Running WordPress locally on your computer

Running WordPress locally on your computer is a great way to develop and test your site before making it live. Here's a step-by-step guide:

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Requirements

1. Web Server Software: Apache or Nginx.
2. Database: MySQL or MariaDB.
3. PHP: A version compatible with WordPress (PHP 7.4 or newer is recommended).
4. Local Server Tools:
   • Install one of the following to simplify setup:
     • XAMPP (Windows, macOS, Linux)
     • Local by Flywheel (Windows, macOS)
     • WAMP (Windows only)
     • MAMP (macOS and Windows)

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Step 1: Download and Install a Local Server

Using XAMPP (example)

1. Download XAMPP from https://www.apachefriends.org/.
2. Install XAMPP and ensure Apache, MySQL, and PHP are included.
3. Launch the XAMPP Control Panel and start:
   • Apache: The web server.
   • MySQL: The database server.

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Step 2: Download WordPress

1. Visit https://wordpress.org/download/.
2. Download the latest WordPress .zip file and extract it.
3. Place the extracted folder into the htdocs directory of XAMPP:
   • For Windows: C:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress.
   • For macOS: /Applications/XAMPP/htdocs/wordpress.

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Step 3: Set Up the Database

1. Open your web browser and go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin.
2. Click Databases at the top.
3. Enter a name for your database (e.g., wordpress) and click Create.
   • No need to add tables; WordPress will handle this during installation.

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Step 4: Configure WordPress

1. Open your browser and visit http://localhost/wordpress.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions:
   • Select your language and click Continue.
   • Enter the database details:
     • Database Name: The name you created in phpMyAdmin (e.g., wordpress).
     • Username: root (default for XAMPP).
     • Password: Leave blank (default for XAMPP).
     • Database Host: localhost.
     • Table Prefix: wp_ (default; can be changed for security).
   • Click Submit, then Run the Installation.
3. Fill in site details:
   • Site Title
   • Admin Username and Password
   • Admin Email
4. Click Install WordPress.

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Step 5: Access WordPress Locally

1. Go to http://localhost/wordpress to view your site.
2. To access the admin dashboard, go to http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin and log in with the credentials you created.

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Tips for Development

• Enable Debugging: In the wp-config.php file, set:

  define( 'WP_DEBUG', true );

• Custom Themes or Plugins: Place them in the wp-content/themes or wp-content/plugins folder, respectively.
• Backup Regularly: Use tools like Duplicator or manually back up the database and wp-content folder.

You're now set up to run WordPress locally! Let me know if you need assistance with any of these steps.