9 Steps To Installing Wordpress Locally

Posted: July 2nd, 2009 | Filed under: How-To 1 Comment

When it comes to working with Wordpress and designing in general the ability to quickly preview your changes and edits helps move the process along much faster. While you can easily see regular HTML and CSS files on your computer no problem, when you start to use databases and PHP, you need a server that can interpret these documents…

Unfortunately that means you need to set this up on your computer, but that is where we come in.

Note: Some Mac users seem to have trouble uploading images with the latest WP builds.

A few reasons to consider installing Wordpress locally:

• Can see changes made without the need to upload.
• Can upload complete theme once, design looks right.
• Can play, test, and build your designing skills without risking your actual site.

The following tutorial will teach you step-by-step how to install Wordpress locally…

1. Download Software (Free)

Yes there is other software, but, for ease and cross-platform capability, download the version of XAMPP suitable for your operating system.

Once you download the software, open the installer (if not automatically), and run through the simple Wizard application to perform your basic software install. NOTE: If running on Windows, XAMPP suggests not to install it in the Program Files folder (i.e. C:\Program Files\xampp), so just install it in the root of your drive (C:\xampp).

2. Fire Up Software

Open the XAMPP wherever you installed it, and look for the files called ‘xampp-control.’

The point of this software is really just to run in the background, so we need to click ‘Start’ next to Apache and MySql.

3. Make Sure It All Works

Now we need to see if XAMPP actually works. If you have followed the instruction so far, then you should be good. Simply type in ‘http://localhost’ and you should see the following screen.

Choose the language you prefer, and now lets actually get to the Wordpress installation.

4. Creating A Database For Wordpress

Steps 4-6 can be seen in the in the video below.

If you use to Fantastico or some option through your hosting’s control panel, then you are probably used to one-click install. Unfortunately we do not have that option here, so we are required to manually create the proper database for Wordpress.

a. First thing first, point your address bar to ‘http://localhost/phpmyadmin’.

b. Create your Wordpress database by entering a name and pressing the ‘Create’ button. In the field under ‘Create new database” type in whatever you want. Make sure to remember this. I will be using wp_db.

5. Create Wordpress Database User

If you don’t know anything about mySQL databases, basically we need to create one and then assign a user to have access to it. In this case, our user will be the Wordpress install and we need it to access our mySQL database.

a. Click on the Home icon in the top left, and then find the ‘Privileges’ tab and click it.

b. Click on ‘Add a new user’.

c. Now we need to fill in the top fields. Create a username, choose ‘Local’ for host, and generate a password and copy it in the above fields. Make sure to write down the username and password.

d. Further down, under the section titled, ‘Global Privileges’, choose ‘Check All.’ Now scroll to bottom and click go. Your user is now created.

6. Connecting User To Database

We have created both the database and user, but now we need to grant the user access to the database. On the same screen after clicking ‘Go’ in step 5d scroll down and find the section called ‘Database-specific privileges’.

a. From the drop down box choose your database. In my case, I would choose the one called ‘wp_db’.

You are now succesfully done with the phpMyAdmin portion of this process... hopefully.

7. Installing Wordpress On Your Computer

a. First off, we need to get the latest build of Wordpress.

b. Either after or before your extract it just make sure the folder labeled ‘wordpress’ is located in the ‘htdocs’ of the xampp folder.

8. Syncing Our Database With Wordpress

I promise you we are almost done. Now we need to make sure Wordpress knows what the name of our database is and login information.

a. In that Wordpress folder you just put in the htdocs paper find the file called ‘wp-config-sample.php’ and save as ‘wp-config.php’. You can open the file with your HTML editor, Notepad, Textedit, or something to that nature.

b. Once you open the file, you will see that there are 6 ‘define’ codes. We will need to change 3. Update the spots next do ‘DB_Name’, DB_USER’, and ‘DB_PASSWORD’ with your information.

9. Install Wordpress Already

Now for perhaps the easiest step of this whole process. Point your address bar to ‘http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin/install.php’ and let the thing install.

If everything was installed correctly, then you should see your site and wp-admin at the following links:

• http://localhost/wordpress/
• http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin

Wrap Up

The rest is pretty much just setting up your blog. It is a good idea to add some filler text, so you can see how your design will look when content is actually there. Check out the Theme Development Checklist for some good stuff. You can also find the XML file, under Theme Unit Test, to import text.

Now What??

Check out some Wordpress themes to start tweaking. 13 Amazingly Free Lucky Magazine-Style Wordpress Themes. and 16 Best Free Recommended Wordpress Themes For Wordpress 2.8.

Start working on building your own site, and see what all can be done with Wordpress. Take the free 30 day course that teaches you step-by-step: how to build a site, market it, and make money from it.

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