How to Install WAMP Server on Windows (Complete Beginner Guide)

WAMP Server is one of the easiest ways to run PHP and MySQL websites locally on a Windows computer. This guide explains what you need before installing WAMP, where to download it, and how to set it up correctly.

What Is WAMP Server?

WAMP stands for Windows, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. It creates a local web server on your PC so you can develop and test websites without using internet hosting.

WAMP is commonly used by:

PHP developers
Web designers
Students learning web development
Small businesses testing internal tools

Things to Install Before WAMP Server

Before installing WAMP Server, make sure your Windows system has the following required components.

1. Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (IMPORTANT)

WAMP Server will not work without the correct Visual C++ packages.

Download and install ALL required versions from Microsoft:

Visual C++ 2012
Visual C++ 2013
Visual C++ 2015–2022 (x64)

Official download page:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist

After installing, restart your computer.

Where to Download WAMP Server

Always download WAMP Server from the official website to avoid malware or broken installers.

Official WAMP Server website:

https://www.wampserver.com

OR
https://wampserver.aviatechno.net

Choose the 64-bit version if your Windows is 64-bit (which most modern systems are).

How to Install WAMP Server (Step by Step)

Run the WAMP installer as Administrator
Choose installation folder (default C:\wamp64 is recommended)
Allow Apache and MySQL through Windows Firewall
Select default browser (optional)
Complete the installation

After installation, launch WAMP Server. The tray icon color indicates status:

Green – All services running correctly
Orange – Some services running
Red – Services not running

Testing WAMP Installation

Open your browser and visit:

http://localhost

If you see the WAMP dashboard, your installation is successful.

Your local website files are stored in:

C:\wamp64\www\

Common Installation Problems and Fixes

Apache Not Starting

This usually happens due to port 80 conflicts. Disable IIS or other web servers using the same port.

Red or Orange WAMP Icon

Check if MySQL or MariaDB is running. Verify Visual C++ packages are installed correctly.

403 Forbidden Error

This is caused by incorrect Apache directory permissions. Ensure WAMP default settings are not modified incorrectly.

Conclusion

Installing WAMP Server correctly is the foundation of a stable local web development environment on Windows. By installing the required Visual C++ packages and downloading WAMP from the official source, you can avoid most common problems.

Once installed, WAMP allows you to develop PHP websites, test applications, and even run LAN-based tools with ease and reliability.

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