How to Use LocalWP to Build WordPress Sites Locally and Migrate to a Web Server with Duplicator

Building your WordPress site locally lets you develop, test, and refine it before it goes live. This guide covers setting up LocalWP for local development, building your site offline, and migrating it to a web server with the Duplicator plugin.

Step 1: Install LocalWP and Set Up a Local Site

1. Go to the LocalWP official website and download the installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
2. Install the application by following the on-screen instructions, then open LocalWP.
3. Click Create a New Site.
4. Choose Create from Scratch and click Continue.
5. Enter a site name (for example, “MyLocalSite”).
6. Choose your preferred environment. LocalWP pre-configures PHP, MySQL, and web server settings for you.
7. Set up your WordPress admin credentials (username, password, and email).
8. Click Add Site. LocalWP creates the environment automatically.

Once the site is created, click Open Site to view it, or Admin Dashboard to log in and start building.

Reference image — replace before publishing16:9

LocalWP main window showing a created site with the Open Site and Admin Dashboard buttons.

Step 2: Develop Your Site Locally

With your local environment ready, build your site the same way you would on a live server: install your theme and plugins, apply custom code, and build pages with Elementor. Working locally means you can develop and test offline without affecting a live site.

Step 3: Prepare for Migration with Duplicator

Once your site is ready to go live, use the Duplicator plugin to package it for migration.

1. In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins » Add New.
2. Search for Duplicator, then click Install Now and Activate.
3. Go to Duplicator » Packages and click Create New.
4. Click Next and let the plugin scan your site.
5. Once the scan finishes, click Build.
6. When the build completes, download the Installer.php file and the .zip archive.

Step 4: Upload Your Site to the Web Server

1. Log in to your hosting cPanel, or connect with an FTP client such as FileZilla.
2. Upload both Installer.php and the .zip archive to your site’s root directory (typically public_html).
3. In your browser, go to https://yourdomain.com/installer.php.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to extract and install your site.
5. Enter the database details provided by your hosting provider and click Next.
6. Let the installation finish, then log in to your live WordPress site.
7. Go to Settings » Permalinks and click Save Changes to refresh your URLs.
8. Check that pages, links, and media all work correctly.
9. Delete installer.php from your server for security.

Caution

Always remove installer.php after migration. Leaving it in place lets anyone who finds the URL reinstall or overwrite your site.

With your site live, activate your theme license and import the demo content if you haven’t already — see Activate Theme License and Import Demo Data.