9 min readSep 2, 2023

What is Xampp?

XAMPP is a free and open-source software package that provides a local development environment for web developers. The name “XAMPP” is an acronym that stands for:

X: Cross-platform, meaning it can be installed on different operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.
A: Apache, which is the web server software included in the package.
M: MySQL, the relational database management system that is part of XAMPP.
P: PHP, a popular server-side scripting language used for web development.

In addition to Apache, MySQL, and PHP, XAMPP also includes other tools and services like Perl and FileZilla FTP server. It is mainly used to set up a local server environment on a personal computer or workstation, allowing developers to test and develop web applications offline before deploying them to a live server.

XAMPP simplifies the process of setting up and configuring the server stack by providing a user-friendly interface that allows developers to start and stop the web server and database server with ease. This local environment helps developers work efficiently and safely on their projects without affecting the live website or relying on an internet connection. However, it’s essential to note that XAMPP is primarily designed for development and not for production use, as it lacks the security configurations and optimizations needed for a live production server.

How to move a live WordPress site to localhost Xampp?

Moving a live WordPress site to localhost using XAMPP involves a few steps. Here is a general description of what happens:

Step 1: Set up XAMPP

Download and install XAMPP on your computer. Make sure it includes Apache, MySQL, and PHP components.
The XAMPP control panel is where you launch the Apache and MySQL services.

Step 2: Create a Backup of Your Live Site

Log in to your live WordPress site’s dashboard.
Install a backup plugin (e.g., UpdraftPlus, All-in-One WP Migration, or Duplicator) and create a full backup of your site, including files and database.

Step 3: Export the Database

Access your web hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.) and navigate to phpMyAdmin.
Find and select your WordPress database from the left-hand panel.
Click on the “Export” tab in phpMyAdmin.
Choose the “Quick” export method and the format “SQL.”
Save the produced SQL file to your computer’s hard drive.

Step 4: Move WordPress Files to Localhost

Create a new folder under the “htdocs” directory in your XAMPP installation folder. You can name it whatever you like (e.g., “mywordpress”).
Extract the contents of your live WordPress site’s files into the folder you just created.

Step 5: Import the Database

Open phpMyAdmin in your local XAMPP environment by visiting http://localhost/phpmyadmin in your web browser.
Create a new database with the same name as your live site’s database. To do this, click on the “New” button on the left-hand panel and enter the desired database name.
Select the newly created database from the left-hand panel.
Click on the “Import” tab in phpMyAdmin.
Upload the SQL file you exported from the live site’s database in Step 3.

Step 6: Update WordPress Configuration

In the WordPress files you copied to the XAMPP folder, find the wp-config.php file.
Open wp-config.php in a text editor and update the database connection settings to match your local environment. You'll need to change the database name, username, password, and possibly the database host (usually it's localhost in XAMPP).
Save the changes.

Step 7: Update Site URL (Optional)

Sometimes, you may need to update the site URL to reflect the local environment. To do this:

In the WordPress database (via phpMyAdmin), locate the wp_options table.
Look for the rows with the option_name of siteurl and home. Update their option_value to http://localhost/your-folder-name.
Save the changes.

Step 8: Test Your Local WordPress Site

Visit http://localhost/your-folder-name in your web browser, where "your-folder-name" is the name of the folder you created in Step 4.
You should see your live WordPress site running on your localhost XAMPP environment.

Keep in mind that depending on your specific WordPress setup and plugins, there might be some additional steps or considerations. Also, it’s essential to make sure you’re not accidentally overwriting or interfering with your live site during this process, so proceed with caution and take backups of both your live site and your local environment.

How to set up mercury mail in Xampp?

As of my last update in September 2021, Mercury Mail is one of the components included in XAMPP by default. However, it’s important to note that Mercury Mail is mainly intended for local development and testing purposes and is not recommended for production use due to security limitations. If you have a more recent version of XAMPP, you can follow these steps to set up Mercury Mail:

Download and Install XAMPP:

If you don’t have XAMPP installed on your computer, download the latest version from the Apache Friends website (https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html) and follow the installation instructions for your operating system.

Start Mercury Mail in XAMPP:

Once you have XAMPP installed, open the XAMPP Control Panel. You can do this by running the “Xampp-control.exe” application (Windows) or using the Terminal (macOS/Linux) and executing the command sudo /opt/lampp/manager-linux-x64.run (if installed in the default location).
In the XAMPP Control Panel, find the “Mercury Mail” module and click the “Start” button to activate it. You should see a green indicator next to the “Mercury Mail” module when it is running.

Configure Mercury Mail:

After starting Mercury Mail, you can access its configuration by clicking on the “Admin” button next to the “Mercury Mail” module in the XAMPP Control Panel. This will open the Mercury Mail/32 Control Panel.
In the Control Panel, you can set up various aspects of Mercury Mail, such as domains, accounts, and more. The interface may look slightly different depending on your XAMPP version, but the basic configuration options should be available.

Testing Mercury Mail:

To test if Mercury Mail is working correctly, you can try sending an email using a script on your local web server (e.g., a simple PHP script). Ensure that your script sends the email to a valid email address, either on your local host or an external address if you have configured Mercury Mail to relay emails.

Please remember that Mercury Mail is not recommended for production use as it lacks modern security features and might not be as reliable as dedicated mail servers. For production environments, it’s best to use a proper mail server with appropriate security configurations.

How to use xampp

XAMPP is a popular software package that allows you to set up a local web server environment on your computer. It includes Apache (webserver), MySQL (database), PHP (scripting language), and Perl. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use XAMPP:

Download and Install XAMPP: Visit the Apache Friends website (https://www.apachefriends.org/) and download the appropriate XAMPP version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install XAMPP on your computer.
Start the XAMPP Control Panel: After installation, open the XAMPP Control Panel. On Windows, you can find it in the Start menu or by searching for “XAMPP Control Panel.” On macOS, look for “manager-osx” in the XAMPP installation directory.
Start Apache and MySQL: In the XAMPP Control Panel, you’ll see options to start Apache and MySQL. Click on the “Start” button next to both to initiate these services. If they start successfully, the corresponding module names will turn green.
Testing the Installation: To test if the installation is successful, open your web browser and type “http://localhost/" in the address bar. If you see the XAMPP dashboard, then everything is working correctly.
Setting Up Your Website: By default, XAMPP serves files from the “htdocs” folder in its installation directory. You can place your website files inside this folder. For example, if you create a folder called “mywebsite” inside “htdocs” and put an “index.html” file inside it, you can access it through your browser by typing “http://localhost/mywebsite/".
Managing Databases with phpMyAdmin: XAMPP includes phpMyAdmin, a web-based tool for managing MySQL databases. To access it, go to “http://localhost/phpmyadmin/" in your web browser. Here, you can create, modify, and delete databases, as well as manage the data within them.
Stopping XAMPP Services: When you’re done working with XAMPP, it’s essential to stop the services to free up system resources and improve security. Go back to the XAMPP Control Panel and click the “Stop” button next to Apache and MySQL.

Remember, XAMPP is primarily designed for development and testing purposes on your local machine. It is not meant for hosting public websites, as it lacks the necessary security measures for that purpose. For production environments, consider using a dedicated web hosting service.

How to install WordPress in xampp?

To install WordPress on your XAMPP local server, follow these steps:

Download WordPress: Visit the official WordPress website (https://wordpress.org/) and download the latest version of WordPress. It will be downloaded as a zip file.
Extract WordPress Files: Once the download is complete, extract the contents of the zip file to a folder of your choice. You can rename this folder to something like “WordPress” for simplicity.
Copy WordPress Files to XAMPP’s “htdocs” Folder: Locate the XAMPP installation directory on your computer. Inside it, you will find a folder called “htdocs.” Copy the entire “WordPress” folder (the one you extracted earlier) and paste it inside the “htdocs” folder.
Create a Database for WordPress: Open your web browser and go to “http://localhost/phpmyadmin/" to access phpMyAdmin. Click on the “Databases” tab and create a new database for your WordPress installation. You can name it anything you like; for example, “wordpress_db.”
Configure WordPress Database Settings: Now, navigate to the “WordPress” folder you copied earlier. Look for a file named “wp-config-sample.php” and rename it to “wp-config.php.” Open this file in a text editor. In “wp-config.php,” find the following lines:
define('DB_NAME', 'database_name_here');
define('DB_USER', 'username_here');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'password_here');

Replace 'database_name_here', 'username_here', and 'password_here' with the database name, database username, and database password, respectively, that you created in the previous step.

Access WordPress Installation: With the database settings configured, open your web browser and navigate to “http://localhost/wordpress/" (or whatever you named the “WordPress” folder). You will see the WordPress installation page.
Complete WordPress Installation: Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your WordPress site. You’ll need to provide a site title, admin username, password, and email address. Click “Install WordPress” to complete the installation.
Accessing Your WordPress Site: After the installation is successful, you can access your WordPress site by going to “http://localhost/wordpress/" (or the corresponding URL if you named the folder differently). You can log in to the WordPress dashboard using the admin username and password you provided during the installation.

Now you have WordPress installed on your XAMPP local server, and you can begin building and customizing your website locally before deploying it to a live server.

Xampp vs Wamp

XAMPP and WAMP are both popular software packages that provide a local server environment for web development on Windows computers. They are used to set up a local web server to test websites and web applications before deploying them to a live server. Here’s a comparison of XAMPP vs. WAMP:

XAMPP (X-Cross-Platform, Apache, MySQL, PHP, Perl):

Platform Support: XAMPP is a cross-platform software package, meaning it can be installed and used on multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and more. This makes it a versatile choice for developers working on different platforms.
Services: XAMPP comes bundled with Apache (webserver), MySQL (database server), PHP (scripting language), and Perl. It also includes other useful tools like phpMyAdmin for managing databases.
Ease of Use: XAMPP is relatively easy to install and configure. It provides a control panel that allows you to start and stop the various services quickly.
Updates and Compatibility: XAMPP tends to receive updates less frequently compared to WAMP. It may take some time for the latest versions of Apache, PHP, and MySQL to be integrated into XAMPP releases.

WAMP (Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP):

Platform Support: WAMP is specifically designed for Windows operating systems, and it’s not available for macOS or Linux. If you are a Windows user, WAMP offers a straightforward option.
Services: WAMP provides Apache (webserver), MySQL (database server), and PHP (scripting language). Like XAMPP, it lacks Perl by default.
Ease of Use: WAMP is known for its user-friendly installation and setup process. It often includes a system tray menu that makes managing server services easy.
Updates and Compatibility: WAMP usually updates its components more frequently than XAMPP. It may offer the latest versions of Apache, PHP, and MySQL sooner after their official releases.

Which one to choose? The choice between XAMPP and WAMP depends on your specific needs and the platform you are working on:

If you need a local server environment on Windows and prefer a user-friendly experience, WAMP might be a suitable choice.
If you require a local server environment on multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux) or need additional tools like Perl, XAMPP would be more suitable.

Ultimately, both XAMPP and WAMP serve the same purpose of providing a local web server environment, and you can switch between them or try both to see which one fits your workflow better.