Running a WordPress site locally is one of the best ways to build, test, or experiment without affecting a live website. Whether crafting your first site or developing custom features, setting up WordPress locally gives you complete control in a safe environment.
This guide shows you how to install XAMPP, set up WordPress, and work with plugins and themes, even understanding their difference.
1. Install XAMPP
To run WordPress on your computer, you need a local server environment. XAMPP is a popular, free solution that combines Apache (server), MySQL (database), and PHP.
Steps:
- Download the installer from the official XAMPP site.
- Choose the version based on your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux).
- Select Apache and MYSQL at the setup. You don’t need the extras.
- Launch the XAMPP Control Panel and start Apache and MySQL.
Once both modules are running, your local server is live.
2. Install WordPress Locally
Now that XAMPP is ready, it’s time to install WordPress.
Steps:
- Download WordPress from the official site.
- Extract the contents to the htdocs folder inside the XAMPP directory (typically C:/xampp/htdocs/your-site-name).
- Open your browser and go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin to create a new database. Name it anything simple like wordpress_local.
- Then, visit http://localhost/your-site-name/ in your browser, which launches the WordPress setup wizard.
- Enter your database name (wordpress_local) and username (root), and leave the password blank (the default for XAMPP).
- Complete the installation by setting your site name, admin username, and password.
Just like that, you have a fully functional WordPress site running locally.
3. Choose the Right Plugins and Themes
Plugins and themes shape your site’s functionality and appearance. After installation, head to the WordPress dashboard to start customizing.
Essential Plugin: Elementor
Elementor is a leading page builder plugin. It lets you design responsive pages visually, without touching code. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it ideal for beginners and pros alike.
We’ll dive deeper into Elementor in an upcoming blog, so stay tuned.
Other Handy Plugins
- WPForms (official site) – create custom contact forms easily.
- Yoast SEO (official site) – optimize your content for search engines with real-time suggestions.
Top Themes to Try
- Neve – Lightweight, fast, and flexible. Perfect for portfolios, blogs, or business sites. We’ve done a full Neve theme review that breaks down its performance and features.
- Astra (official site) – One of the most popular WordPress themes, known for speed and WooCommerce compatibility.
- GeneratePress (official site) – A highly customizable, performance-focused theme, ideal for developers.
Elementor integrates smoothly with all these themes and delivers fast performance and SEO-friendly design.
4. Difference Between Plugins and Themes
While both plugins and themes enhance your WordPress site, they serve different purposes. Themes control the visual appearance of your website—layout, colors, typography, and overall design. You can only activate one theme at a time, and it defines the site’s overall look and feel.
Plugins, on the other hand, are meant to add or extend functionality. Whether contact forms, SEO tools, performance boosters, or page builders like Elementor, plugins enhance what your site can do, not how it looks. You can use multiple plugins, depending on your site’s needs. In short: themes handle design, while plugins handle features.
Final Thoughts
WordPress locally lets you experiment freely, build faster, and test without risk. Tools like XAMPP and plugins like Elementor make the process approachable even if you’re not a developer.
Once your local site is ready, you can easily migrate it online using tools like All-in-One WP Migration or manually via FTP and database export.