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How to Run WordPress Locally: Easy Beginner Setup Guide

Posted on by William Zheng

Ever wished you could experiment with your WordPress site, try new themes, or test plugins—without risking your live website? Running WordPress locally is the perfect solution. It lets you build, break, and rebuild to your heart’s content, all from your own computer.

If you’re curious about how to set this up, you’re in the right place. This article will walk you through the steps, offer helpful tips, and answer your top questions for a smooth local WordPress experience.

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How to Run WordPress Locally: A Complete Guide for Beginners

Running WordPress locally on your computer is an incredibly valuable step for developers, bloggers, and anyone looking to experiment with or build a website before putting it online. It eliminates the risk of breaking your live site and lets you test themes, plugins, and new content in a safe and private environment.

Whether you’re using Windows, macOS, or Linux, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about installing and running WordPress locally, including step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and answers to common questions.

What Does It Mean to Run WordPress Locally?

Running WordPress locally means installing the WordPress software on your own computer, rather than on a remote web server. Your site is only accessible to you unless you configure your computer to be a public web server (which is not recommended for beginners).

This local setup allows you to:

  • Build new websites privately.
  • Experiment with design or code changes safely.
  • Learn WordPress without paying for hosting.
  • Develop or test plugins and themes.

The Tools You’ll Need

Web servers have multiple components. To run WordPress locally, your computer needs to mimic the environment a website has on a live server. This means you need:

  • Web server software (like Apache or Nginx)
  • PHP (the programming language WordPress is built on)
  • MySQL or MariaDB (a database to store your content)
  • WordPress files (the actual website software)

To make this easy, there are software bundles that install everything at once:

Popular Local Development Tools

  • XAMPP: Great for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Simple setup for beginners.
  • WAMP: Designed for Windows users.
  • MAMP: Perfect for both Mac and Windows.
  • Local: Offers a user-friendly, visual interface (good for both beginners and advanced users).
  • DevKinsta/InstantWP: Other beginner-friendly solutions.

Let’s walk through a typical setup using XAMPP, one of the most widely-used options.

Step-by-Step: Running WordPress Locally with XAMPP (Works for Windows, Mac, and Linux)

1. Download and Install XAMPP

  • Go to the official XAMPP website (search for “XAMPP download” to find it).
  • Download the version tailored for your operating system.
  • Run the installer and follow the instructions to install XAMPP.

After installation, start the XAMPP Control Panel (or XAMPP app on macOS).

2. Start the Required Services

  • Launch the XAMPP control panel.
  • Start Apache (the web server) and MySQL (the database server).
  • Make sure both are running. If they’re not, check for errors or conflicts (like another program using the same ports).

3. Create a MySQL Database for Your Site

  • Open your browser and go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin.
  • Click “Databases.”
  • Enter a name for your new database (e.g., wordpress_local) and click “Create.”

No need to create any tables—WordPress will do this for you during installation.

4. Download WordPress

  • Go to the WordPress website and download the latest version (search “WordPress download”).
  • Extract the downloaded ZIP file.
  • Move the extracted wordpress folder into the following directory:
  • For XAMPP: C:\xampp\htdocs (Windows)
  • For XAMPP on Mac: /Applications/XAMPP/htdocs
  • You might want to rename the folder to match your project (e.g., mytestsite).

5. Install WordPress

  • Open your browser and go to http://localhost/mytestsite (replace with your folder name).
  • You’ll see the WordPress installation screen. Choose your language.
  • Enter your database details:
  • Database Name: The name you created (e.g., wordpress_local)
  • Username: Usually root (the default for XAMPP)
  • Password: Leave blank (again, the XAMPP default)
  • Database Host: localhost
  • Table Prefix: Leave as wp_ unless you want to run multiple sites in the same database.

Click “Submit.” If everything checks out, continue to set up your site name, admin username, and password.

6. Start Using WordPress Locally

Once WordPress is installed, you’ll be taken to the login area. Enter your admin username and password to access your new local WordPress website!

Alternative Tools & Methods

Not a fan of XAMPP? There are many alternatives with similar step-by-step processes. Here are a few highlights:

  • MAMP (Mac/Windows): Installation is very similar. The dashboard is even simpler.
  • Local: Offers an even more streamlined, graphical approach. You can spin up local sites with just a few clicks—no need to dive into technical details like database user/password.
  • WAMP (Windows): Like XAMPP, focused on Windows users.
  • DevKinsta/InstantWP: Useful if you want something super fast.

Most tools let you set up multiple WordPress sites side-by-side.

Pros and Cons of Running WordPress Locally

Advantages

  • Totally Free: No need to buy a domain or hosting plan.
  • Quick Testing: Make changes and see results instantly, without risking your live site.
  • Private & Secure: Your local site isn’t visible to the public.
  • Learning Environment: Great for newcomers who want to play without limits.
  • No Internet Required: Other than for downloading initial files.

Limitations and Challenges

  • Not Public: Nobody else can see your site unless you make technical changes.
  • Server Differences: Your local setup may differ from a real hosting server. Sometimes, things that work locally won’t work exactly the same online.
  • Extra Steps to Go Live: You’ll need to migrate your site to a real web host when you’re ready to launch.
  • Security Risks: Be cautious; running a local server on your computer can open up vulnerabilities if not managed well.

Practical Tips & Best Practices

To get the most from your local WordPress installation, consider these expert tips:

  • Use Strong Passwords (even locally): Don’t develop bad habits!
  • Match Hosting Settings: Try to use the same PHP version and extensions as your intended hosting provider for smoother migration later.
  • Take Snapshots or Backups: Tools like Local allow you to save checkpoints of your site.
  • Enable Debugging: Turn on WP_DEBUG in your wp-config.php file to spot issues early.
  • Explore Plugins/Themes: Test unfamiliar themes or plugins locally before using them on a live site.
  • Practice Migration: Try exporting/importing sites between local and live to gain confidence.
  • Stay Organized: Label sites and folders clearly, especially if you work on multiple projects.

Moving From Local to Live (Going Online)

When your site is ready, you’ll want to move it from your computer to a web hosting provider. This process is called “migration.” There are various plugins (like Duplicator, All-in-One WP Migration, or WP Migrate DB) that make this process much easier.

Basic migration steps:

  1. Export your site files (or entire folder) and database.
  2. Import them to your web hosting server.
  3. Update references to localhost in the database.
  4. Test everything before pointing your real domain to the new site.

Be sure to back up everything before migrating!

Cost Tips

One of the best parts of running WordPress locally is that it’s free. All local development tools mentioned here are available with free options. Even premium tools often provide robust free versions.

You don’t have to worry about domain prices, web hosting fees, or SSL certificates while in local development. However:

  • Hardware Limitations: Old computers may be slower, especially with multiple sites.
  • Premium Plugins/Themes: Test them locally, but you’ll still need to pay if you use them on a live site.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a local WordPress site is a fantastic way to learn, experiment, and build without pressure or risks. Whether you prefer XAMPP, MAMP, Local, or another tool, the process is beginner-friendly with plenty of community support.

Take time to explore WordPress’s features, try new plugins, and get comfortable—your future live website will benefit from the knowledge and confidence you gain working locally.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use WordPress locally on both Mac and Windows?
Absolutely! Tools like XAMPP and Local work smoothly on both macOS and Windows. The setup process is very similar between operating systems with only minor differences in file paths.

Do I need an internet connection to run WordPress locally?
You only need the internet to download the setup files (XAMPP, WordPress, etc.). Afterward, you can run your local WordPress site completely offline. However, some themes or plugins may need online access to fetch updates or additional assets.

Is running WordPress locally secure?
For personal, private use, running WordPress locally is generally safe—as long as your computer itself is secure. Avoid opening your local server to public access. Always use strong passwords to prevent unauthorized changes even in your local environment.

How do I migrate my local WordPress site to a live server?
You’ll export your files and database from your local environment, upload them to your hosting server, and update your site’s settings. Migration plugins make this simpler. Be sure to change references from localhost to your new domain.

Can I have multiple local WordPress sites on one computer?
Yes! Simply create new folders for each project (e.g., htdocs/site1, htdocs/site2), create separate databases, and install WordPress in each. Most local server solutions are designed for multi-site development.

Running WordPress locally is your sandbox: experiment fearlessly, learn deeply, and prepare your site for a confident, smooth launch to the world.

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