Install XAMPP

For developers working with WordPress, having a local development environment is essential. XAMPP provides everything you need to run WordPress locally: Apache, MySQL, and PHP — all in one convenient package.

What is XAMPP?

XAMPP is a free, open-source local server environment that bundles Apache (web server), MySQL (database), PHP, and Perl into a single, easy-to-install package.

We use XAMPP because it:

Provides a complete local WordPress development environment
Works consistently across macOS, Windows, and Linux
Includes phpMyAdmin for database management
Is easy to configure and manage
Allows you to run multiple local WordPress sites
Doesn’t require complex server configuration

How to Install XAMPP

01. Download XAMPP

We recommend using version 8.0.28 or higher, preferably with PHP 8.0.28 or newer, to match most WordPress project requirements.

02. Run the Installer

Open the downloaded .dmg file and follow the installation wizard

03. Choose Components

During installation, you’ll be asked which components to install. For WordPress development, you need:

Apache (web server)
MySQL (database)
PHP
phpMyAdmin (database management)

You can skip Perl and other components unless specifically needed.

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