How to install WordPress locally? 3 quick methods

When discovering WordPress, we often think we need to go straight to a hosting provider to create a site. However, there’s a much more convenient solution to learn, experiment, and test: installing WordPress locally on your own computer.

Personally, I love this approach. It allows me to work without any pressure, try out new ideas, test plugins or WordPress themes, and even break my site without anyone seeing it! It’s a bit like having a private playground where anything is allowed.

In this article, I’ll guide you step by step to create your local WordPress installation. You’ll see that there are several methods: some very simple and accessible to everyone, others a bit more technical but offering greater control.

Understanding local WordPress installation

What is a local installation?

Installing WordPress locally simply means running your site directly on your computer, without connecting to a remote server.

The difference with online hosting is simple:

• Locally: your site is private, accessible only from your machine. Perfect for testing, learning, or developing safely.
• Online: your site is hosted on a web server accessible to everyone via the Internet, with a domain name and paid hosting.

I like to compare it to a test kitchen: locally, you prepare your recipes without an audience, and when they’re perfect, you serve them online.

Required components

For WordPress to run, it needs three main elements, which are the same both online and locally:

• A web server: Apache or Nginx are the most commonly used.
• PHP: the language WordPress is built with.
• A MySQL or MariaDB database: where all your content and settings are stored.

Online, your host provides all of this pre-configured. Locally, you either install each component yourself or use a tool that bundles them together.

The three main approaches

1. Manual installation with XAMPP, WAMP, or MAMP

These programs bundle Apache, PHP, and MySQL in a single package. You install the software, activate the required services, and place WordPress in the appropriate folder. This is the method I often use when I want full control over the environment, even if it requires a bit more hands-on setup.

2. All-in-one tools

Everything here is designed to make life easier: Local by Flywheel, WordPress Studio, AMPPS, or Bitnami allow you to install WordPress with just a few clicks. No need to configure each component separately. This is perfect if you want to quickly create a test site or if you are a complete beginner.

3. Advanced solutions

For developers or agencies, tools like DevKinsta or Docker-based environments exist. These solutions offer precise control, multi-site management, team collaboration, and even the ability to configure different environments (development, testing, staging). Personally, I find them excellent for professional projects, but a bit heavy for a simple test site.

Method 1: Manual installation with XAMPP (or WAMP/MAMP)

If you enjoy understanding what’s happening “under the hood,” this method is for you. It requires a bit more hands-on work than all-in-one solutions, but it gives you full control over your environment. Personally, it’s my preferred method when I want to simulate a real hosting environment.

Step 1: Download and install XAMPP

Go to the official site apachefriends.org and download the version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Run the installer, leave the default options, and proceed.

Tip: On Mac, you can also use MAMP, and on Windows, WAMP—both work on the same principle.

Step 2: Activate Apache and MySQL

Open the XAMPP Control Panel, then start Apache (web server) and MySQL (database).

If one of them doesn’t start, it’s often due to a port conflict. In that case:

• Change Apache’s port in Config > Apache (httpd.conf) and look for Listen 80, then replace it with, for example, Listen 8080.
• For MySQL, check in Config > my.ini that port 3306 is free.

Step 3: Download WordPress from wordpress.org

Go to wordpress.org and download the latest version. You’ll get a ZIP file containing all necessary files.

Step 4: Extract WordPress into the htdocs folder

Unzip the file and place the wordpress folder into C:\xampp\htdocs (Windows) or /Applications/XAMPP/htdocs (macOS).
You can rename this folder—for example, mysite—to make it easier to access in your browser.

Step 5: Create a database with phpMyAdmin

Open your browser and go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin.
Click New Database, choose a name (e.g., wp_test), and leave the default collation utf8mb4_general_ci for good compatibility with special characters.

Step 6: Launch the installation via http://localhost/foldername

In your browser, go to http://localhost/mysite (replace mysite with your folder name). WordPress will ask for:

• Database name
• Username (root by default)
• Password (leave blank if none)
• Database host (localhost)

Step 7: Configure WordPress

Give your site a title, choose an admin username and password, and select your language. Click Install WordPress, and in a few seconds, your site will be up and running on your own computer.

Method 2: Quick installation with a dedicated tool

If you don’t want to configure Apache, PHP, and MySQL manually, there are “all-in-one” solutions that install WordPress for you in just a few clicks. They bundle all the necessary components and set them up automatically. It’s a bit like having a technical assistant preparing your environment while you make your coffee.

Overview of the tools

Local by Flywheel

This is one of my favorites for a fast start. You can create a WordPress site with a single click, with SSL automatically enabled, the ability to choose the PHP version, and even share your site via a temporary public link. It’s simple, clean, and perfect for testing or presenting a project to a client.

WordPress Studio

Offered by WordPress.com, this tool lets you work offline and sync your projects when you’re online. One of its advantages is the “snapshot” feature: you can share a copy of your site with someone for 7 days, which is great for quick feedback on a prototype.

Bitnami, AMPPS

These solutions offer pre-configured packages with WordPress and its dependencies. They’re a compromise between manual installation and ultra-simplified tools: fewer visual options than Local, but still much easier than installing everything manually.

Quick tutorial: installing WordPress with Local by Flywheel

• Download the application
  Go to localwp.com and download the version for your system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Install it like any other software.

• Create a new site
  Open Local, click Create a new site, give it a name, choose the PHP version and server type (Apache or Nginx). Leave the default settings if you have no preference.

• Launch WordPress locally
  Once the site is created, click Open site. Your browser will open with your WordPress site ready to use. You can access the admin via /wp-admin and start customizing.

Advantages and limits compared to the manual method

Advantages:

• Ultra-fast installation (2–3 minutes).
• No need to handle files or databases manually.
• User-friendly interface with simple configuration options.
• SSL integrated and temporary online sharing possible.

Limits:

• Less control over server configuration (not ideal if you want to replicate a specific hosting environment).
• Some advanced features require plugins or a paid version.
• Slightly heavier on resources than the manual method if you have many local sites running.

Method 3: Advanced solutions for developers

If you work on multiple WordPress projects at the same time, need to manage complex environments, or collaborate with a team, there are tools designed to go far beyond simple local installations. This is where solutions like DevKinsta or Docker-based environments come into play.

DevKinsta: a powerful all-in-one tool

Developed by Kinsta, DevKinsta uses Docker to create isolated WordPress environments. You can easily manage multiple sites, install local SSL certificates, access the database via Adminer (a simplified version of phpMyAdmin), and even deploy your work to a staging server on Kinsta with a single click.

It’s a bit like having your own virtual server park on your computer, each configured exactly the way you need it.

Advantages for agencies and collaborative workflows

• Multi-sites: perfect for managing multiple clients or projects simultaneously.
• Isolated environments: each site runs independently, avoiding conflicts.
• Staging compatibility: easily sync local sites with an online test environment.
• Local SSL: test a site with HTTPS right from the development phase.
• Team integration: each developer can clone and launch an identical site on their machine.

For an agency or a team of freelancers, this saves a huge amount of time. These tools are designed to industrialize WordPress project management.

Basic installation and configuration with DevKinsta

• Download DevKinsta
  Go to kinsta.com/devkinsta and download the version for your system (Windows, macOS, Linux).

• Install and configure Docker
  DevKinsta relies on Docker, so it must be installed and running on your machine. Follow the instructions provided by DevKinsta for the initial setup.

• Create a new site
  In DevKinsta, click Create a site, choose whether you want a fresh installation or import an existing site, and select your settings (PHP version, database name, etc.).

• Access the site and database
  Once the installation is complete, you can open the site in your browser and access the database via Adminer to manage tables and data.

Comparison of Methods

After reviewing the three main approaches, here is a summary table to help you quickly compare their strengths and limitations.

Criteria	Manual Method (XAMPP/WAMP/MAMP)	All-in-One Tools (Local, WordPress Studio)	Advanced Solutions (DevKinsta, Docker)
Ease of Use	⭐⭐☆☆☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐☆☆☆
Flexibility	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐☆☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Performance	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐☆	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Quick Installation	No	Yes	No (requires prior setup)
Target Audience	Intermediate	Beginner / Intermediate	Advanced / Team / Agency

Recommendations According to Your Profile

• Beginner → Local or WordPress Studio
  You benefit from a quick installation without complicated technical settings, and an intuitive interface. Ideal for discovering WordPress or creating a test site in just a few minutes.

• Intermediate → XAMPP or WAMP
  You enjoy understanding how everything works and want to replicate an environment close to a real hosting setup. This method requires a few more steps but offers a good balance between control and accessibility.

• Advanced → DevKinsta or Docker
  You manage multiple complex projects, work in a team, and need isolated environments, staging tools, and optimized performance. This is the most powerful solution, but also the most demanding in terms of resources and configuration.

Migrating a WordPress Local Site to Online Hosting

Once your site is ready on your computer, the next step is to put it online so it’s accessible to everyone. Migration may seem technical, but there are actually two simple ways to do it: manual export and using a dedicated plugin.

Method 1: Manual Export

This approach involves transferring all WordPress files and the database to your online hosting.

• Export the files

• Open the folder of your local installation (for example, in htdocs if you’re using XAMPP).
• Copy all WordPress files (including wp-content, wp-config.php, etc.).
• Transfer them to your hosting via an FTP client like FileZilla.

• Export the database

• Go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin, select your database, and click on Export.
• Import this .sql file into your host’s database (via phpMyAdmin or a similar tool).

• Update wp-config.php

Replace your local information with your hosting details: database name, username, password, server (usually localhost).

Method 2: Using a Migration Plugin

If you prefer to avoid manual steps, plugins like Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration do all the work for you.

• Duplicator: creates an archive containing your files and database, along with an installation script. You upload everything to your hosting and follow the guided steps.
• All-in-One WP Migration: exports your site into a single file that you can import directly into your new online WordPress installation.

These tools are perfect for quick migrations, especially if you don’t want to worry about technical details.

Check permalinks and internal links

Once your site is online:

• Go to Settings > Permalinks and save to regenerate the links.
• Browse your pages to ensure internal links no longer point to the local address (http://localhost/…). If needed, use a tool like Better Search Replace to update URLs in bulk.

Personally, I often use Duplicator to save time, but I keep the manual method as a backup for special cases or when hosting restricts plugin use.