Written by Admin on 2025-05-06

How to Download WordPress Site to Localhost

If you're looking to create a local test environment for your WordPress site, downloading it to your localhost is an excellent choice. This method enables you to work with your site offline on your computer without the need for an internet connection.

In this article, we'll show you how to download your WordPress site to your localhost step-by-step.

Requirements

To download your WordPress site to your localhost, you'll need the following:

• A Localhost server: WampServer or XAMPP
• A code editor: Notepad++, Sublime Text, or Visual Studio Code
• FTP client: FileZilla or WinSCP
• Access to your hosting server.

Step 1: Create a Backup of your WordPress Site

Before we go any further, It's crucial to create a backup of your WordPress site so that you don't lose any data during the process.

To do this, log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to "Tools" > "Export." Tick the "All content" option and click on "Download Export File."

Step 2: Set Up Localhost Server

Next, you need to download and install your preferred localhost server. We recommend using WampServer or XAMPP. Follow the installation process and make sure you choose the correct settings.

Once the installation is complete, open your localhost and create a new database by clicking on "phpMyAdmin." Enter a database name, username, and password, and click on "Create."

Step 3: Download your WordPress Site Files

Connect to your hosting server via FTP using an FTP client like FileZilla or WinSCP. Once connected, navigate to the root directory of your WordPress site (usually "public_html" or "www").

Select all the files in your WordPress site directory, right-click, and select "Download." This process may take several minutes, depending on the size of your site.

Step 4: Import your WordPress Site Database

Now that you have downloaded all your WordPress files, you need to import your site's database to your localhost server.

Open the "phpMyAdmin" panel and click on the database you created in Step 2. Next, click on "Import" and select the backup file you created in Step 1. Finally, click on "Go."

Step 5: Configure WordPress on Localhost

After importing the database, you need to configure your WordPress site on localhost.

Open the downloaded WordPress files and locate the "wp-config-sample.php" file. Rename the file to "wp-config.php." Open the file with a code editor and update the following variables:

define('DB_NAME', 'database_name_here'); define('DB_USER', 'username_here'); define('DB_PASSWORD', 'password_here'); define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

Replace the database name, username, and password with the ones you created in Step 2.

Step 6: Transfer WordPress Files to Localhost Server

Now that you have configured your WordPress site on localhost, you need to transfer your downloaded WordPress files to your localhost server.

Navigate to the root directory of your localhost server (usually "c:\wamp\www" or "c:\xampp\htdocs"). Create a new folder and rename it to your WordPress site's name. Open the folder and paste all the downloaded WordPress files into it.

Step 7: Access Your WordPress Site on Localhost

Open your preferred web browser and type in "http://localhost/your-wordpress-site-name." If everything is set up correctly, you should see your WordPress website on your localhost server.

Congratulations! You have successfully downloaded your WordPress site to localhost and set up a local test environment.

Conclusion

In this article, we've shown you how to download your WordPress site to localhost step-by-step. This process can be a little tricky for beginners, but once you understand the steps, it's relatively easy. Remember, creating a test environment on localhost is an excellent way to experiment with your site offline without risking any damage to your live site.