Installing WordPress Locally – Step-by-Step Guide Using XAMPP, LocalWP & MAMP

Learn how to install WordPress locally using XAMPP, LocalWP, or MAMP. This beginner-friendly guide explains the full setup process so you can build, test, and customize WordPress websites offline with ease.

In this guide, we’ll walk through three popular ways to set up a local WordPress site. Whether you’re a hands-on coder or someone who prefers a one-click solution, there’s a method here for you.

Why Go Local? The Unbeatable Benefits

Before we dive in, let’s solidify why this is such a game-changer:

No Risk: Test themes, plugins, and code updates without fearing the “White Screen of Death” on your live site.
Blazing Speed: Your site runs on your machine, so there’s no waiting for data to travel over the internet. Everything is instantaneous.
Work Offline: Build and write content on a plane, a train, or in a coffee shop with no Wi-Fi.
Cost-Effective: You don’t need to pay for hosting during the development phase.

Method 1: Using LocalWP (The Easiest & Most Beginner-Friendly)

LocalWP (formerly Local by Flywheel) is a tool built specifically for WordPress. It’s designed to make the process as simple as possible.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Download and Install: Go to localwp.com and download the free version for your operating system (Mac, Windows, or Linux). Install it like you would any other software.
Create a New Site: Open Local and click the big “+” button to create a new site.
- Give your site a name (e.g., “my-test-site”). This will be its local domain.
- Choose your environment. For beginners, “Preferred” is perfect.
Set Username and Password: On the next screen, you’ll set the admin username, password, and email for your WordPress site. Remember these!
Let Local Work Its Magic: Click “Add Site.” Local will automatically download the necessary files, set up a web server, create a database, and install WordPress. It takes about a minute.
You’re Done! Once finished, click “Admin” to log into your new WordPress dashboard, or “View Site” to see your fresh local website.

✅ Best For: Beginners, designers, and anyone who wants a zero-hassle, one-click solution.

Method 2: Using XAMPP (The Classic, Hands-On Approach)

XAMPP is a free, all-in-one package that installs Apache (the web server), MySQL (the database), and PHP on your computer. It’s a bit more technical but gives you a deeper understanding of how the stack works.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Download and Install XAMPP: Go to apachefriends.org, download XAMPP for your OS, and run the installer. You can accept the default settings.
Start the Servers: Open the XAMPP Control Panel. Start the “Apache” and “MySQL” modules by clicking the “Start” button. You’ll know it’s working when the module labels turn green.
Download WordPress: Go to wordpress.org/download/, download the latest.zip file, and extract it. You’ll get a folder named wordpress.
Move the WordPress Folder: Take that wordpress folder and move it into the htdocs folder inside your XAMPP installation directory (typically C:\xampp\htdocs\ on Windows or /Applications/XAMPP/htdocs/ on Mac). You can rename the folder to your site’s name (e.g., myproject).
Create a Database:
- In your web browser, go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin.
- Click on “Databases” at the top.
- Create a database named myproject (or whatever you like) and click “Create.”
Run the WordPress Installation:
- Now, go to http://localhost/myproject in your browser.
- You’ll see the famous WordPress installation screen. Select your language and continue.
- On the “Database Connection” screen, enter:
  - Database Name: myproject (the one you just created)
  - Username: root
  - Password: (Leave this blank)
  - Database Host: localhost
  - Table Prefix: wp_ (you can leave this as is)
- Click “Submit” and then “Run the installation.”
Finalize Setup: Fill in your Site Title, admin username, password, and email. Click “Install WordPress.” That’s it!

✅ Best For: Students and developers who want to understand the underlying server components.

Method 3: Using MAMP (The Mac User’s Favorite)

MAMP is very similar to XAMPP but is often preferred by Mac users for its seamless integration with macOS.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Download and Install MAMP: Go to mamp.info and download the free version of MAMP. Drag and drop it into your Applications folder.
Start Servers: Open MAMP and click the big “Start” button. This will launch the Apache and MySQL servers.
Access the Root Folder: Click “Open WebStart page” in MAMP, or go to http://localhost:8888/MAMP/. From here, you can find a link to your document root (usually /Applications/MAMP/htdocs/).
Install WordPress: Just like with XAMPP, download WordPress, extract the folder, and place it inside the htdocs folder. Rename the folder to your project’s name.
Create a Database: In the MAMP WebStart page, click on “phpMyAdmin.” Create a new database for your WordPress project.
Complete the Installation: In your browser, go to http://localhost:8888/yourprojectname and follow the standard WordPress installation steps, using the database name you created. The username will be root and the password root.

✅ Best For: Mac users who want a robust and reliable local server environment.

Quick Comparison: Which Tool Should You Choose?

Tool	Best For	Pros	Cons
LocalWP	Beginners, Designers	Easiest setup, beautiful interface, built-in tools	Less visibility into the server components
XAMPP	Students, Developers	Cross-platform, teaches you the full stack, highly configurable	Slightly more complex initial setup
MAMP	Mac Users	Excellent macOS integration, very stable	The free version is less feature-rich than others

Your Local Workshop is Open!

No matter which method you choose, you’ve just unlocked a superpower. You now have a safe, fast, and free environment to learn WordPress, test ideas, and build amazing things.