# Copy WordPress website and safely test locally In this tutorial, we'll show you how to create a local copy of your WordPress Web site. If you would like to move your WordPress website from another provider, you will find detailed instructions [here](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/hosting/blogs/wordpress-migration-tips-for-server-migration/ "WordPress Migration: Tips for server migration"). We recommend that you make a copy of your WordPress installation and install it on your computer. You can use this local WordPress installation, for example, to test new plug-ins before installing them on your "real" website. If there are problems, it is always better to identify them on a test system. There you will have enough time for error analysis. The steps described here refer to a Windows system. On Mac or [Linux computers](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/linux-the-cost-effective-alternative-to-windows/ "Linux – the cost-effective alternative to Windows"), however, the process is basically the same. ## Preparations ### Required programs There are various programs that you can use to set up a local WordPress installation. In this article we have focused on the following easy-to-use tools: - Install a local web server and a MySQL database. In this example [XAMPP](https://www.apachefriends.org/de/index.html "XAMPP Website") was installed under the following folder: **C:xampp** --- ### Note This program is also available for Linux and Mac. --- - To download your WordPress files, you need an FTP program such as [FileZilla Client](https://filezilla-project.org/ "FileZilla Client"). - The local WordPress installation must be adapted later. For this purpose we have downloaded the plugin[ Better Search & Replace](https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/better-search-replace/ "Better Search & Replace"). ### Procedure The setup of a local WordPress installation consists of the following steps: - **Download WordPress files:** Download all files from your WordPress installation via an FTP program and copy them to your computer. - **Identify and export database:** You can Control Panelidentify and export the database of your WordPress installation by means of the - **Import and customize database:** You import the exported database and adjust it using XAMPP. - **Customize file:** For WordPress to work locally, you must customize a file - **Customize links:** Use a plugin to adapt the links to your local WordPress installation ## Download WordPress files - Create a new folder under **C:xampphtdocs**. In this example: **wp-test environment** - Remember this folder name. You will need it to log into the local WordPress installation later, for example. - Using an FTP program, copy all the files from your WordPress installation into the folder you created previously. [![Image: Download files with FTP](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/7/6/csm_dateien-herunterladen-01_en_ccb57a22c9.webp "Download files with FTP")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/dateien-herunterladen-01_en.png) Download files with FTP ## Identify database If you don't know which database your WordPress installation is using, then check the IONOS App Center directory first: - Log in to your [IONOS customer account](https://login.ionos.com/ "ionos customer account"). - Click on the **IONOS App Center** Show all applications in **Free Mode** - Make a note of the **database name** of your WordPress installation. Important is the part up to the first point. [![Image: Database of a WordPress installation](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/e/csm_datenbank-identifizieren_en_bc31b778e8.webp "Database of a WordPress installation")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/datenbank-identifizieren_en.png) Database of a WordPress installation ## Export database - Log in to your [IONOS customer account](https://login.ionos.com/ "ionos customer account"). - Click Menu > Hosting in the title bar. - In the Databases tile, click Manage. - Click Open behind the desired database. - On the menu bar, click Export. - To start the export, click OK. - Save the export file to your computer. [![Image: Export database](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/0/5/csm_datenbank-exportieren-03_en_8dcfe7c207.webp "Export database")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/datenbank-exportieren-03_en.png) Export database --- ### Note Make a note of the file name and location of the exported file. You must import these in the next step. --- ## Install WordPress locally All steps in this section require that your local web server (Apache) and the local database (MySQL) are started. If you have stopped these modules in the **XAMPP Control Panel**, you cannot use the local installation. ### Import database You must import the exported database into a new, empty database on the local web server. - Start the **XAMPP Control Panel** program. - Start **Apache** and **MySQL** - For **MySQL**, click **Admin** [![Image: Starting Apache and MySQL](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/a/csm_xampp_apache-mysql-starten-01_9ecc8ce303.webp "Starting Apache and MySQL")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/xampp_apache-mysql-starten-01.png) Starting Apache and MySQL The locally installed PHPMyAdmin is opened. - Click **Databases** - Assign a database name and click Create. [![Image: Create database](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/0/f/csm_datenbank-anlegen-01_en_373c6d6024.webp "Create database")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/datenbank-anlegen-01_en.png) Create database The new database is displayed **in the left pane**. Import the previously exported database into this empty database. - Click on the **new database** - Click **Import** > **Browse** - Select your previously exported database. Click **OK** The database is imported. ##### Customizing the Local Database In the database the entries "**siteurl**" and "**home**" have to be changed manually. Both still contain the URL at which your "correct" WordPress installation can be reached. You must replace this URL with the local URL. - Click left on the table ending with "**options** [![Image: Edit database](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/a/csm_datenbank-editieren-01_en_d13655de09.webp "Edit database")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/datenbank-editieren-01_en.png) Edit database - Click on **Edit** on **siteurl** - Enter the URL where your local WordPress installation is located. In this example: http://localhost/wp-testumgebung/ Note: "wp-test environment" is the name of the folder you created in the section "Download WordPress files". If you have chosen a different folder name, you must enter it here [![Image: Edit database](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/8/2/csm_datenbank-editieren-02_en_2be5c64fc4.webp "Edit database")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/datenbank-editieren-02_en.png) Edit database - Click **OK** - For home, click **Edit** - Enter the URL of your local WordPress installation again. [![Image: Edit database](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/c/c/csm_datenbank-editieren-04_en_f35319a827.webp "Edit database")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/datenbank-editieren-04_en.png) Edit database - Click OK. The changed entries must be in the option\_value column. ### Customize files You must now customize the file wp-config.php. This contains the details of the database of your "correct" WordPress installation. You must replace these with those of your local installation. - Open the folder containing your local WordPress installation. In this example: C:xampphtdoc's **wp-test environment --- ### Note "wp-test environment" is the name of the folder you created in the "Download WordPress files" section. If you have selected a different folder name, you must enter it. --- - Open the file **wp-config.php** in a text editor such as Notepad - Enter the following data: DB\_NAME : Name of the database of your local WordPress installation DB\_USER : root DB\_PASSWORD : leave empty DB\_HOST : localhost [![Image: Edit file](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/3/c/csm_dateien-editieren_wp-config-02_en_5dda020ebe.webp "Edit file")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/dateien-editieren_wp-config-02_en.png) Edit file - Save the file ### Customize links The links of the local WordPress installation still refer to your online installation. With the help of the plugin "[Better Search & Replace](https://de.wordpress.org/plugins/better-search-replace/ "Better Search & Replace")" for a comfortable search & replace this can be changed quickly. - Go to the admin area of your local WordPress installation by entering the corresponding URL in your browser. In this example: http:**//localhost/wp-testumgebung/wp-admin.** --- ### Note "wp-test environment" is the name of the folder you created in the "Download WordPress files" section. If you have selected a different folder name, you must enter it. --- - Install the Better Search & Replace plugin. - Click **Settings** for the plugin you just installed. - Enter the URL of your "online installation" in the **Search for** field. - Activate the option **All - Search and Replace!** - In the **Replace with** field, enter the URL of your local WordPress installation. In this example: http:**//localhost/wp-testumgebung/** - Click **Start**. [![Image: Search & Replace with Better Search & Replace](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/4/2/csm_url-ersetzen-01_en_22a470897e.webp "Search & Replace with Better Search & Replace")](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2020/url-ersetzen-01_en.png) Search & Replace with Better Search & Replace The changes are made. - Click **Settings > Permalinks** - Choose **AcceptPost Name Changes** The local WordPress installation is now set up. ## Using local WordPress installation The following steps are necessary to use the local WordPress installation: - Start the **XAMPP Control Panel** program. - Start **Apache** and **MySQL** - Enter the address of your local installation in the browser. In this example: http://localhost/wp-testumgebung/ or http://localhost/wp-testumgebung/wp-admin Use your local WordPress installation as usual This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/hosting/blogs/copy-wordpress-and-test-locally/](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/hosting/blogs/copy-wordpress-and-test-locally/) for AI/LLM consumption.