How to Install XAMPP for Windows 10 - XAMPP WordPress For Beginners
To install XAMPP on Windows 10 and set it up for WordPress, follow these steps:
Step 1: Download XAMPP
Go to the official XAMPP website.
Click on the "XAMPP for Windows" button.
Once the installer is downloaded, locate the .exe file (usually in the Downloads folder).
Step 2: Install XAMPP
Double-click the .exe file to start the installation process.
Choose the components you want to install. For WordPress, you need at least Apache, MySQL, and PHP. These are selected by default, so you can leave them as is.
Choose the installation folder (default is usually fine).
Click "Next" and follow the prompts.
During installation, the installer may ask if you want to start the XAMPP Control Panel. Leave it checked and click "Finish."
Step 3: Start Apache and MySQL
Open the XAMPP Control Panel (it should have opened automatically, or you can search for it in the Start menu).
Click the "Start" button next to Apache (this will run the web server).
Click the "Start" button next to MySQL (this will start the database server).
Make sure both Apache and MySQL show "Running" in green.
Step 4: Install WordPress
Download the latest version of WordPress from the official WordPress website.
Extract the WordPress ZIP file.
Move the extracted folder (the WordPress folder) into the htdocs folder of your XAMPP installation (usually located at C:\xampp\htdocs).
Step 5: Create a Database for WordPress
Open your browser and go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin/.
In the phpMyAdmin dashboard, click on "Databases."
Create a new database for WordPress. Give it a name (e.g., wordpress_db) and click "Create."
Step 6: Configure WordPress
Open your browser and go to http://localhost/wordpress (or the folder name you chose).
The WordPress installation screen should appear.
Select your language and click "Continue."
On the next screen, enter your database details:
Database Name: The name you created (e.g., wordpress_db).
Username: root (default for XAMPP).
Password: Leave this blank (default for XAMPP).
Database Host: localhost (default).
Table Prefix: Leave as wp_ unless you want to change it.
Click Submit and then Run the Install.
Step 7: Complete the WordPress Setup
Fill in the site details (site title, admin username, password, and email).
Click "Install WordPress."
Once the installation is complete, you’ll see a success message. You can now log in to your WordPress dashboard at http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin.
Final Notes
To stop your server, go to the XAMPP Control Panel and click "Stop" for Apache and MySQL.
If you need to make your local WordPress site public, you'll have to configure port forwarding or use a tool like Local by Flywheel or XAMPP for public access.