Troubleshooting a Blank Page When Importing a WordPress Site Using XAMPP

Migrating a WordPress website locally using XAMPP is a common practice for development, testing, or backup purposes. However, encountering a blank or white page after completing the import process can be frustrating. If you’ve followed the standard steps but still see a blank page when accessing your site via localhost, here’s a comprehensive guide to identify potential issues and get your site running smoothly.

Step-by-Step Process for Importing WordPress Site via XAMPP

1. Import the Database Correctly

• Export your live site’s database using tools like phpMyAdmin.
• In phpMyAdmin, create a new database for your local WordPress?” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>WordPress installation and import the exported SQL file.
• Ensure that the import completes successfully without errors.

2. Transfer WordPress?” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>WordPress Files

• Copy all your WordPress?” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>WordPress core files and themes/plugins to the htdocs folder within your XAMPP installation directory.
• Maintain the same directory structure or place the files under a dedicated folder, e.g., localhost/mywebsite.

3. Update the wp-config.php File

• Locate the wp-config.php file in your WordPress files.
• Configure database connection settings:
• DB_NAME should match your local database name.
• DB_USER and DB_PASSWORD should correspond to your local MySQL user credentials.
• Set DB_HOST to "localhost".

php
define('DB_NAME', 'your_local_db_name');
define('DB_USER', 'your_mysql_user');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_mysql_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

4. Assign Proper User Privileges

• In phpMyAdmin, ensure that your database user has all privileges (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, etc.).
• Grant privileges explicitly to avoid permission issues during site access.

Common Pitfalls and How to Address Them

A. Site Displays a White or Blank Page

A blank page often indicates a PHP error. To diagnose the problem:

• Enable Debugging Mode:
  Open your wp-config.php file and add or modify the following lines:

php
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

Refresh the page. PHP errors will be logged in the `