How To: Install XAMPP on Windows

XAMPP is the most popular PHP development environment.

XAMPP is a completely free, easy to install Apache distribution containing MariaDB, PHP, and Perl. The XAMPP open source package has been set up to be incredibly easy to install and to use.

  1. Go to the official XAMPP website and download the latest version of XAMPP for Windows.

    Official XAMPP website

  2. Launch XAMPP installer xampp–win32­x.x.x­x­xxxx­installer.exe.

  3. Some antivirus applications might interfere in the XAMPP installation process. So it is recommended to stop your antivirus application during the installation procedure. After you have stopped the antivirus, select Yes to continue.

    Disable antivirus before installing XAMPP

  4. Confirm that you will avoid installing the software to C:\Program Files and press OK. User Account Control (UAC) might block some XAMPP functions when installing to C:\Program Files, so it is recommended to install XAMPP to the default folder.

    Avoid installing XAMPP to Program Files

  5. Click Next to start the procedure.

    Launching XAMPP installation procedure

  6. Select all components and then click Next.

    Selecting XAMPP components

  7. Select the folder to install XAMPP and click Next. It is recommended to install the software into the default folder.

    Choosing the default folder to install XAMPP

  8. Untick the Learn more about Bitnami for XAMPP checkbox and click Next.

    Untick the Learn more about Bitnami for XAMPP checkbox

  9. Click Next to launch installation.

    Launching installation

  10. Wait until the process is finished.

    Installing XAMPP

  11. Check that the Do you want to start the Control Panel now? checkbox is ticked and click Finish.

    Launching XAMPP

  12. After launching XAMPP Control Panel select Config to open XAMPP settings.

    XAMPP settings

  13. Tick the Apache and MySQL checkboxes in the Autostart of modules section and then click Save.

    Configuring autostart for Apache and MySQL

  14. Click Quit to exit the panel and to apply changes.

    Applying Apache and MySQL settings

  15. Create a desktop shortcut and then launch the software.

    Create a desktop shortcut for XAMPP

  16. Green background around Apache and MySQL marks that these modules work correctly

    Checking Apache and MySQL

  17. In the browser address line enter localhost. If you see the Welcome to XAMPP for Windows! notification, the environment is set up and ready for work.

    Checking XAMPP