How to install WordPress locally
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This page explains how to build a local environment and install WordPress. It covers everything from introducing tools that allow you to build a local environment to how to build a local environment using Local.
What is the Local Environment?
A local environment is to build a server to run WordPress within your own computer.
It is also called a virtual environment or test environment.
Downloading WordPress to a Windows or Mac PC will not work. WordPress will only work if you install it on a server that meets the requirements.
For more information on server requirements, please see the following articles.
What is WordPress’ server requirement? Support for Each Version
Why do we need a Local Environment?
When you publish your site, you can rent a server and install WordPress.
If you want to customize a theme or plugin, modifying a WordPress theme or plugin on your hosting server as is may accidentally stop working.
If you have a local environment, you can verify the operation and then reflect the customized content on your site.
Tools for building a Local Environment
The following tools are available to help you build a local WordPress environment on your own computer.
The tools can be broadly divided into GUI and CUI depending on the method of operation.
- GUI(Graphical User Interface):On-screen mouse control
- CUI(Character User Interface):Operate by typing commands
GUI
XAMPP
XAMPP is a PHP development environment packaged with Apache/MariaDB/PHP/Perl.
XAMPP is named after the following acronyms.
- X (Cross) Platform
- Apache
- MySQL
- PHP
- Perl
MAMP
MAMP is a package that allows you to set up a local server environment on Windows or macOS.
Available to install Apache, Nginx, PHP and MySQL.
Local
Local is a simple way to build a local WordPress environment, even for beginners. This is a tool that allows you to.
Select the PHP and MySQL versions and even create multiple sites. Publish URLs to share your local environment with others.
Bitnami
Bitnami is a software that allows you to build a local environment that supports a variety of CMS services.
CUI
VCCW
VCCW is a WordPress development environment that runs on VirtualBox. It is named after the acronym Vagrant/Chef/CentOS/WordPress.
Docker
Docker is a container virtualization tool, developed by Docker Inc made.
Which tool to choose?
here are many tools available for setting up a local environment. Choose the one that best suits your purpose and level of difficulty.
The following is a summary of the features of each tool for your reference when choosing.
XAMPP | MAMP | Local | Bitnami | VCCW | Docker | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Windows | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 |
Mac | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 |
Linux | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 | 〇 |
Web Server | Apache | Nginx / Apache | Nginx / Apache | Nginx / Apache | Nginx / Apache | Nginx / Apache |
Database | MariaDB | MySQL | MySQL | MySQL | MySQL | MySQL |
Operating methods | GUI | GUI | GUI | GUI | CUI | CUI |
Level of Difficulty | Middle | Middle | Low | Middle | High | High |
Steps to set up a Local Environment
Here are the steps to install WordPress on your local environment using LOCAL.
Building with Local
This section covers the process of downloading, installing and setting up LOCAL.
Download
Go to Local and click the FREE DOWNLOAD button.
Select the platform.
- Select Please choose your platform
- Select the platform (e.g. Windows) on which you want to install
- Input First Name
- Input Last Name
- Input Work Email
- Input Phone Number
- Click GET IT NOW! button
The download will begin.
If the download does not start automatically, please click here.
Install
Double-click the downloaded Local.
Set up Local and make it available to all users or only for the current user.
- Select which users you want to install to
- Click the Next button
Select the folder where you want to install Local. Click the Install button to start the installation.
Local has been installed. Click the Finish button.
Setup
- Check if you have read and agreed to the Terms of Service
- Click I AGREE button
Select Turn on Error Reporting if you want to send a report in case of an error. If you do not want to send the report, click the No button.
Click the × button.
Click CREATE A NEW SITE button.
- Enter a site name
- Click CONTINUE button
Click CONTINUE button.
- Input WordPress Username
- Input WordPress Password
- Click ADD SITE button
It will take a little while for the site to be added. Once it is blocked by your firewall, you can allow access.
Now that you have installed WordPress in your local environment, click the ADMIN button and click measure.
- Input Username
- Input Password
- Click Log In button
Log in to WordPress installed in your local environment.
Where to save the theme
The location of your WordPress installation in your local environment is listed under your site name.
Click on the icon next to the folder path to open the explorer.
Go to “app\public\wp-content\themes” to customize your WordPress theme.
Adding Multiple Sites
Click the + button to add a site in Local. Setup.
If installation is not possible in the local environment
Duplicate Ports
The error occurs if there are duplicate ports, for example in XAMPP. Change the port number of the duplicated software or stop the software.
There is an example of a port conflict with Skype.
Error establishing a database connection
If Error establishing a database connection occurs in XAMPP or MAMP, for example, it’s probably because MySQL is not running.
Start MySQL from Control Panel.
Error VT-X/AMD-V
When installing Local, the following VT-X/AMD-V errors may occur.
Error creating machine: Error in driver during machine creation: This computer does’nt have VT-X/AMD-V enabled. Enabling it the BIOS is mandatory.
Enable Intel Virtualization Technology in the BIOS.
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