Nov 13
Installing WordPress Locally
This is the first chapter of the Complete WordPress Theme Guide series. In this chapter, you will learn how to install WordPress on a local computer. By doing so, it will save you time from updating and previewing files (so, you don’t have to frequently upload files on every change). You can also use the local version to test new plugins, themes, and upgrades. This tutorial is intended for beginners who want to learn how to run WordPress locally.
Quick Summary
If you have some technical background, you can skip the detailed steps in this tutorial. Here are the simplified steps on how to install WordPress on a local computer:
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Create a new database.
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Download WordPress from wordpress.org and extract the files to a new folder under the htdocs folder.
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Rename the wp-config-sample.php file to wp-config.php and update the database details according to your local server.
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Run wp-admin/install.php and follow the instructions to install WordPress.
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Done!
Let’s Begin…
Before you start, let’s look at the requirements to run WordPress:
- PHP 4.3+
- MySQL 4+ Database Server
1. Install a Local Server

In order to run any PHP/database application on a local computer, you need a local host (ie. Apache + MySQL). For Mac, use MAMP. For PC, use XAMPP or WAMP.
I’m using Mac here, so I’m going to install MAMP. Go to mamp.info, download and install MAMP.
2. Create a New Database
After you’ve installed MAMP, run it and it should take you to the start page. Now click on phpMyAdmin. In the phpMyAdmin page, create a new database (eg. wordpress).

3. Download WordPress
Go to wordpress.org and download the latest build of WordPress. Go to the htdocs folder (where you installed the MAMP), extract the wordpress.zip to a new folder (eg. mysite).

4. Update wp-config.php File
In the folder, rename the wp-config-sample.php to wp-config.php. Open wp-config.php and update the database details (db_name, user, password, host) according to your local server.

5. Run install.php
With your browser, go to http://localhost:8888/mysite/wp-admin/install.php and follow the instructions to install WordPress.

What’s Next…
In the next chapter, I’m going to show you how to create a custom WordPress theme in designer way (no PHP skill is required).
Complete WordPress Theme Guide Building Custom WordPress Theme
Comments
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There are 173 comments (+Add)
Pages: 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 … 1 » Show All


173 Victoria cooke http://sweetnfree.wordpress.com/
January 25th, 2010 at 5:48 am
thank you so much @ Tomas Lonnberg because i couldnt get mine to even give me the page to bring up wordpress until i read your guide. and i went through 13pages of comments and guide trying until i came to yours ^-^ thanks again=)<3
172 SE7E Design http://www.se7endesign.com
January 6th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Excellent Tutorial! Spent hours trying to figure this out but once I found this tutorial I had WordPress running locally in half a minute!
171 vincentdresses http://www.hibridal.com
January 6th, 2010 at 1:42 am
喜欢你们的设计与技术,常来看看
170 Jeff http://www.bestwebsitesdesigner.com
January 4th, 2010 at 1:11 am
Check these video…it explains how to install wordpress on local computer..
Please place these video in your blog so it will help your visitors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnd3u0bWJv8
Thanks
169 Paul Wozney http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/pwozney
December 17th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Hi there,
I used your instructions to set up a local beta site for the school I worked for last year, and it worked flawlessly. I moved to a new school this year, and wanted to start fresh. I deleted the old site, created a new database in myphpAdmin for the new site, and now I can’t get it to work at all. I keep getting the same error message about already having installed wordpress despite having deleted the old database in phpmyadmin.
Any ideas? I have a screenshot of the error message if that would help. Any assistance would be brilliant. Thanks!
168 509 Media http://www.509media.com
December 17th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Nice write up. Saved me a little time explaining it to someone. I use WAMP on my pc for working on Wordpress pages. I have had no issue with it. I recommend it as well.
167 ethiodelight http://www.ethiodelight.com
December 11th, 2009 at 5:37 am
it’s very good post
166 Abrar http://swine-flue-virus.blogspot.com
December 7th, 2009 at 1:29 am
Excellent tutorial. Thank you very much
165 amanda http://qq2009.j4r.net
December 6th, 2009 at 5:31 am
your site so beautiful !
164 rarmbeabs http://www.clickshappen.com/postafreepressrelease/pressrelease.cfm?ID=63580
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Outstanding Article , I thought it was tremendous
I look ahead to more great postings like this one. Do you have a RSS I can subscribe to for updates?