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WordPress / 7 MIN READ

Servering WP local

How to serve WordPress locally

From the original Fervor library. Examples may use older package versions.

Creating a local copy of your WordPress (WP) site is a valuable way to develop, test, and experiment without affecting your live website. This tutorial will guide you through the process of exporting your WP site and setting it up locally on your computer. We’ll cover all the essential steps, including exporting files and the database, setting up a local server environment, and configuring your local site.

Table of Contents

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following:

  • Access to Your Live WordPress Site:

    • FTP/SFTP access to download site files.
    • Access to your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel) to export the database via phpMyAdmin.

  • Local Server Software:

  • A Database Management Tool: phpMyAdmin is commonly bundled with local server packages.

  • Basic Knowledge of FTP and Databases: Familiarity with using FTP clients (like FileZilla) and phpMyAdmin will be helpful.

Step 1: Export WordPress Files

Your WordPress site consists of core files, themes, plugins, and media uploads. To export these:

  1. Connect to Your Server via FTP:

    • Use an FTP client like FileZilla to connect to your live server.
    • Enter your FTP credentials (host, username, password, port).

  2. Download the WordPress Directory:

    • Navigate to the directory where WordPress is installed (commonly public_html, www, or a subfolder).
    • Download all files and folders to a local directory on your computer. Ensure you include hidden files like .htaccess.

Alternative Method Using cPanel File Manager:

  1. Log in to your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel).
  2. Navigate to File Manager.
  3. Compress the WordPress directory into a .zip file.
  4. Download the compressed file to your computer.
  5. Extract the .zip file locally.

Step 2: Export the Database

WordPress uses a MySQL database to store content, settings, and other dynamic data.

  1. Access phpMyAdmin:

    • Log in to your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel).
    • Navigate to phpMyAdmin.

  2. Select Your WordPress Database:

    • In phpMyAdmin, locate and select the database used by your WordPress site. If unsure, check the wp-config.php file for the DB_NAME value.

  3. Export the Database:

    • Click on the Export tab.
    • Choose the Quick export method and SQL format.
    • Click Go to download the .sql file to your computer.

Note: For larger databases or more control, use the Custom export method to select specific tables or adjust export settings.

Step 3: Set Up a Local Server Environment

To run WordPress locally, you need a local server environment that includes Apache (or another web server), PHP, and MySQL.

  1. Download and Install Local Server Software:

  2. Start the Local Server:

    • Launch the local server application.
    • Start Apache and MySQL (or the equivalent services).

Step 4: Create a Local Database

  1. Access phpMyAdmin Locally:

    • Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost/phpmyadmin/ (adjust based on your local server setup).

  2. Create a New Database:

    • Click on the Databases tab.
    • Enter a name for your local WordPress database (e.g., wordpress_local).
    • Choose the utf8mb4_unicode_ci collation.
    • Click Create.

Step 5: Import the Database

  1. Select the Newly Created Database:

    • In phpMyAdmin, click on your local database (wordpress_local).

  2. Import the SQL File:

    • Click on the Import tab.
    • Click Choose File and select the .sql file you exported earlier.
    • Ensure the format is set to SQL.
    • Click Go to start the import process.

Note: If your database is large, you may need to adjust the upload limits in your local server’s PHP configuration.

Step 6: Configure wp-config.php

  1. Locate wp-config.php:

    • In your downloaded WordPress files, find the wp-config.php file.

  2. Edit Database Credentials:

    • Open wp-config.php in a text editor.
    • Update the following lines with your local database details:
    define('DB_NAME', 'wordpress_local'); // Your local database name
define('DB_USER', 'root'); // Typically 'root' for local environments
define('DB_PASSWORD', ''); // Typically empty for local environments
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost'); // Usually 'localhost'

    Example:

    define('DB_NAME', 'wordpress_local');
define('DB_USER', 'root');
define('DB_PASSWORD', '');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

  3. Save Changes:

    • Save and close wp-config.php.

Step 7: Update Site URLs

To ensure your local site works correctly, you need to update the site URLs in the database.

Method 1: Using phpMyAdmin

  1. Access phpMyAdmin:

    • Navigate to http://localhost/phpmyadmin/.

  2. Select Your Local Database:

    • Click on wordpress_local (or your database name).

  3. Navigate to the wp_options Table:

    • Click on the wp_options table. (Note: The table prefix might differ, e.g., wp123_options.)

  4. Edit siteurl and home:

    • Locate the siteurl and home rows (usually IDs 1 and 2).
    • Click Edit for each and change the URL to http://localhost/your-folder (replace your-folder with your local directory name, if applicable).

    Example:

    • siteurl: http://localhost/wordpress
    • home: http://localhost/wordpress

  5. Save Changes:

    • Click Go to save each change.

Method 2: Using Search and Replace Tool

For serialized data and to update URLs throughout the database, consider using a tool like WP-CLI or plugins like Better Search Replace.

Step 8: Transfer Files to Local Server

  1. Locate the Local Server’s Web Directory:

    • XAMPP: C:\xampp\htdocs\ (Windows) or /Applications/XAMPP/htdocs/ (macOS).
    • MAMP: /Applications/MAMP/htdocs/.
    • WAMP: C:\wamp64\www\.

  2. Create a New Folder:

    • Create a new folder within the web directory (e.g., wordpress).

  3. Copy WordPress Files:

    • Copy all the downloaded WordPress files from Step 1 into the new folder.

    Example Path:

    • C:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress\

Step 9: Test the Local Site

  1. Access the Local Site:

    • Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost/wordpress/ (replace wordpress with your folder name).

  2. Login to WordPress Dashboard:

    • Go to http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin/.
    • Use your existing WordPress admin credentials.

  3. Permalinks:

    • To fix permalink issues, go to Settings > Permalinks in the dashboard.
    • Without making changes, click Save Changes to regenerate the .htaccess file.

  4. Check Functionality:

    • Navigate through your site to ensure everything works as expected.
    • Test themes, plugins, and media uploads.

Troubleshooting Tips:

  • White Screen or Errors:

    • Check your local server’s error logs.
    • Ensure PHP versions are compatible.

  • Broken Links or Missing Images:

    • Verify that media files are correctly copied.
    • Use search and replace tools to update any remaining URLs.

Alternative Method: Using a Migration Plugin

If you prefer a streamlined process, consider using a migration plugin like Duplicator or All-in-One WP Migration.

Using Duplicator:

  1. Install and Activate Duplicator on Live Site:

    • Go to Plugins > Add New.
    • Search for Duplicator, install, and activate it.

  2. Create a Package:

    • Navigate to Duplicator > Packages.
    • Click Create New, follow the steps, and build the package.

  3. Download Package and Installer:

    • Once built, download both the .zip package and installer.php file.

  4. Set Up Local Server:

    • Create a new folder in your local server’s web directory.
    • Place both the package and installer.php in this folder.

  5. Create Local Database:

    • Follow Steps 3 and 4 to set up a local database.

  6. Run the Installer:

    • In your browser, navigate to http://localhost/your-folder/installer.php.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

  7. Test the Local Site:

    • Log in and verify that the site functions correctly.

Conclusion

Setting up a local copy of your WordPress site enables you to develop and test changes safely. By following this tutorial, you’ve successfully exported your live site and configured it to run locally. Whether you choose the manual method or utilize a migration plugin, maintaining a local development environment is a best practice for WordPress site management.

Additional Tips:

  • Regular Updates: Keep both your live and local environments updated to minimize discrepancies.
  • Version Control: Consider using version control systems like Git for tracking changes.
  • Backups: Always back up your site before making significant changes or migrations.
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