How to Install WordPress on Windows 10?

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, and for good reason. It’s user-friendly, highly customizable, and open-source. But did you know you can install WordPress on Windows 10 computer to develop or test your website before going live? Installing WordPress locally helps you experiment with themes, plugins, and settings without affecting your live site. Plus, it gives you the flexibility to work offline and learn at your own pace!

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to install WordPress on Windows 10 step-by-step, using a tool called XAMPP (which stands for Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Perl). XAMPP provides the environment necessary to run WordPress locally.

Why Install WordPress on Windows 10?

Before we get into the installation process, let’s discuss why you might want to install WordPress on your Windows 10 machine:

Offline Development: You can work on your WordPress site even without an internet connection.
Testing and Experimentation: You can experiment with themes, plugins, and WordPress features without the risk of affecting your live site.
Learning and Practice: If you’re new to WordPress, installing it locally provides a safe environment to learn without making permanent changes to a live site.
Faster Updates: With a local installation, you can test updates before pushing them to your live website.

Prerequisites: What You Need to Install WordPress Locally

Before installing WordPress on Windows 10 machine, make sure you have the following:

Windows 10: The operating system you’re working with.
XAMPP: This free software package includes all the tools needed to run WordPress locally (Apache, MySQL, and PHP).
WordPress: The WordPress installation files that you will download from the official WordPress.org website.

Step 1: Download and Install XAMPP on Windows 10

XAMPP is a simple and easy-to-install solution that packages all the tools necessary to run WordPress locally.

1.1. Download XAMPP

Visit the official XAMPP website at https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html, and download the Windows version of XAMPP.

1.2. Run the XAMPP Installer

After the download is complete, run the XAMPP installer.
Follow the installation prompts and select the default settings unless you have a specific reason to change them.
Once installed, launch XAMPP from your desktop or the Start menu.

1.3. Start Apache and MySQL

In the XAMPP Control Panel, click on Start next to both Apache and MySQL. This starts the web server (Apache) and the database server (MySQL) that will run your WordPress site locally.
If both services are running properly, their status will turn green in the XAMPP Control Panel.

Step 2: Download WordPress

Now that XAMPP is installed and running, it’s time to get the WordPress files.

2.1. Download WordPress

Go to the official WordPress website at https://wordpress.org/download/ and download the latest version of WordPress as a .zip file.

2.2. Extract WordPress

After downloading the file, extract the contents to a folder on your computer. You can use any unzip tool such as WinRAR or 7-Zip to extract the files.
You will have a folder named “wordpress” containing all the WordPress files.

Step 3: Set Up a Local Database for WordPress

WordPress needs a MySQL database to store your website’s content, such as posts, pages, and settings. Let’s set up that database using phpMyAdmin.

3.1. Open phpMyAdmin

In the XAMPP Control Panel, click on the Admin button next to MySQL. This will open phpMyAdmin in your web browser. Alternatively, you can go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin/ in your browser.

3.2. Create a New Database

In phpMyAdmin, click on the Databases tab.
Under the “Create database” section, enter a name for your database (e.g., “wordpress_db”).
Choose Collation as the character set (utf8_general_ci) and click Create.
The new database will now be created and ready for use.

Step 4: Set Up WordPress on Your Local Server

Now that you have a database, it’s time to install WordPress.

4.1. Move WordPress Files to XAMPP’s htdocs Folder

Open the folder where you extracted the WordPress files.
Copy the entire wordpress folder.
Paste it into the htdocs folder inside your XAMPP installation directory. By default, this is located at C:\xampp\htdocs.

4.2. Rename the WordPress Folder (Optional)

You can rename the WordPress folder to whatever you want to call your local site, like “mywebsite”. This will become the URL for your local WordPress site. For example, if you rename the folder to “mywebsite”, you will access the site by typing http://localhost/mywebsite in your browser.

Step 5: Run the WordPress Installation Script

You’re almost there! Now, let’s begin the actual installation process for WordPress.

5.1. Start WordPress Installation

Open your web browser and go to http://localhost/wordpress (or http://localhost/mywebsite if you renamed the folder).
You should see the WordPress installation screen. Select your language and click Continue.

5.2. Connect to the Database

In this step, WordPress will ask for your database details.
Database Name: Enter the name of the database you created earlier (e.g., wordpress_db).
Username: Enter root (the default MySQL username).
Password: Leave this blank (the default for XAMPP).
Database Host: Enter localhost.
Table Prefix: You can leave the default wp_ unless you need a different prefix for your tables.

Click Submit when done.

5.3. Run the Installation

Once WordPress verifies the database connection, click Run the Installation.

5.4. Set Up WordPress Admin Details

You will now be prompted to set up your WordPress site details:
- Site Title: Enter a name for your local site.
- Username: Choose a username (this will be used to log in to your WordPress dashboard).
- Password: Choose a strong password.
- Your Email: Enter your email address.
Check the box to discourage search engines from indexing your site (since it’s only local for now).
Click Install WordPress to complete the setup.

Step 6: Log in to WordPress

After the installation is complete, you will see a success message. Click Log In to access your new local WordPress site.

Enter the username and password you set up during the installation, and you’ll be redirected to your WordPress Dashboard.

Conclusion:

Congratulations! You’ve successfully install WordPress on Windows 10 computer. You now have a local WordPress environment where you can practice, develop, and experiment freely.

Working with a local WordPress installation is a great way to learn the ropes of WordPress before launching a live website. You can install themes, plugins, and customize your site without any pressure.

When you’re ready to move your site online, you can transfer your local site to a live hosting environment using a tool like Duplicator or manually through FTP.