How to Install WordPress Locally on Your Computer

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

Antihost offers managed WordPress hosting with free migration, one-click staging and a 14-day free trial.

The quickest way to run WordPress on your own computer is to use a guided local-development application such as Local or WordPress Studio. It creates the web server, PHP runtime, database, WordPress files, and administrator account for you. If you need direct control, install a manual stack such as MAMP or XAMPP, place WordPress in its document root, create a MySQL or MariaDB database, enter the credentials in wp-config.php, and finish the browser installer.

A local site is private to your computer, so you can test themes, plugins, content, and upgrades without changing a live website. It is not a standalone document: WordPress needs a web server, PHP, and a MySQL-compatible database running together.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		Compressed Air Duster,130000RPM Super Power Cordless Air Duster,Rechargeable Brushless Blower,3 Gear...	$21.59	Buy on Amazon
2		EVEO® Screen Cleaner Spray Kit (Streak-Free) TV Screen Cleaner for Smart TV, Lcd, LEd, Oled |...	$15.97	Buy on Amazon
3		BladeHawks RGB Gaming Mouse Pad Extra Large Extended 31.5x12 Inch-Black | LED mouse pad with 14...	$13.99	Buy on Amazon
4		Vaydeer Wrist Rest for Keyboard and Mouse, Computer Ergonomic Wrist Support Pad, Soft Memory Foam...	$15.99	Buy on Amazon
5		Under Desk Cable Management Tray No Drill, Metal Mesh Cable Management Under Desk with Clamp Mount,...	$13.89	Buy on Amazon

What you need before installing WordPress locally

WordPress is PHP software that generates pages through a web server and stores settings, posts, users, and other data in MySQL or MariaDB. Your browser connects to that local web server through an address such as http://localhost; it does not open WordPress files directly from a folder.

A local installation therefore has four working parts:

#1 Best Overall

Sale

Compressed Air Duster,130000RPM Super Power Cordless Air Duster,Rechargeable Brushless Blower,3 Gear Adjustable Blower with LED Light,Dust Remover for Computer/House/Outdoor/Car

• Powerful Turbo Fan:CAGIWIRU Electric Air Duster have reached speed up to 130000RPM,Can efficient remove dust and debris.With LED light and Three Adjustable Speed to meet with different cleaning tasks.
• With Attached USB C Fasting Charging cable.Charing 3 hours,Enjoy up to 240 minutes of use on the lowest setting, For third speed can use for 25mins.with four charging options to meet with your needs.
• Wide Application: attached 5 different nozzles,making it suitable for a variety of scenes, such as car,pet, pc, keyboards, and other electronic devices. It also serves for office and home clean duster.
• Handy Design & Portable:Cordless air duster electric nozzle is Light weight and small size, design and comfortable to hold and space saving, convenient to carry around. You can put it in your room or inside the car without taking up space.
• Economical &Reusable: Built durable materials with a long-lasting battery,our CAGIWIRU air duster it's a sustainable alternative to disposable air cans.

$21.59

Buy on Amazon

• Web server: usually Apache, although guided tools may use a packaged or alternative server.
• PHP: the language runtime WordPress executes.
• MySQL or MariaDB: the database service WordPress uses.
• WordPress core files and a browser: the files are served by the local stack and configured through the browser installer.

Manual stacks commonly include phpMyAdmin, a browser-based administration tool for creating databases and checking tables. WordPress Developer Resources describes Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, and phpMyAdmin as the components used in its local setup guidance.

Computer requirements

Local’s current documentation lists 4 GB of RAM and 1.5 GB of disk space as general minimums. Its current supported desktop versions include macOS Monterey 12 or later and Windows 10 or 11. A site with a large media library, several plugins, or multiple simultaneous sites needs more memory and storage than those minimums.

WordPress Studio’s official documentation provides installers for macOS, Windows, and Linux. MAMP and XAMPP availability and behavior depend on the operating system, so use the installer intended for your computer.

Choose the installation method

All four methods produce a local WordPress site, but they expose different amounts of the underlying stack.

When deciding, consider five practical differences: how much automation you want, whether your operating system is supported, how precisely you need to select PHP and database versions, how you will import or export an existing site, and how closely the local stack matches the production server. A guided tool is usually the shortest path to a new test site. A manual stack is useful when you are reproducing a hosting environment or learning how WordPress is assembled.

Rank #2

EVEO® Screen Cleaner Spray Kit (Streak-Free) TV Screen Cleaner for Smart TV, Lcd, LEd, Oled | Computer Screen Cleaner Spray and Wipe Microfiber Cloth - TV, Monitor, Laptop, iPad, Car - 6.7oz 1 Pack

• Screen Cleaner is Your Screen’s New Bestfriend! - EVEO is proud to present a screen cleaner that’s perfectly suited for your TV. Meet your new screen cleaner, computer screen cleaner, laptop cleaner, iPad cleaner, Macbook,tv cleaner or any other electronic device. Our screen cleaner spray and wipe along with the included plush microfiber cloth, easily removes dust, fingerprints & other smudges on the screen’s surface. Clean effectively for a streak-free screen
• Gentle on your Screens - Our screen cleaner spray and wipes is compatible to be used even for the most sensitive LCD, LED, CRT, and OLED screens in proper use. Be at ease knowing that this product is compatible with all the major brands: LG, SONY, Samsung, Sharp, iPad, iPhone, Android screens, Kindle, PC monitors - we’ve got you covered! Can be used as LCD screen cleaner, tv cleaner, smart tv screen cleaner, and more
• Premium Super Soft Plush Microfiber Cloth - Included in this efficient screen cleaning kit. This screen cleaner spray and wipe has our signature plush microfiber cloth specially designed to comply with screens and monitors and leave them streak-free. Has been shown to effectively absorbs stubborn stains, zero streaks, and no fiber shedding. Always use this together with our screen cleaner for the best results
• Easy-to-Use Screen Cleaner Kit + microfiber cleaning cloth - The EVEO Screen Cleaning Kit will easily be your new favorite tool when it comes to taking care of the things you love most, quick and easy solution for a streak-free screen. Simply screw on the sprayer gun on the screen cleaner bottle. Spray the cleaning liquid onto the microfiber cloth, then wipe the screen until desired cleanliness & shine is achieved.
• Quality Screen Care Kit Worth Purchasing - Enjoy a convenient Screen Cleaner anytime, anywhere you need it. Your satisfaction is our top priority. We stand behind the quality of our products and that’s why, you shouldn’t be worrying at all. We manufacture the Best Screen Cleaner. and can be used for laptop cleaning kit, laptop screen cleaner, tv screen cleaner for smart tv. MacBook screen cleaner, monitor cleaner or screen cleaner spray for electronic devices with microfiber cleaning cloth

$15.97

Buy on Amazon

Install WordPress with a guided tool

Local and WordPress Studio follow essentially the same high-level process. Product labels can change between releases, but the required sequence remains the same.

1. Download the installer. Obtain Local or Studio from its official product site and select the installer for macOS, Windows, or Linux as applicable.
2. Install and launch the application. Allow the application to install its local services when your operating system asks for permission. If a security prompt blocks the installer, approve only the signed application you intentionally downloaded.
3. Create a site. Choose the command labelled Create a new site, New site, or similar. The application should offer a preferred or custom environment for PHP and the database.
4. Set the site name. Use a short project name. The tool may derive a local domain or folder name from it; record the final local URL shown in the application.
5. Choose the environment. Select the PHP and database versions offered by the tool. If the site will later be deployed to hosting, choose versions that are compatible with that server rather than automatically choosing the newest option.
6. Create administrator credentials. Enter the WordPress administrator username, a strong password, and an email address. These credentials are for the local dashboard, but using a strong password prevents accidental exposure if the computer or local network is shared.
7. Let the tool finish. The application creates the document root, database, configuration file, and WordPress installation. Wait until it reports that the site is running.
8. Open the site and dashboard. Use the buttons for Open site and Admin, or append /wp-admin/ to the local site URL. Sign in with the administrator credentials you created.
9. Record the local details. Save the local URL, site folder, database name, and administrator account in your project notes. You will need the folder and database if you later migrate or restore the site.

Learn WordPress identifies LocalWP, DevKinsta, and VVV as tools that can create a local site and install WordPress automatically. Studio additionally offers a cross-platform workflow and documented synchronization with WordPress.com and Pressable. Treat synchronization as a separate service: verify what is transferred, which direction it works, and whether current partner terms apply before using it for a production workflow.

Check a guided installation

• Load the public-facing local URL in a private browser window.
• Open /wp-admin/ and sign in.
• Go to Settings > Permalinks, choose the desired structure, and save once so rewrite rules are generated.
• Create a test page, publish it, and confirm that it loads from the front end.
• Visit Plugins and Appearance to make sure WordPress can read and write its files.

Install WordPress manually with MAMP on macOS

MAMP exposes the classic sequence: download WordPress, place it in the document root, create a database in phpMyAdmin, and supply those values to the installer.

1. Download WordPress. Get the current package from wordpress.org/download and unzip it. The extracted folder is normally named wordpress.
2. Place the files in the document root. Move the contents of the extracted wordpress folder into /Applications/MAMP/htdocs. You can keep the folder itself, producing a path such as /Applications/MAMP/htdocs/wordpress, or place the files directly in htdocs for a root-level site. Use one folder per site to avoid mixing files.
3. Start MAMP. Launch MAMP, start its servers, open WebStart, and select phpMyAdmin.
4. Create the database. In phpMyAdmin, create a database named wordpress. The name is not mandatory, but using the documented example makes the following values easy to verify.
5. Open the WordPress installer. In MAMP’s WebStart page, choose My Website. If the files are in the wordpress subfolder, the address normally includes /wordpress.
6. Enter the documented macOS defaults. Use database name wordpress, username root, password root, database host localhost, and table prefix wp_. These are MAMP’s documented example defaults, not universal credentials for every installation.
7. Run the installation. Submit the database form, enter a site title and administrator account, and complete the wizard. Then sign in at the local URL followed by /wp-admin/.

If you changed MAMP’s ports, database name, or password, enter the changed values instead of the examples. A successful database test followed by the WordPress welcome screen confirms that Apache, PHP, and MySQL are communicating.

Install WordPress manually with MAMP on Windows

1. Download and unzip WordPress from wordpress.org/download.
2. Move the WordPress files into C:MAMPhtdocs. A subfolder such as C:MAMPhtdocswordpress keeps this site separate from other projects.
3. Open MAMP’s Start Page, start the servers, launch phpMyAdmin, and create a database named wordpress.
4. Open My Website from the Start Page and select the folder containing the WordPress files.
5. Enter username root and password root when those are MAMP’s active defaults. MAMP documents localhost:8889 as the default database host in its Windows example; use localhost instead when MySQL is running on port 3306.
6. Keep the table prefix at wp_ for a single installation, enter the site and administrator details, and finish the wizard.
7. Open the resulting local address followed by /wp-admin/ to log in.

The port is the detail that most often separates a working Windows MAMP setup from a connection error. Check MAMP’s control panel for the actual MySQL port and make the host value match it exactly.

Rank #3

Sale

BladeHawks RGB Gaming Mouse Pad Extra Large Extended 31.5x12 Inch-Black | LED mouse pad with 14 lighting modes, covers keyboard & mouse, anti-slip rubber base, waterproof surface, USB powered

• 【Large size】：Measuring 800 x 300 mm/ 31. 5×12 inches, which is wider and taller than others. Large mouse pad can perfectly fit your keyboard and mouse of any size, and there is also ample space for peripherals such as phones, tablets, etc.
• 【LED backlight mouse pad】：Blade Hawks RGB mouse pad provides 7 static modes and 7 dynamic modes will give you the options you are looking for. Power-off memory function remembers the last lighting mode you selected. The super glow fiber Chroma will give you a colorful gaming setup that you want.
• 【Anti-slip rubber base】：Made from Natural rubber, this gaming mousepad will firmly grip your desktop, allowing you to enjoy the ultimate precision in the games you are most passionate about. It also comes with a texture that enhances this ability even further.
• 【Smooth and waterproof surface】: Micro-textured cloth surface, for extremely precise mouse control and a smooth movement. When liquid splashes on the gaming mouse pad, it forms water droplets and slides down. Will not delay your work or gameplay.
• 【Plug and play】: This mouse and keyboard pad is powered by USB, plug and play, no driver required. One button control light modes. Press one time to change the lighting mode, press twice to change the brightness, press and hold about 3 seconds turn ON/OFF.

$13.99

Buy on Amazon

Install WordPress manually with XAMPP on Windows

XAMPP’s workflow uses Apache and MySQL controls directly. The basic configuration is suitable for local testing, not for publishing a public website.

1. Install and start services. Install XAMPP, open its control panel, and start both Apache and MySQL. Both services must show as running before you open WordPress.
2. Open the local control page. Browse to http://localhost/xampp, then open phpMyAdmin from the page.
3. Create a database. Create a database named wordpress. If the documented collation option is available, select utf8_unicode_ci.
4. Copy WordPress into the document root. Unzip the package into C:xampphtdocs, or the document root shown by your XAMPP installation. A folder named wordpress produces the path C:xampphtdocswordpress.
5. Create the configuration file. In the WordPress folder, copy wp-config-sample.php and rename the copy to wp-config.php. Open it in a plain-text editor and set the database constants to DB_NAME = wordpress, DB_USER = root, DB_PASSWORD = an empty string in the handbook example, and DB_HOST = localhost.
6. Run the browser installer. Open http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin/install.php, enter the site title and administrator details, and submit the form.
7. Test the dashboard. Sign in, publish a test page, and open it from the front end.

Do not expose this default XAMPP configuration to the internet. The WordPress handbook warns that the basic setup is not secure for public access; making a stack suitable for public hosting requires a substantially higher security level, including hardened accounts, services, network rules, and updates.

Understand wp-config.php, databases, and table prefixes

The installer writes the database connection values to wp-config.php. In a manual setup, the relevant entries look like this:

define( 'DB_NAME', 'wordpress' );
define( 'DB_USER', 'root' );
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', '' );
define( 'DB_HOST', 'localhost' );
$table_prefix = 'wp_';

The password shown above is the empty-string example used in the XAMPP handbook workflow. MAMP’s documented macOS example uses root as the password, so copy the values for the stack you actually installed rather than combining examples from different products.

Why the table prefix matters

WordPress creates tables such as wp_posts and wp_options. If multiple WordPress installations share one database, assign a unique $table_prefix in each wp-config.php, for example siteone_ and sitetwo_. A unique prefix prevents one installation’s tables from colliding with another’s. Separate databases are easier to manage, but a unique prefix is required whenever installations share a database.

Rank #4

Sale

Vaydeer Wrist Rest for Keyboard and Mouse, Computer Ergonomic Wrist Support Pad, Soft Memory Foam Arm Cushion for Desk, Palm Hand Office Laptop Typing

• 【Softer and More Comfortable】Vaydeer wrist rest has unique diamond pattern, which is the combination of softness and aesthetics. The materials of wrist rest are improved into higher quality memory foam and covered with silky smooth lycra. The computer wrist rest makes you as comfortable and cushiony as like rest your wrists on clouds.
• 【Ergonomic Wrist Saver】The wrist rests for keyboard and mouse comes with a 17.32×3.15×0.83 inch keyboard wrist pad and a 5.94×3.15×0.83 inch mouse wrist support. Based on ergonomic design, the unique concave shape is the perfect fit for your wrist joints. The wrist rest pad fits most computer keyboards and laptops, improve hand and wrist posture, release your wrist and arm stress.
• 【Non-Slip Rubber Bottom】Featuring an anti-skid silicone base on the bottom, this wrist keyboard support stays firmly in place on your desk, preventing the padding from sliding around, ensuring stable and consistent wrist support during extended computer sessions.
• 【Better Experience & Pain Relief】Our keyboard arm rest is beneficial to alleviate the soreness caused by direct contact and friction between your arm and a hard desk surface, reducing the risk of wrist fatigue or carpal tunnel. The soft texture of memory foam can evenly distribute the pressure around your wrists and provide good support with just enough give.
• 【Helpful in Multiple Scenarios】Whether you're working, studying, writing, typing, gaming, this keyboard and mouse rest combo is an essential accessory to add comfort and support to your hands and wrists. It’s also a great gift for men, women, family, friend, coworker, gamer, teacher, etc.

$15.99

Buy on Amazon

Protect the configuration file

• Do not publish wp-config.php or paste its database password into a public repository.
• Keep a copy of the configuration only in a private project location.
• If you change the database name, user, password, host, or port, update the corresponding value and restart the relevant service.

Verify that the local site works

Use this short acceptance test after any installation method:

1. Confirm the web-server and database services are running in the application or control panel.
2. Load the local home page without a browser error.
3. Log in at /wp-admin/.
4. Open Settings > General and verify that the WordPress Address and Site Address use the intended local URL.
5. Create and publish a page containing a sentence and an image.
6. Open the page while logged out or in a private browser window.
7. Install a harmless test plugin, activate it, and deactivate it again to confirm that WordPress can write to its plugin directory.
8. Change a theme setting, save it, and reload the front end.

If all eight checks pass, the local web server, PHP runtime, database connection, file permissions, rewrite handling, and administrator account are functioning together.

Troubleshoot common installation failures

“Error establishing a database connection”

Check the database service first. Then compare every value in the installer or wp-config.php with the database you created: name, username, password, host, and port. MAMP’s Windows example may require localhost:8889, while a MySQL service on port 3306 uses localhost. A correct database name with the wrong port produces the same generic WordPress error as a wrong password.

Blank page or HTTP 500 error

A stopped PHP service, incompatible PHP version, syntax damage in wp-config.php, or a plugin or theme error can produce a blank page. Stop newly installed plugins by renaming the wp-content/plugins folder temporarily, restore the previous theme if you changed it immediately before the error, and inspect the local server’s PHP error log. Recheck that the configuration file contains straight quotes and semicolons and that it was saved as plain text.

“Not Found” or the installer does not open

Verify the document root and the folder name in the URL. MAMP macOS uses /Applications/MAMP/htdocs, MAMP Windows uses C:MAMPhtdocs, and XAMPP commonly uses C:xampphtdocs. If the files are inside a wordpress subfolder, include /wordpress in the address. A typo in the folder name or copying the outer zip folder instead of its contents can place the files one level deeper than expected.

Best Value

Sale

Under Desk Cable Management Tray No Drill, Metal Mesh Cable Management Under Desk with Clamp Mount, 2 Hole Cable Tray with Wire Management and Cord Organizer for Home Office Standing Desk

• 【No Drill Mounted】Cable management tray can be assembled in as little as 3 minutes or less-simply. Side clips easily clampe the edge of desk, pass through the holes on the sides, and secure excess cables with baskets. Desk cable management supports inward or outward installation to meet your needs in different scenarios, and provides you with great convenience when collecting and organizing wires.
• 【Rubber Pad Protects Desk】Wire organizer under desk built-in soft rubber pads on the clamp protect your desk from scratches, so you will not damage your furniture or office.
• 【Sturdy and Beautiful】Cord management under desk is made of high-quality carbon steel and holds about 15 lbs. The wire basket has 2 holes on each side of the tray to enable your cables to pass freely. Cable baskets are suitable for desk thickness use from 0.4" to 2.4".
• 【Space Saving & Keep Organized】Desk cable management tray holds all your power cords, outlet strips, USB hubs and computer transformers hidden from your feet, and the data cables will not enter the vacuum cleaner to keep your desk clean and tidy. Desk wire organizer is also suitable for use in the kitchen and outdoors.
• 【Reduce Safety Risks】Cable tray under desk keeps all plugs away from your kids, no more worry about tripping. Using 2 holes wire tray saves extra space, helps you easily cabling and wire protection. The mesh design is not easy to accumulate dust, but avoids safety accidents caused by messy wires.

$13.89

Buy on Amazon

Port already in use

Another web server or database service may already be listening on the required port. Stop the conflicting service, or change the local stack’s port and use the new port in every URL and database-host setting. Do not guess: read the port displayed by the control panel.

Permalinks return 404 errors

Open Settings > Permalinks in WordPress and save the selected structure once. If pages still fail, confirm that Apache rewrite support is enabled in the local stack and that the site is being served from its configured document root.

Permission or write errors

WordPress must be able to write to wp-content for plugin, theme, and media operations. Check the folder permissions for the user running the local server. Avoid making the entire computer or document root writable to everyone; grant only the access the local service needs.

Keep local development safe and useful

Do not treat localhost as a public server

A local address is normally reachable only from your computer, but firewall changes, router forwarding, shared Wi-Fi, or a misconfigured service can broaden access. Keep Apache, MySQL, and the WordPress dashboard bound to local interfaces unless you deliberately understand and secure every exposed service. The basic XAMPP setup is explicitly warned against for public exposure.

Match production before deployment

A local site does not automatically reproduce the live server. Before moving a theme, plugin, or upgrade to production, compare the PHP version, MySQL or MariaDB version, web server, enabled extensions, file permissions, rewrite rules, caching layers, and environment variables. Differences can hide warnings locally or cause failures after deployment.

Back up the two parts of a site

A WordPress site consists of its files and its database. Preserve both when copying a site between computers. The files include themes, plugins, uploads, and configuration; the database contains posts, settings, users, and other content. A copy of only the wp-content folder is not a complete site backup, and a database dump without uploads will omit media files.

Use separate projects and databases

Give each local project its own document-root folder. Prefer a separate database for each site, or use a unique table prefix whenever sharing is unavoidable. Record the local URL and credentials in private notes so you can identify the correct site months later.

Which method should you use?

• Choose Local when your priority is the fewest setup decisions and an automatically created WordPress site on a supported macOS or Windows computer.
• Choose WordPress Studio when you want a free, WordPress-branded cross-platform workflow and may use its documented WordPress.com or Pressable synchronization features.
• Choose MAMP when you are comfortable with phpMyAdmin and need to see the document root, database, host, and port values directly. Follow the macOS or Windows defaults for your platform, not both.
• Choose XAMPP when you want a classic Windows Apache/MySQL/PHP stack and are willing to configure the files and database yourself. Keep the resulting site private.

For a first local site, a guided tool removes the most opportunities for a wrong path, port, or password. For learning, troubleshooting, or matching a particular hosting environment, the manual MAMP or XAMPP route makes each dependency visible and editable.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1

Compressed Air Duster,130000RPM Super Power Cordless Air Duster,Rechargeable Brushless Blower,3 Gear Adjustable Blower with LED Light,Dust Remover for Computer/House/Outdoor/Car

$21.59

Bestseller No. 2

EVEO® Screen Cleaner Spray Kit (Streak-Free) TV Screen Cleaner for Smart TV, Lcd, LEd, Oled | Computer Screen Cleaner Spray and Wipe Microfiber Cloth - TV, Monitor, Laptop, iPad, Car - 6.7oz 1 Pack

$15.97

SaleBestseller No. 3

BladeHawks RGB Gaming Mouse Pad Extra Large Extended 31.5x12 Inch-Black | LED mouse pad with 14 lighting modes, covers keyboard & mouse, anti-slip rubber base, waterproof surface, USB powered

$13.99

SaleBestseller No. 4

Vaydeer Wrist Rest for Keyboard and Mouse, Computer Ergonomic Wrist Support Pad, Soft Memory Foam Arm Cushion for Desk, Palm Hand Office Laptop Typing

$15.99

SaleBestseller No. 5

Under Desk Cable Management Tray No Drill, Metal Mesh Cable Management Under Desk with Clamp Mount, 2 Hole Cable Tray with Wire Management and Cord Organizer for Home Office Standing Desk

$13.89

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.