Once the installation finishes, check the box to launch the . This dashboard serves as your central command center. Starting Modules
You will now see your own PHP output. Congratulations—you’ve moved from the "Welcome to XAMPP" screen to active development.
To run a basic PHP website or a content management system like WordPress, you need to start the two primary modules:
at C:\xampp\apache\conf\extra\httpd-vhosts.conf . Add a block like this:
If you just finished installing XAMPP and are seeing the "Welcome" dashboard, you have successfully set up your local development environment! This stack includes the server, MariaDB database, and interpreters for PHP and Perl , allowing you to host and test websites locally on your Windows 10 machine. Getting Started with XAMPP welcome to xampp for windows 10
You run the installer. Windows asks you whether you’ll allow this app to make changes. You say yes, and the setup begins. Components list: Apache, MySQL (or MariaDB now), FileZilla, Mercury Mail, Tomcat. You deselect the mail server; you’ll summon it only when you need ancient rituals. The installer copies files, writes configuration, and paints an icon onto your desktop like a landmark.
If you’re starting with web development or need a reliable local testing environment, XAMPP is the perfect solution. This powerful, free, and open-source software package provides everything you need to run a full web server stack on your Windows 10 computer.
Require local
: To run PHP scripts from the Windows Command Prompt, you should add PHP to your Environment Variables . Once the installation finishes, check the box to launch the
If MySQL fails, another database service might be running on port 3306. Conclusion
| Component | Minimum Recommendation | Optimal Recommendation | |-----------|------------------------|------------------------| | Operating System | Windows 10 | Windows 11 | | Memory (RAM) | 2GB | 8GB+ | | Disk Space | 5GB | 20GB+ (SSD preferred) |
You script startup tasks, keep backups of htdocs and databases, and create a small README that begins with “Start XAMPP then …” You set environment variables, add Composer and Node to PATH, and weave the stack into your daily flow. XAMPP stops being a toy and becomes a workshop: a place where prototypes are born, tests are run, and confidence grows.
For Windows 10 users, XAMPP serves as an indispensable tool that saves you time and frustration. You no longer need to manually install and configure Apache, PHP, and MySQL separately—XAMPP bundles everything into a single, easy-to-use installer. This stack includes the server, MariaDB database, and
You’re now ready to see the famous message. In the XAMPP Control Panel:
The default path is C:\xampp . Keeping XAMPP in the root directory ensures that Apache has the necessary write permissions to run smoothly without Windows 10 security blocks. 5. Complete the Setup
"; ?> Use code with caution. Save the file inside C:\xampp\htdocs\my_project\ .
XAMPP comes configured with security settings that are convenient for development but dangerous for live websites. For example, the MySQL root account has no password by default, and all components are set to be as open and accessible as possible for easy development.