Windows computer

This guide shows you how to run WordPress on your own Windows PC. You can practise and test ideas before you touch a real website.

WordPress2 min read15 steps12 screenshots

What is a local WordPress site?

A local site lives only on your computer. Nobody else on the internet can see it. It is like building a model house in your room before you build the real one.

WordPress needs three helpers to run. A web server sends pages to your browser. PHP is the language WordPress is written in. A database is a digital filing cabinet that stores your posts and settings. A free tool called XAMPP installs all three together. Other tools such as Local or WampServer work in a similar way.

Steps

  1. Download XAMPP from its official website and run the installer.
    Screenshot: Download XAMPP from its official website and run the installer.
  2. Keep the default options. Let it install in the C:\xampp folder.
  3. Open the XAMPP Control Panel from the Start menu.
  4. Click Start next to Apache. Apache is the web server.
  5. Click Start next to MySQL. MySQL is the database.
  6. Open your browser and go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin. phpMyAdmin is a page for managing databases.
  7. Click Databases. Type a name such as mysite and click Create.
  8. Download the latest WordPress zip file from wordpress.org and unzip it.
    Screenshot: Download the latest WordPress zip file from wordpress.org and unzip it.
  9. Copy the wordpress folder into C:\xampp\htdocs. You can rename it, for example to mysite.
  10. In your browser, go to http://localhost/mysite.
  11. Pick your language and click Continue.
    Screenshot: Pick your language and click Continue .
  12. Enter the database name mysite. Enter the username root. Leave the password empty. Leave the host as localhost.
  13. Click Submit, then Run the installation.
    Screenshot: Click Submit , then Run the installation .
  14. Type a site title, an admin username and a strong password. Add your email address.
    Screenshot: Type a site title, an admin username and a strong password. Add your email address.
    Screenshot: Type a site title, an admin username and a strong password. Add your email address.
    Screenshot: Type a site title, an admin username and a strong password. Add your email address.
    Screenshot: Type a site title, an admin username and a strong password. Add your email address.
  15. Click Install WordPress.

Log in any time at http://localhost/mysite/wp-admin.

Tip: The empty password and the root user are fine on your own PC. Never use them on a real website.

If something goes wrong

  • If Apache will not start, another program may use the same port. Close Skype or other web tools and try again.
  • If the page says it cannot connect to the database, check that MySQL is running.
  • If you stop XAMPP, your local site goes offline. Start Apache and MySQL again to bring it back.

Quick recap

  • A local site runs only on your own computer.
  • XAMPP gives you the web server, PHP and database in one install.
  • Create a database, copy WordPress into htdocs, then open it in your browser.
    Screenshot: Create a database, copy WordPress into htdocs , then open it in your browser.
    Screenshot: Create a database, copy WordPress into htdocs , then open it in your browser.
    Screenshot: Create a database, copy WordPress into htdocs , then open it in your browser.
    Screenshot: Create a database, copy WordPress into htdocs , then open it in your browser.
  • Use it for practice. Your real site on Hostvento hosting stays separate.