# Install WordPress with XAMPP quickly Want to create a website or blog in [WordPress](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/hosting/cms/wordpress-examining-the-well-known-cms/ "WordPress: examining the well-known CMS"), but don't want to do it directly on the server? The alternative is to **install WordPress in XAMPP**. Read on to find out how to set up a WordPress installation in a few steps. ## WordPress XAMPP installation With XAMPP you can **quickly and easily set up your own web server** on your local computer. The letters in the name represent its core components: - **X** stands for the different operating systems like Windows, Linux, or Mac that XAMPP is compatible with. - **A** stands for the cross-platform Apache web server. - The **M** indicates the included MySQL/Maria database. - The two **P**s in the name stand for the scripting languages Perl and PHP. Thus, you have all the **important components in one program** to install WordPress with XAMPP locally. ### Advantages of a local WordPress XAMPP installation Whether it's a new site or changes to an existing site, it’s always **recommended to modify your website in a local test environment**. If the WordPress installation is implemented locally in a test environment with XAMPP, adjustments can be made and viewed before the website goes live. Even if you’re making updates to plugins or WordPress itself, a separate environment is advantageous. If a website no longer functions due to an update, you can **find and fix the source of the error**. --- ### Tip Should you make adjustments directly on the live server, don't forget to enable [WordPress maintenance mode](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/hosting/cms/wordpress-maintenance-mode/ "WordPress Maintenance Mode") during the website edits. --- Another advantage is that you can **easily modify** WordPress **offline and on the go** thanks to XAMPP. All changes are made in the browser, which means you don't need an Internet connection. Additionally, an installation of WordPress in XAMPP offers the possibility to **export pages and posts as static HTML pages**. This not only protects the administration area from potential hacker attacks, but also ensures an improved load time of your website. With plugins like [Simple Static](https://wordpress.org/plugins/simply-static/ "WordPress plugin Simple Static") or [Export WP Page to Static HTML/CSS](https://wordpress.org/plugins/export-wp-page-to-static-html/ "WordPress plugin Export WP Page to Static HTML/CSS") you can quickly and easily convert your website into a static page. --- ### Tip To protect your website and settings from hackers, it is advisable to [rename the login URL *wp-login*](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/hosting/blogs/wordpress-rename-wp-login/ "WordPress: rename wp-login"). The default URL with */wp-admin* is a popular target for attackers. By renaming it you can avoid potential attacks. --- ### WordPress & XAMPP: requirements for a local installation The requirement to install WordPress in XAMPP is a **local AMP stack on the hard drive** – AMP stands for Apache, MySQL, and PHP. All these components are already included in XAMPP for WordPress installation which speeds up the setup. --- ### Tip Want to create more than one website? Secure an [additional domain with IONOS](https://www.ionos.co.uk/domains/domain-names "Buy & register additional domain with IONOS"). --- ## How to install WordPress with XAMPP – step by step Find out how to install WordPress with XAMPP in our step-by-step guide below. ### Step 1: Download and install XAMPP Download the appropriate version of [XAMPP download](https://www.apachefriends.org/download.html "XAMPP version - Apache Friends") for your operating system **free of charge** from the Apache Friends website. Depending on your operating system, click on the .*exe* or .*dmg* file and begin the installation. The preselected components will be suitable to install WordPress in XAMPP. --- ### Note You can find detailed step-by-step instructions on how to install XAMPP in our [XAMPP tutorial](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/server/tools/xampp-tutorial-create-your-own-local-test-server/ "XAMPP tutorial: create your own local test server"). --- ### Step 2: Launch the module Start XAMPP in the user interface in the ‘General’ tab by clicking on the ‘Start’ button. [![Image: User interface with XAMPP settings](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/8/6/csm_xampp01_en_9cfa945e25.webp "User interface with XAMPP settings")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/xampp01_en.jpg) Click on ‘Start’ in ‘General’ to activate XAMPP. The components you need to install WordPress with XAMPP are located in the ‘Services’ tab. Launch the **modules MySQL and Apache** for the application here. [![Image: User interface with the installed XAMPP modules](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/6/8/csm_xampp02_en_690f194367.webp "User interface with the installed XAMPP modules")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/xampp02_en.jpg) Individual modules can be launched directly via the ‘Services’ tab. ### Step 3: Change MySQL/MariaDB password The MySQL/MariaDB installation in XAMPP **comes with an empty password**. To close this security gap, assign a password. This way the database for WordPress in XAMPP is protected from potential attacks. To do this, simply click on ‘Open Terminal’ in ‘General’. [![Image: XAMPP user interface with the ‘Open Terminal’ button](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/6/9/csm_xampp03_en_19a239b1db.webp "XAMPP user interface with the ‘Open Terminal’ button")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/xampp03_en.jpg) The ‘Open Terminal’ button launches a new terminal window. A new terminal window will open where you can enter the following code: ```none /opt/lampp/bin/mysqladmin --user=root password "newpassword" ``` Enter your chosen password for *newpassword*. ### Step 4: Activate and call localhost From the ‘Network’ tab, **enable a localhost address**. To do this, select the corresponding [localhost](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/hosting/blogs/wordpress-migration-tips-for-server-migration/ "WordPress Migration: Tips for server migration") and click the ‘Enable’ button. [![Image: User interface of XAMPP to active the localhost](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/0/c/csm_xampp04_en_26c05d4beb.webp "User interface of XAMPP to active the localhost")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/xampp04_en.jpg) Use the ‘Enable’ button in the ‘Network’ tab to activate the corresponding localhost URL. Once everything is set up, access the page at the appropriate localhost URL. Alternatively, you can click ‘**Go to Application’ in the ‘General’ tab** in XAMPP and reach the corresponding URL. [![Image: ‘General’ menu in XAMPP](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/a/a/csm_xampp05_en_e078f34da9.webp "‘General’ menu in XAMPP")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/xampp05_en.jpg) Alternatively, you can reach the XAMPP URL via the ‘General’ menu by clicking the ‘Go to Application’ button. ### Step 5: Create MySQL databank with phpMyAdmin Even if you install WordPress in XAMP, the **content management system needs a MySQL database**. To set up the database, call the menu item ‘phpMyAdmin’ via the localhost URL. [![Image: XAMPP page with menu item ‘phpMyAdmin’](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/b/csm_xampp06_en_30a61dc11e.webp "XAMPP page with menu item ‘phpMyAdmin’")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/xampp06_en.jpg) Via the menu item ‘phpMyAdmin’ you can access the database setup to install WordPress with XAMPP. In the ‘phpMyAdmin’ area you can create a new database for WordPress in XAMPP. The name of the database is freely selectable, but should not follow a standard scheme, otherwise it is vulnerable to attacks by hackers. [![Image: phpMyAdmin interface](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/d/0/csm_xampp07_en_2432e00b7f.webp "phpMyAdmin interface")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/xampp07_en.jpg) To perform the WordPress installation in XAMPP, create a database in phpMyAdmin. ### Step 6: Download and install WordPress To [install WordPress](https://www.ionos.co.uk/hosting/wordpress-installation "Install WordPress"), download the [latest WordPress version](https://wordpress.org/download/ "Official WordPress website"). Unzip the ZIP file and click the ‘Explore’ button in XAMPP from the ‘Volumes’ tab. [![Image: XAMPP interface and ‘Volumes’ menu](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/6/8/csm_xampp08_en_fa0e73ace4.webp "XAMPP interface and ‘Volumes’ menu")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/xampp08_en.jpg) Use the ‘Explore’ button to access the XAMPP folder on your computer. The XAMPP folder will open. Navigate to *htdocs* and create a subfolder to install WordPress with XAMPP. **Move the unzipped files into this subfolder**. We named the subfolder *wp\_local.* [![Image: WordPress setup page in XAMPP](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/5/3/csm_xampp09_en_074a77287d.webp "WordPress setup page in XAMPP")](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/xampp09_en.png) You can reach the WordPress setup page using the URL with the directory name. Use the URL *'https://localhost:8443/VERZEICHNISNAME'* to **access the setup page for WordPress in XAMPP**. In our example, the address is *'https://localhost:8443/wp\_local'*. Follow the instructions on screen and enter your chosen **database name**, your WordPress username (usually ‘root’) and the database password. Once you are done with your website or customisations in the local test environment, you can [migrate the site to the server in WordPress](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/hosting/blogs/wordpress-migration-tips-for-server-migration/ "WordPress Migration: Tips for server migration"). --- ### Tip Use [**Hosting for WordPress by IONOS**](https://www.ionos.co.uk/hosting/wordpress-hosting "Hosting for WordPress by IONOS") for your website. Enjoy security and optional Site Scan & Repair with the Managed WordPress package. --- This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/hosting/blogs/wordpress-on-xampp/](https://www.ionos.co.uk/digitalguide/hosting/blogs/wordpress-on-xampp/) for AI/LLM consumption.