How to Install ExpressionEngine on XAMPP in Windows

Updated:

June 5, 2023

by

Meer Basit

Do you want to install ExpressionEngine on XAMPP localhost in Windows? You’re in the right place.

In this tutorial, I will guide you step-by-step on How to download and extract free version of ExpressionEngine on XAMPP htdocs directory, create a database for ExpressionEngine on phpMyAdmin, and install ExpressionEngine on XAMPP server.

ExpressionEngine is an open-source CMS(Content Management System). It offers security, flexibility, add-ons, and plenty of powerful features to manage websites.

Follow this step-by-step tutorial to install XAMPP in Windows:

How to Install & Set Up XAMPP on Windows

If you have not set root password on phpMyAdmin, follow this tutorial:

How to Set Root Password on phpMyAdmin

Following topics will be covered in this tutorial:

How to Download & Extract ExpressionEngine to XAMPP
How to Create a Database for ExpressionEngine on phpMyAdmin
How to Install ExpressionEngine on XAMPP in Windows

01. Download & Extract ExpressionEngine to XAMPP

In this section, I will guide you on how to download ExpressionEngine to your computer and then how to extract and copy it to XAMPP htdocs directory.

Open the ExpressionEngine Website.
Click on the Free Download button to save the ExpressionEngine to your computer in a zip file.

Open the ExpressionEngine Website. Click on the Free Download button to save the ExpressionEngine to your computer in a zip file.

Right-click on the ExpressionEngine Zip File and click on the Extract to ExpressionEngine. Here the current version of ExpressionEngine is 7.2.15.

Right-click on the ExpressionEngine Zip File and click on the Extract to ExpressionEngine. Here the current version of ExpressionEngine is 7.2.15.

Right-click on the Extracted folder and click on the Rename.

Right-click on the Extracted folder and click on the Rename.

I have renamed the ExpressionEngine folder to techgeeks. Right-click on the folder and click on the Copy.

Right-click on the folder and click on the Copy.

Now go ahead and open the XAMPP folder.

Open the htdocs directory. The htdocs is the root directory of XAMPP where you place and create sites and applications.

In the htdocs directory right-click on the white space and click on the Paste to copy ExpressionEngine here.

In the htdocs directory right-click on the white space and click on the Paste to copy ExpressionEngine here.

You can see here that the ExpressionEngine folder techgeeks is copied in the htdocs directory.

the ExpressionEngine folder techgeeks is copied in the htdocs directory.

02. How to Create a Database for ExpressionEngine on phpMyAdmin

In this section, I will guide you on how to create a database for ExpressionEngine on phpMyAdmin where the data will be stored in the tables.

Open XAMPP localhost (http://localhost) on your browser.
Click on the phpMyAdmin tab to open the phpMyAdmin. You can directly open phpMyAdmin using this URL: http://localhost/phpmyadmin/.

Open XAMPP localhost (http://localhost) on your browser. Click on the phpMyAdmin tab to open the phpMyAdmin.

Click on the New to create a new database on phpMyAdmin.
On the Create database section enter your database name. I have entered techgeeks.
Click on the Create button.

Click on the New to create a new database on phpMyAdmin. Enter your database name. Click on the Create button

You can see at the left side that a new database techgeeks for ExpressionEngine site is successfully created. The tables in the database will be created automatically during the ExpressionEngine installation.

a new database techgeeks for ExpressionEngine site is successfully created.

03. How to Install ExpressionEngine on XAMPP

In this section, I will guide you on how to install ExpressionEngine on XAMPP server in Windows.

Browse the admin.php file of ExpressionEngine like this: http://localhost/site_name/admin.php, for example, http://localhost/techgeeks/admin.php. The ExpressionEngine installation form will be opened.

In the DB Server Address, enter localhost.
In the DB Name, enter the database name that you had created on phpMyAdmin.
In the DB Username, enter root (if you haven’t changed it to some other name).
In the DB Password, enter the password of DB Username. The DB Username & DB Password are used to login phpMyAdmin. If you haven’t set password for DB Username, leave the DB Password field empty.
The Table Prefix is added to the beginning of database table names like exp_content, exp_users, etc. You can change, if you wish.
Tick on Install default theme.

ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT

Enter your Email Address.
Enter a Username for your ExpressionEngine admin account.
Enter a Password for your Username.

Tick on the I agree to the license Terms and Conditions.

Click on the Install button.

Browse the admin.php file of ExpressionEngine like this: http://localhost/site_name/admin.php. Fill the ExpressionEngine installation details like DB Server address, database name, username, table prefix, etc.

After ExpressionEngine is installed on XAMPP, you will be redirected to the admin section of ExpressionEngine. You can access the ExpressionEngine admin section via this URL on localhost like this: http://localhost/techgeeks/admin.php, replace techgeeks with your site folder name.

Enter your Username and Password.
Click on the Log In button.

Enter your Username and Password. Click on the Log In button.

This is how the Administrator section of ExpressionEngine looks like. Each and everything related to site is set up, configured, added, removed, managed and controlled from admin section.
You can open the front-end of your site from admin section via Default Site link, located at the top-left corner. To directly open the site (front-end) use this URL: http://localhost/techgeeks/. Replace techgeeks with your site folder name.

Administrator section of ExpressionEngine. You can open the front-end of your site from admin section via Default Site link

This is how your new ExpressionEngine site looks with default theme.

This is how your new ExpressionEngine site looks with default theme.

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Meer Basit

Meer Basit is the founder of Meer’s World. He’s been running the show since launching the blog back in 2018. By background he is a computer scientist. Primarily, he creates content around blogging (WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr), SEO, affiliate programs, earn-online, & eCommerce. In general, he likes traveling, gardening, watching movies, is a passionate cricketer, creative writer, and a GSD lover.