If you want to learn WordPress, you can simply install it on your Windows computer and start testing how to use it without any problems. The entire process of installing it on personal computers is also known as setting up a local host or a local server environment. Many plugin developers or theme designers install WordPress on their computer in order to speed up the testing and the developing process. Even a simple user can install a local server environment to start making changes to a website before publishing it on the internet. Are you curious how it works? In this article we will show you how to install WordPress and how to use WAMP.
Before proceeding to anything else you must understand that if you install WordPress only on your computer, locally, you will be the only one who will be able to see the website. If you want to have WordPress live on your website you need to have a WordPress web hosting account, and install it on your server.
What is WAMP?
WAMP, also known as WampServer, is a mix of PHP, Apache web server, and MySQL bundled for computers operating on Windows. Every user needs WAMP to set up their own local server environment if they want to install WordPress on Windows. It is free, fast, and easy to use.
How to install WAMP on your computer?
You need to start by accessing the WampServer website and download it. There are several options you can choose, but you can simply go for the one that works on Windows (32-bit or 64-bit). If you are not sure, choose the 32-bit one because it works on 64-bit versions as well.
When you finish the download process, install the WAMP by following the step-by-step instructions you get there. When the WampServer is asking you about the location of the default browser, which is Internet Explorer, you can simply change to Chrome or Firefox.
When the installation is over, launch the program.
How to set up a database for WordPress?
As you have probably noticed, the WampServer comes with a phpMyAdmin, which helps users manage MySQL databases, so click on it.
phpMyAdmin will open in a new window. Go to Databases and create a new database for WordPress. Give it a name and click the Create button.
How to install WordPress on Windows with WAMP?
Go to WordPress.org and download it. Unpack it and copy the wordpress folder to C:\wamp\www. You can rename it if you want, for example with wp-lessons.
Open your browser and type:
WordPress won’t find the configuration file, so create it.
The next step is to provide the database information. We simply called it wp-lessons_db. Keep in mind that the default username leaves the password blank. Click the Submit button and everything is done.
Now that WordPress is configured, you can click the Run Install button. Enter your website name, choose an admin username and a password, give them your email address, and click the Install WordPress button.
This shouldn’t take long. When it is done, you can Log in and start exploring WordPress using WAMP.
Good luck!