How to Host WordPress on Windows Server for Dev

Hello Dev, are you tired of using shared hosting services and ready to host your own WordPress website on a Windows server? In this article, we will guide you step-by-step on how to host WordPress on Windows Server. With this setup, you will have full control of your website and can customize it to your liking. We know this can be a daunting task, but don’t worry, we’ll make it easy for you. So, let’s get started!

1. System Requirements

Before you start hosting WordPress on a Windows server, you need to ensure that your system meets the requirements. Below are the minimum system requirements:

Requirements	Minimum
Operating System	Windows Server 2008 R2 or later
RAM	2GB or more
Processor	Dual-core 2.0GHz or higher
Hard Disk Space	40 GB or more

Make sure your system meets these requirements before proceeding to the next step.

2. Install IIS

In order to host WordPress on a Windows server, you need to install Internet Information Services (IIS). Follow the steps below to install IIS:

Step 1: Open Server Manager

Open Server Manager by clicking on the Start button and typing “Server Manager” in the search box. Click on Server Manager from the search results.

Step 2: Add Roles and Features

Click on the “Add roles and features” option from the Dashboard section of Server Manager.

Step 3: Select Role-Based or Feature-Based Installation

Select “Role-based or feature-based installation” and click on Next.

Step 4: Select Server

Select the server where you want to install IIS and click on Next.

Step 5: Select Server Roles

Select “Web Server (IIS)” from the list of Server Roles and click on Next.

Step 6: Select Features

You can also select additional features that you want to install along with IIS. Click on Next when you’re done.

Step 7: Install

Click on Install to start the installation process. Once the installation is complete, close the wizard.

3. Install PHP

After installing IIS, you need to install PHP. Follow the steps below to install PHP:

Step 1: Download PHP

Download the latest version of PHP from the official PHP website – https://www.php.net/downloads.php.

Step 2: Extract PHP

Extract the downloaded PHP file to a folder on your system.

Step 3: Configure PHP

Open the php.ini file located in the PHP folder and configure it according to your requirements. You can refer to the PHP documentation for more information on configuring the php.ini file.

Step 4: Configure IIS

Open the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager and click on “Handler Mappings” under the server name.

Click on “Add Module Mapping” and fill in the following details:

Request path:	*.php
Module:	FastCgiModule
Executable:	C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe (replace with your PHP executable path)

Click on OK to save the changes.

4. Install MySQL

WordPress requires a database to store its content. You can install MySQL on your Windows server to create a database. Follow the steps below to install MySQL:

Step 1: Download MySQL

Download the latest version of MySQL from the official MySQL website – https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/.

Step 2: Install MySQL

Run the MySQL installer and follow the installation wizard.

Step 3: Configure MySQL

During the installation, you will be prompted to set a root password for MySQL. Set a strong password and keep it safe.

5. Install WordPress

Now that you have installed IIS, PHP, and MySQL, you can install WordPress on your Windows server. Follow the steps below to install WordPress:

Step 1: Download WordPress

Download the latest version of WordPress from the official WordPress website – https://wordpress.org/download/.

Step 2: Extract WordPress

Extract the downloaded WordPress file to a folder on your system.

Step 3: Create a Database

Open the MySQL Command Line Client and log in using your root user and password.

Create a new database for WordPress by running the following command:

CREATE DATABASE wordpress;

Replace “wordpress” with your desired database name.

Create a new user and password for the database by running the following command:

CREATE USER ‘wpuser’@’localhost’ IDENTIFIED BY ‘wppassword’;

Replace “wpuser” and “wppassword” with your desired username and password.

Grant all privileges to the user on the database by running the following command:

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON wordpress.* TO ‘wpuser’@’localhost’;

Replace “wordpress” and “wpuser” with your desired database name and username.

Exit the MySQL Command Line Client.

Step 4: Configure WordPress

Open the wp-config-sample.php file located in the WordPress folder and configure it according to your requirements. Rename the file to wp-config.php when you’re done.

Enter the database details you created in the previous step:

Database Name:	wordpress
Username:	wpuser
Password:	wppassword
Database Host:	localhost

Save the wp-config.php file.

Step 5: Install WordPress

Copy the extracted WordPress files to the root directory of your website (usually C:\inetpub\wwwroot). Open your web browser and navigate to your website.

Follow the installation wizard to complete the installation process. Enter your desired website title, admin username and password, and other details as prompted.

Once the installation is complete, you can log in to the WordPress dashboard and start customizing your website!

FAQ

1. Can I use a Windows server for hosting WordPress?

Yes, you can use a Windows server for hosting WordPress. You need to install IIS, PHP, and MySQL on your server to set up WordPress.

2. Is it difficult to host WordPress on a Windows server?

Hosting WordPress on a Windows server can be challenging for beginners, but with our step-by-step guide, you can easily set up WordPress on your Windows server.

3. Do I need any special software to host WordPress on a Windows server?

You need to install Internet Information Services (IIS), PHP, and MySQL on your Windows server to host WordPress.

4. Is Windows server a good choice for hosting WordPress?

Windows server is a good choice for hosting WordPress if you are already using a Windows server for your business or personal needs. However, Linux servers are more commonly used for hosting WordPress because of their better compatibility and cost-effectiveness.

5. Can I customize my WordPress website hosted on a Windows server?

Yes, you can customize your WordPress website hosted on a Windows server as per your requirements. You have full control over your website and can customize it using WordPress themes and plugins.