Install Apache, MySQL, and PHP in Windows [How To]

By Rich on May 18, 2009 (45 Comments)

If you would like to build your own website, you can do it on your own computer without putting it online. This can be useful for a number of reasons:

You don’t have your own web hosting to test with
You want to test a website before you put it online
You want to start a website that helps you organize your life, for example, but you don’t always have access to the internet

In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up Apache, MySQL, and PHP on your computer. This will be the base for your website and will create an environment for you to develop in.

This guide is part of the Turning Your Computer into a Local Web Server series. Learn more from the main page.

Installing WAMP on Your Windows Machine

To install WAMP (Windows Apache, MySQL, and PHP) in Windows, do the following:

Download WAMP here
Double click on the installer
Assuming you haven’t installed WAMP before, click Yes
Click Next
Accept the agreement and click Next
I recommend installing in c:\wamp. Click Next
Choose your shortcut icon preferences and click Next
Click Install
WAMP will now install
If prompted, click Open to choose Windows Explorer and your default browser
Leave the default settings unless you have a need to change them and click Next
Click Finish and launch WAMP Server
WAMP will launch. Wait for the WAMP icon to turn white in the notification area
Going to localhost in your browser will bring up the following admin area menu

Now you’ve learned how to install Apache, MySQL, and PHP on your Windows machine, you may now install WordPress or Drupal in ten minutes or less.

About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

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rsvr85
I’m stuck already lol
I know nothing about this sort of thing and i’m really keen to get this moving.
I’ve installed Wamp as directed above but entering localhost into firefox & IE8 it doesn’t bring up the admin area menu. Any help?!
http://mintywhite.com RSVR85
I’m stuck already lol
I know nothing about this sort of thing and i’m really keen to get this moving.
I’ve installed Wamp as directed above but entering localhost into firefox & IE8 it doesn’t bring up the admin area menu. Any help?!
- http://mintywhite.com/tech/ Rich
  Ensure WAMP is running. If so, look in the notification area. If WAMP’s icon is anything but white (red or yellow), right click the icon and select “Start All Services”
  Does this work?
rsvr85
I’m stuck already lol
I know nothing about this sort of thing and i’m really keen to get this moving.
I’ve installed Wamp as directed above but entering localhost into firefox & IE8 it doesn’t bring up the admin area menu. Any help?!
- http://mintywhite.com/tech/ Rich
  Ensure WAMP is running. If so, look in the notification area. If WAMP’s icon is anything but white (red or yellow), right click the icon and select “Start All Services”
  Does this work?
Rich
Ensure WAMP is running. If so, look in the notification area. If WAMP’s icon is anything but white (red or yellow), right click the icon and select “Start All Services”
Does this work?
rsvr85
It was running and yes, it’s white. I just keep getting the wiki page of localhost when i try in FF and diagnose connection problem in IE8
http://mintywhite.com RSVR85
It was running and yes, it’s white. I just keep getting the wiki page of localhost when i try in FF and diagnose connection problem in IE8
- http://mintywhite.com/tech/ Rich
  Things I would do:
  1. Ensure you are trying http://localhost/
  2. Restart the computer and try again
  3. Check your hosts file and ensure 127.0.0.1 is set to localhost (%SYSTEMROOT%system32driversetc)
  4. Ensure there are no sites running in IIS (if you have IIS installed)
  5. Uninstall and reinstall WAMP
  6. Create an XP VM and install WAMP on it
  7. Eat an ice cream
http://www.rsvr85.wordpress.com rsvr85
It was running and yes, it’s white. I just keep getting the wiki page of localhost when i try in FF and diagnose connection problem in IE8
- http://mintywhite.com/tech/ Rich
  Things I would do:
  1. Ensure you are trying http://localhost/
  2. Restart the computer and try again
  3. Check your hosts file and ensure 127.0.0.1 is set to localhost (%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\drivers\etc)
  4. Ensure there are no sites running in IIS (if you have IIS installed)
  5. Uninstall and reinstall WAMP
  6. Create an XP VM and install WAMP on it
  7. Eat an ice cream
Rich
Things I would do:
1. Ensure you are trying http://localhost/
2. Restart the computer and try again
3. Check your hosts file and ensure 127.0.0.1 is set to localhost (%SYSTEMROOT%system32driversetc)
4. Ensure there are no sites running in IIS (if you have IIS installed)
5. Uninstall and reinstall WAMP
6. Create an XP VM and install WAMP on it
7. Eat an ice cream
rsvr85
I have 2 hosts files, one hosts.msn and one just hosts. They have the same contents but the one without .msn cannot be saved. (i’ve tried taking ownership too)
http://mintywhite.com RSVR85
I have 2 hosts files, one hosts.msn and one just hosts. They have the same contents but the one without .msn cannot be saved. (i’ve tried taking ownership too)
- http://mintywhite.com/tech/ Rich
  Your file should (at least) look like this:
  # Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
  #
  # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
  #
  # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
  # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
  # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
  # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
  # space.
  #
  # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
  # lines or following the machine name denoted by a ‘#’ symbol.
  #
  # For example:
  #
  # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
  # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
  127.0.0.1 localhost
http://www.rsvr85.wordpress.com rsvr85
I have 2 hosts files, one hosts.msn and one just hosts. They have the same contents but the one without .msn cannot be saved. (i’ve tried taking ownership too)
- http://mintywhite.com/tech/ Rich
  Your file should (at least) look like this:
  # Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
  #
  # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
  #
  # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
  # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
  # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
  # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
  # space.
  #
  # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
  # lines or following the machine name denoted by a ‘#’ symbol.
  #
  # For example:
  #
  # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
  # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
  127.0.0.1 localhost
Rich
Your file should (at least) look like this:
# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a ‘#’ symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
127.0.0.1 localhost
rsvr85
They both do! lol
http://mintywhite.com RSVR85
They both do! lol
- http://mintywhite.com/tech/ Rich
  OK. If none of the other suggestions work, I’d take this to the forums and see if anyone can help you there because I have no idea.
http://www.rsvr85.wordpress.com rsvr85
They both do! lol
- http://mintywhite.com/tech/ Rich
  OK. If none of the other suggestions work, I’d take this to the forums and see if anyone can help you there because I have no idea.
Rich
OK. If none of the other suggestions work, I’d take this to the forums and see if anyone can help you there because I have no idea.
Install Apache, MySQL, and PHP
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SVGK Kishore
Hi,
The above WAMP integration for installation on Windows Computer was great.
Keep it up.
SVGK Kishore
SVGK Kishore
Hi,
The above WAMP integration for installation on Windows Computer was great.
Keep it up.
SVGK Kishore
SVGK Kishore
Hi,
The above WAMP integration for installation on Windows Computer was great.
Keep it up.
SVGK Kishore
morph
Wamp is ok but you may also want to install each application as a seperate install and may really want to know what really the configuration looks like because after knowing it you can install it anywhere without worrying about configuration here’s a good link.
Install php on windows
morph
Wamp is ok but you may also want to install each application as a seperate install and may really want to know what really the configuration looks like because after knowing it you can install it anywhere without worrying about configuration here’s a good link.
Install php on windows
morph
Wamp is ok but you may also want to install each application as a seperate install and may really want to know what really the configuration looks like because after knowing it you can install it anywhere without worrying about configuration here’s a good link.
Install php on windows
Arlandi Landjono
Another option is to use UniformServer. It uses the unzip and run approach, so no installation is necessary and you can have several different websites ready to run anytime you want to test them. Just google “UniformServer” for more info and where to download it.
Arlandi Landjono
Another option is to use UniformServer. It uses the unzip and run approach, so no installation is necessary and you can have several different websites ready to run anytime you want to test them. Just google “UniformServer” for more info and where to download it.
Arlandi Landjono
Another option is to use UniformServer. It uses the unzip and run approach, so no installation is necessary and you can have several different websites ready to run anytime you want to test them. Just google “UniformServer” for more info and where to download it.
Rich
Thanks for the tip Arlandi
Rich
Thanks for the tip Arlandi
Rich
Thanks for the tip Arlandi
Alex
hi,
thanks so much for the tip, it really works fine.
I have two name servers, after installing wamp server, where should I input them, so my website can be accessible in the internet?
thanks,
Alex

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