Episode 8 of 32
Installing WAMP Server
Install WAMP Server to create a local development environment with Apache, MySQL, and PHP for WordPress.
Installing WAMP Server
WordPress needs a web server, PHP, and a MySQL database to run. On Windows, WAMP Server bundles all three into one easy installation. This gives you a complete local development environment.
What Is WAMP?
WAMP stands for:
| Letter | Component | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| W | Windows | The operating system |
| A | Apache | The web server that serves your pages |
| M | MySQL / MariaDB | The database that stores WordPress content |
| P | PHP | The programming language WordPress is built on |
Alternatives to WAMP
| Tool | Platform | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|
| WAMP | Windows | Easy |
| MAMP | macOS / Windows | Easy |
| XAMPP | Windows / macOS / Linux | Easy |
| Local by Flywheel | Windows / macOS | Very Easy (WordPress-specific) |
| Docker | All platforms | Advanced |
Step-by-Step Installation
- Go to wampserver.com
- Download the latest version for your Windows architecture (64-bit recommended)
- Run the installer — follow the setup wizard:
- Accept the license
- Choose installation directory (default:
C:\wamp64) - It may ask you to install Visual C++ redistributables — allow this
- Choose your default browser and text editor
- Click Install and wait for completion
- Launch WAMP Server — an icon appears in your system tray
WAMP Tray Icon Colors
| Color | Status |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Green | All services running — ready to use |
| 🟠 Orange | Some services running — partial startup |
| 🔴 Red | All services stopped |
Testing Your Installation
- Ensure the WAMP icon is green
- Open your browser and go to http://localhost
- You should see the WAMP Server homepage
- Click phpMyAdmin to verify the database is accessible
Important Directories
| Path | Purpose |
|---|---|
C:\wamp64\www\ | Your web root — put your websites here |
C:\wamp64\bin\apache\ | Apache web server |
C:\wamp64\bin\php\ | PHP installation |
C:\wamp64\bin\mysql\ | MySQL database server |
Creating a Database for WordPress
- Click the WAMP tray icon → phpMyAdmin (or go to
http://localhost/phpmyadmin) - Login with username root (password is blank by default)
- Click "Databases" tab
- Enter a database name: wordpress_dev
- Select utf8mb4_general_ci as the collation
- Click Create
Common Issues
- Port 80 conflict — Skype or IIS may use port 80. Change Apache's port to 8080 in WAMP settings.
- MSVCR120.dll error — Install the Visual C++ Redistributable packages from Microsoft.
- Orange icon stuck — Right-click WAMP → Restart All Services. Check if another program is using port 80.
Key Takeaways
- WAMP provides Apache, MySQL, and PHP for running WordPress locally
- The green tray icon means all services are running
- Your websites go in
C:\wamp64\www\ - Create a database through phpMyAdmin before installing WordPress
- Common issues involve port conflicts and missing C++ redistributables