How to Install WordPress – Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners | CodeMystery.com

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to install WordPress easily on your local computer (Windows, Mac, Linux) using XAMPP, WAMP, or directly on a live server. Follow these simple steps to set up WordPress and start building your website!

Step 1: Download WordPress

  • Visit wordpress.org and download the latest version of WordPress.

  • Unzip the downloaded file to a folder.

✅ Always use the latest version to get the newest features and security updates.

Step 2: Place WordPress Files

Depending on your operating system and setup, place the unzipped WordPress folder inside:

  • Windows/Mac (WAMP users): www folder

  • Windows/Mac (XAMPP users): htdocs folder

  • Linux users: /var/www/html/ directory

Step 3: Start Apache and MySQL

  • Open your XAMPP or WAMP control panel.

  • Start both Apache and MySQL services.

Without these running, WordPress will not install locally.

Step 4: Create a Database

  • Open phpMyAdmin (usually at localhost/phpmyadmin).

  • Create a new database.

  • Note down:

    • Database Name

    • Database Username (default is usually root for local servers)

    • Database Password (default is blank on local servers)

Step 5: Open WordPress Installation in Browser

  • Visit your project URL, for example:

    • http://localhost/your-folder-name

  • WordPress will automatically detect the setup and start the installation wizard.

Step 6: Choose Language

  • Select your preferred language for the website.

  • Click Continue.

Step 7: Gather Required Information

Before proceeding, make sure you have:

  • Database Name

  • Database Username

  • Database Password

  • Database Host (usually localhost)

  • Table Prefix (optional)

Click on Let’s go! to move forward.

Step 8: Configure Database Connection

  • Enter your database details.

  • Click Submit.

If everything is correct, WordPress will now proceed to set up your configuration file.

Step 9: Enter Site Information

  • Site Title

  • Username (for admin login)

  • Password (choose a strong one)

  • Your Email Address

Click on Install WordPress.

✅ After this step, WordPress will create a wp-config.php file automatically.
This file contains important settings like database info and debugging options.

Tip for Developers:
If you want to debug errors during development, open the wp-config.php file and set:

define('WP_DEBUG', true);

Important: Before going live, set it back to false to hide error messages from visitors.

Step 10: WordPress Installation Complete

Congratulations! 🎉

  • You can now log in to the WordPress dashboard.

  • Visit: http://localhost/your-folder-name/wp-admin

  • Use the username and password you created to log in and start managing your website!

Installing WordPress on a Live Server

If you want to install WordPress on a web hosting server:

  • Upload the unzipped WordPress files to your server’s root directory (usually public_html).

  • Create a new database via your hosting control panel (like cPanel).

  • Open your domain in the browser and follow from Step 5 above.

It’s almost the same process as the local setup!

What’s Next?

Now that you’ve installed WordPress successfully, in the next tutorial we’ll explore the WordPress Dashboard — the control panel where you create pages, posts, manage themes, and much more.

👉 Stay tuned to codemystery.com for the next guide!

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