How to Install WordPress in Windows 10

The easiest way to install WordPress on Windows 10 is with a local server app. Install XAMPP, start Apache and MySQL, create a database in phpMyAdmin, then copy WordPress into the htdocs folder and open it in your browser to run the setup. The site runs only on your PC, so it’s ideal for testing themes and plugins.

Applies to: Windows 10 and Windows 11. Checked against WordPress.org documentation on October 10, 2026.

Choose how to run WordPress

• XAMPP (this guide): free, gives you Apache, MariaDB, and PHP in one install. You set up the database yourself, which helps you learn how WordPress works.
• Local: a free app that creates WordPress sites in a few clicks. It’s the quickest option if you only want a test site.
• WampServer: similar to XAMPP, but Windows only.

All three make a site that only you can see. To put a site on the internet, you need web hosting.

Before you start

• About 1 GB of free disk space.
• An administrator account on the PC.
• Close apps that might use port 80, such as Skype or IIS, or be ready to change the port later.

Step 1: Install XAMPP

1. Download the Windows version of XAMPP from the Apache Friends website. Pick the newest PHP version offered.
2. Run the installer. If Windows warns about User Account Control, select OK.
3. Keep the default components. At minimum you need Apache, MySQL, PHP, and phpMyAdmin.
4. Install it to C:\xampp, not to Program Files. Folder permissions in Program Files can stop XAMPP from working properly.

Step 2: Start Apache and MySQL

1. Open the XAMPP Control Panel.
2. Select Start next to Apache and MySQL. Both turn green when they’re running.
3. If Windows Defender Firewall asks, allow access on Private networks only.

To check that it works, open a browser and go to http://localhost. You should see the XAMPP welcome page.

Step 3: Create a database

1. Go to http://localhost/phpmyadmin.
2. Select the Databases tab.
3. Type a name such as wordpress, leave the collation as it is, and select Create.

Step 4: Copy WordPress into htdocs

1. Download the latest WordPress .zip file from WordPress.org.
2. Extract it. You get a folder named wordpress.
3. Move that folder into C:\xampp\htdocs. You can rename it, for example to mysite. The folder name becomes part of your local address.

Step 5: Run the WordPress setup

1. Go to http://localhost/wordpress, or use the folder name you chose.
2. Pick a language and select Let’s go.
3. Enter the database details: Database Name is the name you created, Username is root, Password is blank, and Database Host is localhost.
4. Select Submit, then Run the installation.
5. Enter a site title, admin username, password, and email, then select Install WordPress.

Sign in at http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin with the username and password you just chose.

XAMPP’s blank root password is fine for a site that only runs on your PC, but don’t use it on a server that other people can reach.

Step 6: Start and stop your site

• Your site only works while Apache and MySQL are running. Open the XAMPP Control Panel and start them each time you want to use it.
• Select Stop on both when you’re done, to free up memory.
• To delete the site, delete its folder in htdocs and drop its database in phpMyAdmin.

Step 7: Set up permalinks

By default, WordPress uses addresses like ?p=123. To use readable addresses, go to Settings > Permalinks in the WordPress dashboard, choose Post name, and select Save Changes. XAMPP’s Apache already has the rewrite module turned on, so this works without extra setup.

Back up your local site

1. Copy your site’s folder from C:\xampp\htdocs to another drive.
2. In phpMyAdmin, select your database, open the Export tab, and select Export to save a .sql file.
3. Keep both together. To restore, copy the folder back and import the .sql file on the Import tab.

The quicker option: Local

If you don’t want to set up a database yourself, the free Local app does it for you.

1. Download and install Local from its official website.
2. Select Create a new site (the plus button), give it a name, and keep the Preferred environment.
3. Enter an admin username and password, then select Add site.
4. Select WP Admin to open the dashboard, or Open site to view it.

Local can also create a shareable link for a running site, which is useful if you want someone to review it.

Moving your site online

When the site is ready, buy hosting, then use a migration plugin to copy the site from your PC to the server. Most hosts also offer a free migration service. After moving it, change your admin password and make sure the site address in Settings > General matches your domain.

If something goes wrong

• Apache won’t start: Another program is using port 80 or 443. In the Control Panel, select Config next to Apache > httpd.conf, change Listen 80 to Listen 8080, save, and start Apache again. Then use http://localhost:8080/wordpress.
• MySQL won’t start: Another database server may be using port 3306. Stop the other MySQL service in Services, or change the port in my.ini.
• “Error establishing a database connection”: MySQL isn’t running, or the database name in wp-config.php doesn’t match the one you created.
• “The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive”: Open php.ini from the Apache Config button, raise upload_max_filesize and post_max_size, and restart Apache.
• The page shows a list of files instead of WordPress: You opened the wrong folder. Check the address matches the folder name in htdocs.

Frequently asked questions

Is a local WordPress site free?

Yes. XAMPP and WordPress are both free. You only pay if you move the site to web hosting.

Can other people see my local site?

No. Only your PC can open it. To share it, move it to a hosting account, usually with a migration plugin.

Do I need Windows 10 Pro?

No. XAMPP runs on Windows 10 Home and Pro, and on Windows 11.

Can I install more than one WordPress site?

Yes. Create a new database and copy WordPress into a new folder in htdocs for each site.

If you also want PHP on its own for other projects, see how to install PHP in Windows 10. For containers, see how to install Docker in Windows 10.