Method to Create a WordPress Website Without a Domain
So, you want to create a WordPress website but don't want to buy a domain just yet? No worries – you can build a fully functional WordPress site right on your computer! This guide will walk you through the process of setting up WordPress locally, step by step, without needing a domain name or hosting.
So, you want to create a WordPress website but don't want to buy a domain just yet? No worries – you can build a fully functional WordPress site right on your computer! This guide will walk you through the process of setting up WordPress locally, step by step, without needing a domain name or hosting.
Why Set Up WordPress Locally?
Before we jump into the technical stuff, let’s quickly talk about why setting up WordPress on your computer is a great idea:- Experiment with no pressure: You can play around with themes, plugins, and content without worrying about messing up a live website.
- Faster development: Working on your computer is much quicker than constantly uploading files to a server.
- No costs: You can get your site up and running without paying for hosting or a domain.
- Full control: You get to customize everything as much as you want before launching it for the world to see.
Step 1: Install a Local Server (XAMPP or MAMP)
To run WordPress locally, we need a server on your computer. This is where XAMPP or MAMP come into play. These are free tools that set up Apache, MySQL, and PHP on your computer so you can run WordPress.How to Install XAMPP or MAMP:
- Download XAMPP or MAMP:
- Go to XAMPP’s website or MAMP’s website to download the right version for your system (Windows or Mac).
- Install XAMPP or MAMP:
- Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
- After installation, open the XAMPP or MAMP control panel.
- Start Apache and MySQL:
- In XAMPP, click “Start” next to Apache and MySQL. This will start the server that powers your WordPress site.
- In MAMP, click “Start Servers.”
Step 2: Create a Database for WordPress
WordPress stores all your data (posts, pages, settings) in a database. So, we need to create one.How to Create a WordPress Database:
- Open phpMyAdmin:
- In your web browser, type http://localhost/phpmyadmin. This opens a tool called phpMyAdmin, which helps you manage databases.
- Create a New Database:
- Click on the “Databases” tab at the top.
- Type a name for your database (something like wordpress_db).
- Choose utf8_general_ci for collation and click Create.
Step 3: Download and Install WordPress
Next, let’s get WordPress onto your computer.How to Install WordPress Locally:
- Download WordPress:
- Head over to WordPress.org and download the latest version of WordPress.
- Extract WordPress Files:
- Once the file is downloaded, extract it.
- Move the WordPress folder to the htdocs directory within your XAMPP folder (on Windows, it’s usually C:\xampp\htdocs; on Mac, it’s /Applications/XAMPP/htdocs).
- Rename the Folder (Optional):
- If you like, you can rename the folder to something like mywebsite to make it easier to remember.
Step 4: Set Up WordPress
Now comes the fun part – setting up WordPress itself!How to Set Up WordPress:
- Open WordPress in Your Browser:
- Go to http://localhost/mywebsite (or whatever you named the folder) in your browser.
- Choose Your Language:
- Select your preferred language and click Continue.
- Enter Database Information:
- WordPress will ask for some database details. Here’s what you need to enter:
- Database Name: wordpress_db (or the name you gave it earlier).
- Username: root (this is the default for local installations).
- Password: Leave it blank (again, this is the default).
- Database Host: localhost.
- Table Prefix: Leave as wp_.
- Click Submit and then Run the Installation.
- WordPress will ask for some database details. Here’s what you need to enter:
Step 5: Finish Installing WordPress
You’re almost done! Now, let’s complete the WordPress setup.WordPress Setup:
- Site Info:
- Fill in your Site Title, choose a Username and Password, and enter your Email Address.
- Install WordPress:
- Click Install WordPress.
- Log In:
- Once the installation is finished, click Log In to access your WordPress admin dashboard.
Step 6: (Optional) Set Up a Custom Local Domain
If you’d prefer to access your local WordPress site with a custom domain (like mywebsite.local instead of localhost), you can do that too. Here’s how:How to Set Up a Local Domain:
- Edit Your Hosts File:
- On Windows, go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.
- On Mac, go to /etc/hosts.
- Add this line to the end of the file:
lua
Copy code
127.0.0.1 mywebsite.local - Save the file.
- Update WordPress URL:
- Open your WordPress dashboard.
- Go to Settings > General.
- Change both the WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to http://mywebsite.local.
- Click Save Changes.
Step 7: Start Customizing Your Website
Now that you have WordPress running locally, it’s time to start building your site! Here are a few things you can do:- Choose a theme: Pick a free or premium WordPress theme to design your site.
- Install plugins: Add useful features like contact forms, SEO tools, and security plugins.
- Create content: Add pages, posts, and media to your site.
Why Set Up WordPress Locally?
Creating a local WordPress site offers a ton of benefits:- Test and experiment freely: You can try out different things without worrying about breaking a live website.
- Speed: Your local site loads faster, making it easier to test and tweak.
- Free: You don’t have to pay for hosting or a domain until you’re ready to go live.
- Full control: You have complete control over your site’s setup and customization.
Conclusion
Setting up a WordPress website without a domain is easy, and it’s a great way to test things out before committing to a live website. Whether you're building a portfolio, blog, or business site, using a local setup gives you the freedom to experiment at your own pace.Once you're ready to share your site with the world, just migrate it to a hosting provider, buy a domain, and you’re good to go.
Happy website building!
