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I have read several articles about how you could set WordPress up to run locally on your Mac but it always sounded really complicated so I had avoided it and just set up an online test site. I wanted to start creating myself a new website in WordPress so I gritted my teeth ready for problems, but it worked really easily. I know Macs have built in Apache (required for WordPress) but I had read that the application MAMP made setting things up much easier as in one go it installs Apache, PHP and MySQL, everything you need to run WordPress.
I downloaded MAMP and it installed easily (into my Applications folder), then downloaded WordPress and installed inside the MAMP folder in a folder called htdocs (its already there ready) within that I create the folder called WordPress which WordPress was installed into.
Start MAMP (click the application and then start servers) then click phpMyAdmin and create a new database I called mine “wordpressrd” but you can call yours whatever you want (you can then close this window). Then from within your WordPress folder open wp-config-sample.php and you need to input some info. All the info should be the same as below apart from you need to change your database name to whatever you called it.
define(‘DB_NAME’, ‘wordpressrd’); // The name of the database
define(‘DB_USER’, ‘root’); // Your MySQL username
define(‘DB_PASSWORD’, ‘root’); // …and password
define(‘DB_HOST’, ‘localhost:8888′); // 99% chance you won’t need to
Save this file back into your WordPress file as wp-config.php
Now you need to open your browser window at http://localhost:8888/wordpress/wp-admin/install.php where you will be given a user name and password to take note of. You should then be able to see WordPress local at http://localhost:8888/wordpress/. To login to the admin panel just go o http://localhost:8888/wordpress/wp-login.php and insert the user name and password you were just given.
You can then start to add themes/plugins etc into the themes folder just as you normally would if WordPress was online. It means you can tweak your design to your hearts content without anyone else being able to see it.
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28 Comments
Thanks for the tip. I’m just starting to get a little more ambitious in my journey from theme modifier to theme designer. This will be very helpful to me.
Hi Dandyman, Thanks for your comment. I hope it helps
So can you do this with a normal windows PC and just run Apache or MAMP? I have always wondered how I could do this instead of using my test site subdomain
Hi Into The Rain,
You can use Xamp – like MAMP but for PC http://sourceforge.net/projects/xampp/
I’ve used XAMPP before and it works great (supposedly there are some security issues, but I think that’s only if you’re on a network, like in an office). Sometimes it’s a little confusing to do the DB connections–I always forget to change them to my web host’s connection information (DB name, user, password) when I upload my files. Being able to do things locally really makes testing loads easier because you’re not always having to upload to the web server to see small changes.
So it sounds like you’re really getting into web design, Tara! Do you feel like you’ve learned a lot in the past few months?
Ok great thanks for that I can’t wait to try it
Hi Lauren
I used Xamp on my PC, but it wasn’t as easy to set up as MAMP on the Mac. I am definitely learning a lot about web design, but am still not confident yet. I am trying to make myself a new website, I have created a look in illustrator and am not trying to make wordpress do what I want it to (starting with K2). I haven’t yet tried building a static site from scratch. I still get in a mess with CSS positioning.
What a great idea. I’m off to try it out now. Thank you, Tara. This one’s a gem.
No problem Johno, I couldn’t beleive how easy it was.
thanks for the great idea. I wanna to try it out now.:)
I’ve never used MAMP (because I don’t have a Mac) but I use xampp all the time on my pc… There’s also a portable version (from portableapps.com) so you can have xampp on a memory stick… which means you can have your wordpress installation in your pocket!
Oh wow!! Cool, Rachael! Thank you for sharing that.
Wow, they need that on PCs!
Good luck with your wordpressing, let me know if you need help with anything! I’ve just recently gotten the hang of everything and have been busily building some really exciting things on WP. In fact, my buddy and I ran a 24 hour project marathon yesterday and pumped out a new website in celebration of the coming holiday season! Check out cantwaitforchristmas.com if you’re interestd in sharing a Christmas wish or two!
Verne, they do make a different program for PC. It’s called XAMPP. I’ve used it before and it sounds like it works just the same as MAMP (XAMPP has a Mac version, too), though Tara says the MAMP is easier to set up.
I used XAMPP exclusively until about two months ago (when I bought my first Mac). Went to the site to download the Mac version since that’s what I was comfortable with, and discovered it to be a lot more complicated. I don’t why it would be so much different between the two platforms, but I don’t think I even got past the lengthy instructions. I opted for MAMP instead. I was up and running with it in a matter of minutes.
I started using MAMP couple months ago and i have to tell you I was totally shock how easy it was to set up ” Another g8t GNU product”
Agreed, very simple to use, great product. I’m progressing into theme design, so this will be helpful.
Thanks!
This is awesome, I want to try this out!
I usually install wp through fantastico, and never try to install on my local computer
I will try your tips .. thanks
just install wp in default mode, still waiting webmaster to make up my blog, but I think in the future I can learn much from this blog …
This info is good, I will try, thanks.
hmm.. i used windows on my notebook, and i get windows live writer to write an offline post or pages, that’s make an easier to wrote, and make a lowest judgment my cost for an internet connection
Thinking of making the jump to mac ..this helps
Thanks for the tip. I’m just starting to get a little more ambitious in my journey from theme modifier to theme designer. This will be very helpful to me.
Great,
Thats a good tip.It is really a good way to design texts & words for web.
It is also time-saving.
Regards !
Smith
Thanks for the article. Well written and concise and always.
I cant thank you enough!! that was the easiest and most important thing ive done this summer
)) 
Hi Matt, I am glad it helped