WordPress Installation: 5 Proven Steps with XAMPP

In the previous lesson, we covered a full WordPress Introduction, including its history and market growth. Now it is time to move from theory to practice. In this tutorial, we will complete a full WordPress Installation on your own computer using XAMPP, so you can start building and testing websites locally before putting anything online.

What Is XAMPP and Why Do We Need It?

WordPress needs a server environment to run, since it is built on PHP and requires a MySQL database. XAMPP is free software that creates this exact environment directly on your computer. It bundles Apache, MySQL, PHP, and phpMyAdmin together, so you do not need to install each one separately.

If you are new to PHP and XAMPP, we already have a dedicated, more detailed guide on our site. You can read our complete PHP Installation Guide for a deeper look at setting up XAMPP and configuring PHP itself. That guide pairs well with this WordPress Installation tutorial, since both use the same local server setup.

For learners who prefer watching over reading, we also cover XAMPP installation inside our PHP video series. Specifically, Tutorial 4 of our PHP Video Tutorials series is titled “Installing XAMPP Server” and walks through the exact same installation process step by step. You can also watch that lesson directly on YouTube here: PHP Installation Video Tutorial.

Step 1: Download XAMPP

Visit the official Apache Friends website and download the XAMPP version that matches your operating system, whether Windows, macOS, or Linux. Always download from the official source to avoid fake or modified installers.

1. Go to the official XAMPP download page.
2. Choose the version that matches your PHP requirements for WordPress.
3. Click download and wait for the installer file to finish downloading.

Screenshot: XAMPP official download page showing version options.

Step 2: Install XAMPP on Your Computer

Once the installer is downloaded, run it and follow the setup wizard. This part of the WordPress Installation process is straightforward, but a few settings matter for smooth WordPress use later.

1. Run the XAMPP installer file as administrator.
2. Select components: keep Apache, MySQL, PHP, and phpMyAdmin checked.
3. Choose an installation folder, or keep the default location.
4. Click Next through the remaining steps and finish the installation.

Screenshot: XAMPP component selection screen during installation.

Step 3: Start Apache and MySQL

After installation, open the XAMPP Control Panel. This panel lets you start and stop your local server whenever you need it. For WordPress to run, both Apache and MySQL modules must be active.

1. Open the XAMPP Control Panel from your desktop or start menu.
2. Click Start next to the Apache module.
3. Click Start next to the MySQL module.
4. Confirm both modules show a green “Running” status.

Screenshot: XAMPP Control Panel with Apache and MySQL running.

Step 4: Create a Database for WordPress

WordPress stores all its content, settings, and user data inside a MySQL database. Before installing WordPress itself, you need to create an empty database for it to connect to. This step is often where beginners get confused during their first WordPress Installation, so follow it carefully.

1. Open your browser and go to localhost/phpmyadmin.
2. Click the Databases tab at the top.
3. Type a database name, for example wordpress_local.
4. Click Create, and confirm the new database appears in the list.

Screenshot: phpMyAdmin database creation screen.

Step 5: Download and Set Up WordPress

Now that your local server and database are ready, the final step of this WordPress Installation is downloading WordPress itself and connecting it to that database.

1. Download the latest WordPress package from wordpress.org.
2. Extract the downloaded ZIP file into the htdocs folder inside your XAMPP directory.
3. Rename the extracted folder to something simple, like mysite.
4. Open your browser and visit localhost/mysite to launch the WordPress setup wizard.
5. Select your language and click Continue.
6. Enter your database name, username (root), and leave the password blank by default.
7. Complete the site title, admin username, and admin password fields.
8. Click Install WordPress and wait for the success message.

Screenshot: WordPress setup wizard database connection screen.

Once installation finishes, you can log into your new WordPress dashboard using the admin credentials you just created. Your site is now running fully on your own computer, with no hosting cost and no internet connection required for testing.

For official documentation and updates on the WordPress installation process, you can always refer to the source directly: wordpress.org.

This is Tutorial 2 of 10 in our WordPress Short Series. In the next tutorial, we will explore the WordPress Dashboard Layout in detail, so you understand every menu before we start building.

Practice Task

1. Download and install XAMPP on your own computer.
2. Start Apache and MySQL, and confirm both show a running status.
3. Create a new database in phpMyAdmin named practice_wp.
4. Download WordPress and extract it into your htdocs folder.
5. Complete the WordPress setup wizard and log into your dashboard.
6. Write down the exact local URL you used to access your new site.
7. Take a screenshot of your working WordPress dashboard after login.

Bonus Challenge: Try creating a second WordPress installation in a different folder inside htdocs using a separate database, and confirm both sites run independently on your local server at the same time.

Continue exploring more WordPress tutorials in our WordPress category.