How To Install WordPress On Your Local Computer & Migrate To Live Web Hosting

In this tutorial, I will show you how to set up a local development environment so that you can build websites on your local computer then migrate them to your web hosting account.
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All of the opinions expressed in this video are my own, I was not paid to make this video. Whenever there is a link in any of my videos, if there is a referral program available, please assume that you are clicking on a referral link.

[@celebrity264]

3 years later and this is still an excellent tutorial, all of his videos are well put together and solves any issue you may have...

[@Laughlin007]

lol. I was on the "cutting edge" back in 1996 through 2003. Used AOLPress and some Perl scripts. Created some of the 1st ever web sites with sound and then big tech passed me like a freight train. Thank you for posting this video.

[@markcabangon3885]

Awesome! I’m using wamp and local. I’m thinking of transitioning to just developing and designing in Local moving forward. Thanks for the video. This is what I’ll be doing very soon. Perfect timing!

[@jeffdesouzadev2500]

WPvivid seems to have renamed Transfer&Backup to "Migration, Backup, Staging - WPvivid" which worked great for me! Thanks for the heads up on the "All in One" squeeze-you-for-money situation! I actually tried it first but remembered your comment, so ditched it immediately when it happened (surely a TEST site with two images wouldn't be over the 32MB limit, right?? wrong) Awesome awesome video thank you WPCrafter!!

[@frankstone]

I really appreciate the extra detail you add to the procedures you describe. You make it very easy to understand and follow. Thank you!

[@CharlesHale85207]

Thanks Adam, I have been using something else that I purchased and just realize that it doesn't work with the new version of PHP just a few days ago... so the release of this video was what I call perfect timing. I love the step by step walk through as well, you have saved me a lot of time just on the research alone.

[@APowerfulMoment]

Oh my goodness!!! Thank you SO much. I’m definitely non-techy and this is exactly the explanation I needed.

[@pezreloaded8436]

Adam you're great! This is something I've been wanting to know more about but haven't had the chance to research. You're videos are always informative and easy to follow. Will definitely have use for this.

[@WPCrafter]

Thank you. I am gonna try to hit some of these core fundamentals over the coming days.

[@LaCroixCreative]

Exactly what I needed! Thank you so much, Adam!

[@EcomRebel]

Awesome info. I went ahead and created my first local site. Thanks Adam

[@mnburch]

Awesome tutorial! All of your tutorials are great. You are a really good instructor. Please keep them coming.

[@maghnanisimran]

Thanks a lot!!! Such great tutorials on this channel, really helpful.

[@superlativo4420]

Wow man. It is a gorgeous workflow! Thanks so much

[@dreampigment]

You are a life saver! I just downloaded a new page builder that I wanted to test out but I wanted to practice with it first. Last night I had a hard time setting up a local host and spent an hour plus frustrated with Bitnami -_- This application sounds amazing and to host multiple test sites is even better! I will report back if I was successful with the set up. Thank you for your help!

[@MatthewFurman]

Yesssss. So psyched about this video. You are the best Adam

[@catherinebanton7557]

Thanks for the very useful video! Literally the answer to what I have been looking for, for a long time now.

[@5DPORTAL]

Very detailed tutorial, thank you, been looking for this😎

[@joleneengelbrecht284]

Such a cool tutorial! Thank you very much!

[@susangemayel-tapper3794]

Thanks Adam, great tutorial!!! You are a GEM!!!

[@wernervannieuwenhove631]

Really great lesson Adam. Thnx a lot for all this great information.

[@IanJHarmon]

I've used XAMPP in the past but this is so much easier to setup and the live link is genius. Great video. Thanks Adam

[@JunaidKhan-vn4kj]

Thank you so much for this video. This method saves a lot of time as some clients have very bad hosting and working on those hosting is equal to wasting time.

[@chrisgillmangable]

Great job! Thanks Adam.

[@SAAConsulting]

Thanks for the update on Local and new backup / migration plugin. Run into size limit a few times with free version of All-In-One WP Migration.

[@WPCrafter]

Yea this new one will work perfectly fine and has no limitations.

[@taxaction1]

Great Vid Adam. Thanks!

[@francisliang5921]

Thank you. Learn a lot from this channel.

[@DEN1SO]

awesome video good job!!! thanks

[@sopr1067]

Perfect video as always, have been watching you since you were at 5000 subscribers 😁

[@WPCrafter]

Wow thank you for supporting me all these years!

[@rubengarciabri9282]

This is awesome, thank you very much!

[@anthonyperez9564]

Amazing video with great content!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@chadtarheel]

Thanks for these pro-tips!

[@alexaxi5928]

Awesome! thank you

[@DavidTomparkers]

This is GOLD!!! Thank you so much! It is the most useful learning tool for those who are just getting started! I apologize for accidentally SMASHING the LIKE button!

[@WPCrafter]

Smash away!

[@DavidTomparkers]

@@WPCrafter btw, since you put a lot of effort in your videos, and you give so much valuable content, I will be happy to do for you some motion graphics for free, as gratitude for your effort. P.s. Yes I'm a motion graphics designer

[@WPCrafter]

@@DavidTomparkers I am always open to suggestions. Thank you.

[@kreature6618]

You rock man - thanks!

[@JohnDulleckA]

Looks awesome! I will check this out. Thanks!

[@WPCrafter]

Yea it's been working well for me. Hope it works out great for you.

[@turanhayati1]

Thank you for the great video.

[@bradleyrobinson7456]

Adam - you are a hero!

[@gittarpikk]

4 years later and again, still an excellent tutoria;!

[@MarioGZito]

Thank you Adam. Very useful video!

[@WPCrafter]

You welcome, thanks for checking it out.

[@AIInsights23]

great video safi sana

[@tdhmonte]

Another awesome tutorial! Thank You!

[@WPCrafter]

Thank you.

[@fahadreda3060]

Thanks for another Good video, Keep up the good work

[@viajerozz]

Good job. I've been doing the same method since day one but use and like All-in-One mostly because it uploads the backup directly to local machine si skips a step or two.

[@DChristop]

Adam you are the reason for loving WORDPRESS!!! Congratulations!!!

[@MsMagiere]

Thanks Adam. I wasn't aware of this option.

[@WPCrafter]

Yea I literally use this every day. Well, of course, I do a lot of testing.

[@DBCVC]

Thanks for another great video! Used to use WAMP to send clients a view of website but after download the newer version of WAMP it seems to have lost this capability to share

[@juanra.ortizp]

Great video. Thanks. I didn't know about the SSL setting. It should be activated by default. Local is good, it's what I'm using right now too. What I don't like is that every week there is a window prompt with a new 700Mb slow update download. It is very resource heavy on my super i7 PC but the pros outweight the cons. I'm sticking with it for now.

[@endertopaloglu]

Thanks a lot. You are save my days

[@StudioGalvan]

Best LocalWP tutorial & explanation I've seen! 👍🏼😀 (Okay, so I've only seen two others ... But your the first guy I've seen actually explain what the heck's going on!)

[@WPCrafter]

Thanks Carlos.

[@ToneTitan]

I've been using Wamp to build sites locally but this looks like a better way. I've been at the Wordpress thing for years and it's still hard to keep up on all the the plugins and development tools to use, so thanks for this:)

[@WPCrafter]

Your welcome. Yea I like the extra conveniences of this.

[@bradleylambert3284]

Adam, have you ever made a video on your web design equiptment? As in your screens, computer used, your office setup in general etc etc? That would be very interesting.

[@WPCrafter]

I have made videos on my gear setup. I need to make a new one.

[@b.mustapha1691]

Thank you Sooo much

[@pikeconsultinggroupinc.5287]

Adam,you always add something of value to the WP community. Why don't you cover downloading an old site to local from the web. What plugin backup do you recommend for backing up a live site to drop into local by flywheel? That would make an interesting video. Thanks

[@MatthewFurman]

Awesome 👏

[@javierjj338]

Great video! I'm trying to migrate an old static site (all html) to wordpress, and I was thinking about using this method. The idea would be fill all the content locally while the static site is live. Once I finish creating the new articles, i would move to the main domain site, replacing the static files. However, I'm not sure about how the format of the URL's will be once I move everything to the Internet.

[@eslamsalah832]

Subscribing to your channel was the best decision I made, Thank you!

[@lhotse54321]

great and useful video ! local by flywheel is a must have.

[@WPCrafter]

Yes if it works on your computer. It always has for me, it's my goto.

[@spytechmansurveillance7609]

Thank you very much! The explanations are clear and professional, as usual. just one question: Can I use it also for testing a backup? Happy Holidays!!!

[@ashuumedia6258]

Oh, my word! you are the great

[@Luxxen101]

Thank you!

[@WPCrafter]

Your welcome Kat.

[@onoriodemiller3574]

wow....bravo

[@sunilkirloskar1096]

Great video thanks a lot. so xampp, mysql , apache etc are not required to be installed anytime to work locally ? ..

[@christianlecuyer6380]

I am using "All in one" Plugin for all my website and it's working fine, note that you can add more upload data from your cpanel. If this plugin fails, i will try WP vivid backup. Thank's Adam

[@NickDelhanidis]

Υes, 6 months after this useful tut was published, Local has quite changed and wpvivid also is not compatible with local anymore. All in One backup and migration works ok with local.

[@josue1782]

just a heads up, with the new sitetool by siteground, it might be better to do manually. They now generate the database name and user, and prevent you from changing the DB name and DB username (which sucks for developers who work with WordPress locally), so the process hangs and stalls during the restoration process with wpvivid.

[@kenstovall5091]

Everything installed just fine BUT when I tried to run it, it came back and told me to check with router log and that I also did not have the right to run, but I have admin rights? Thanks for any help!

[@adamkulchyski]

Thanks a bunch Adam. I don't know if you say my questions that I posted (then deleted as I figured them out). But I am now working full steam ahead... FINALLY! Finally, meaning, I have been wanting to have a local install for years and kept postponing it (knowing all well) that it would be make my work flow so much easier. Now I can download sites and install and troubleshoot so so so much easier. BTW, I signed up for your Elementor course a couple years ago, would I still find it useful with all the updates that have come out and your video tutorials being relevant? (ya, I have procrastinated a little bit). :) Thank you for all you do. Adam

[@mattiebrownoz]

yeah, I have a older iMac 27' which has top specs for it's time, but seem to have issues just installing. Maybe this is what others are referring to. I will have to install on my work computer which is a brand new iMac 27.

[@WPCrafter]

Yea I have a new mac and a new pc. But it did run flawlessly on my 2014 MBP.

[@waxmeltshop9366]

Fantastic tutorial which has stirred me to re do my website. I have pulled all the pictures, listings etc and then I can put on a new theme and move it to a new web hosting. Only problem I can think of is on the IMPORT and EXPORT feature on Wordpress I don't think I will be transferring my existing customers log in details across to the new site, how can you do this easily and quickly?

[@BizAndProductReviews]

Thanks Adam.

[@WPCrafter]

You're welcome, thanks for watching the video.

[@yankoconstantinidis7425]

Hello Adam! From Brazil here! 🇧🇷 You're amazing! Your videos have helped me a lot with my company Manary Digital which I just opened. I don't know if this video is the right one but I wanted to develop the websites and when I finished them have the possibility to show to my clients so they can see how it's going to be and then I put it online....is that possible ? If yes, this video will help with that?

[@kahilnayton]

Thanks for your videos! I'm working for a client and I need to make their site look fresh. I'm trying to migrate their wordpress site and edit it locally on my server. I keep coming into hurdles with this. I think flywheel will do it for you, but you have to pay? Any information that might help me get up and running and editing this multipage site in a text editor would be awesome! thanks

[@zachsmith822]

Hey Adam, I have a question. When first setting up your server install with Local by Flywheel what are the configurations we would need to move it to Cloudways? I set it up with nginx and varnish as the DB or does this matter? I just don't want to spend a lot oif time with something that wont migrate. Thanks.

[@willem878]

That problem with old computers is that the BIOS has to support Virtual Machines and it has to be set on Enabled. Without you can't cun Local by Flywheel. Tip 2. Besides that you can always put any website in a XYZ directory of that domain so a client can see in what stage you are with development and leave it as it is until you have updated something. Filezilla becomes handy if you do so but Filezilla is very slow. I don’t use it almost anymore. I'm mostly use File Transfer via C-panel. Futhermore all my domainnames are registered by Godaddy but i will never ever go for hosting with them. Siteground is the best of all and no hosting anywhere without C-panel. By the way, thanks for this video as allways. I like your stuff. It's of such a high quality. I'don't know anyone which is capable to do so.

[@WPCrafter]

Thanks for taking the time to add that. It surely will help people.

[@Nima-Norouzi]

Thanks for your great effort, just quick question... Hoe about if we choose nginx for example for local one but the hosting company uses Apache? Or different php and database???

[@Ovalrapture]

I wish I didn't have to work (trouble shoot) to get it to work. I'll check out one of your suggested alternatives.

[@lawrencekeat]

Hi Adam, very great video you had explain it in details. I have some queation? Currently my main site are you divi theme, can re-build my main site using brizy pro on my local computer by install Local by flywheel then upload the site using the plugin that in the video so that it will change the divi theme into brizy pro. Can this be done ?? What theme do you recommended when using brizy pro ?? Thank you for your input

[@INFJMalePsychology]

Hey Adam, quick question about what you're saying at 20:43. Which of the two options do I choose here for restore if I have been working on my website locally (on computer via local program) to change the WP theme and some other redesigning, but will need the original urls of the current live one as I'm not changing any? Do I need redirect as well for that by the way? Thanks in advance.

[@coremotivation31]

Hi Adam, Thanks for this tutorial. There seem to be an issue when live link is shared with client. Background images doesn't seem to work using its live link . Have you encountered this issue as well? Thanks

[@fmsenh9733]

Your video is very helpful and straightforward. I am having trouble logging in when I click the Admin button from Local, I see the login page and enter my credentials but the browser just spins and doesn't log in. Any suggestions?

[@DavidMaciasPhoto]

Hi Adam, thanks for the tutorial, I've used Local but I'm having a heck of a time when I'm updating plugins or themes, it just keeps trying to load and load and it never does. Any ideas?

[@adityaparkash3080]

What about the posts/data on online version of my website if i upload after creating it by local?

[@atakamastudio]

This is a great plugin (WPvivid Backup), sadly, not compatible with WP Multisite. Other free alternative compatible with Multisite ?

[@bethw7]

Another winner - thanks! Is this better than Elementor's maintenance mode for a new site? Will Paypal or Stripe settings change with the local to live migration? I'd love to see an updated video showing how to create a new ecommerce site with Astra/Elementor that includes Gutenberg's blocks and more info about setting up Paypal (and testing it).

[@WPCrafter]

Thank you for the video suggestions. I am planning the same thing, so we are on the same page :-). So in the migration, all that will stay the same.

[@bethw7]

Many thanks!

[@GeorgeMadden33]

This was great and I will use it for creating new sites. Thank you - On a slightly related topic, have you done a recent video on best ways we can use a staging site. I'm on bluehost and i see they have a staging facility but before I get too far down the line, i'm looking for advice. Basically i'm just looking for a way to 1. make a fresh staging clone of Live site 2. make changes on staging site and test 3. when successful, migrate just those changes to live site. - right now, all i have are questions i'm researching (like: how to have same working plugins on both (some paid for 1 site only), what if someone else makes changes to live site while working on clone - as long as changes not same files,no harm? Does migration only pick up changes?). Ie: Best practices for Staging in the wordpress world? I'll keep researching in meantime and thanks for all your videos and especially enjoyed your catch all live Q & A the other day.

[@WPCrafter]

I would use what your web host offers. There are paid solutions, but if your host offers staging, I would use what they have. I personally create a staging site to test things before I add them to my live site.

[@glb1232]

Hi Adam, I really enjoy your videos. I find the presentations clear and easy to follow. Just at the right level for me. I do have a question, though. Would it be feasible to use Updraft Plus to do the restore, or is there other manual work that would need to be done?

[@WPCrafter]

The paid version of Updrafts yes. The free version, unfortunately not. The reason is they hold back the ability to update the url.

[@glb1232]

@@WPCrafter Thanks.

[@dhetherington]

But if you just wanted to change host and keep domain updraftplus free would be an option?

[@WPCrafter]

@@dhetherington Yes that would work for Updrafts. Its just when the domain is different that you need the paid version.

[@dhetherington]

WPCrafter.com Thank you, wp vivid looks good, hope they bring in option for schedule database different to files

[@andydidyouhear]

7:58 Before keying in your WordPress username, password and mail, I guess you need to have created those separately somewhere? Thanks in advance for clarifying.

[@leighedwards]

Thanks very much. Works very well. BUT be sure to disable some plugin's before backing up an online copy for local use. Hostgator's plugin which is automatically installed and ACTIVATED on new sites really screws up your local WP install!!! 😫

[@Samlol23_drrich]

What if I want to replace an active wP website (hosted on hostgator) with one I created on my local machine?

[@BillyG869]

Question: ???? Do I have to load all the Plug-In into my Hosted Site? I use DIVI (Child Theme) so I assume that whole theme will come over too? Thank you, your videos are very clear and I prefer listening to your delivery to most. Bill Gargan

[@pammie1412]

Question about the login situation from the test site to live site. Using this for a client design and I am ready to download the design via WPVivid Backup, then upload and restore to the client's actual site, I am confused as to WHAT login I use. The client's login or the test site login? I guess I could just test this situation, but I am a long way out to using this GREAT new way to migrating designs. Thanks for another great video!

[@WPCrafter]

It will always be the client site because it overwrites.

[@pammie1412]

@@WPCrafter Awesome, thanks so much!!! I appreciate it!

[@rortiz77]

I have Elementor Pro for my PROD site. Am I supposed to also have another license for this staging site?

[@tamieamoroso4117]

Is it ok to use the local host option instead of site domains routing mode? I cannot get my port conflict resolved with site domains routing mode.

[@gbuwally6326]

Can local be controlled via API, webhooks or any automation tools? I really like the “build -> customize -> save as blueprint” flow but then I’d want to present new install buttons on a site and automate builds. Or would I just keep using wp-cli and wc-clu?

[@WPCrafter]

That's beyond what this can do.

[@user-oz4du6nc2d]

I thank you for instructions, Sir. U explained it so clearly. But I will suggest that it is better explained in Insta WP easy and more than better!!!

[@rudyramkissoon2276]

Hi Adam very intuitive video I must say. I have a question. How much do you know about Woocommerce Conditional Product Fee For Checkout Page?

[@WPCrafter]

I am not super familiar unfortunately.

[@Zilla12]

Local just isn't working for me. I can't log back into my live site it keep taking me to the Local site and even in the Local site there are login issues.

[@Gangelya]

i can't open the admin tab where you log in to wordpress. it says: *not found * The requested URL was not found on this server.

[@deyaniraguerrero2853]

I cannot acces to the IP whe I'm gonna connect to the WP admin :/ I'm stock there ... "Error, The requested URL could not be retrieved"

[@gaminghub3275]

How about creating multiple website locally on your PC

[@anthonmyl]

it works onely whith Worpress business plan ? I cant install plugins....