How to install Grav CMS in XAMPP Windows 11

Grav CMS focuses on modernity and speed. It is a simple yet powerful content management system available today. It was developed by Andy Miller, Djamil Legato, and Matias Griese and was initially released on July 30, 2014.

For this post, we will be making a new website using this free and amazing CMS which is absolutely for free. But before anything else, make sure to download the two important files below. I also provided the download links for your convenience.

Requirements:

• XAMPP 8.0.x, download here [via Mediafire]
• Grav-admin-v1.7.37.1, download here [via Mediafire]

Assuming that you already downloaded the files above, continue doing the tutorials below.

Table of Contents

• XAMPP installation on Windows 11
• Running XAMPP Control Panel's Apache and MySQL
• Copying Grav installer to HTDOCS folder
• Grav installation via Localhost or 127.0.0.1
• Accessing Grav website home page
• Accessing Grav website ADMIN account

Here are the steps on how to install Grav CMS in XAMPP using your Windows 11 pc

XAMPP installation on Windows 11

1. Open your XAMPP downloaded file. If a Question appears, just press YES to proceed.

2. If a warning also appears about User Account Control (UAC), click OK to continue.

3. In the Setup - XAMPP, click NEXT.

4. In the Select Components, click NEXT also.

5. In the Installation folder, do not change it. Click NEXT again to proceed.

6. Inside Language, select English (you can also select your own local language). Click NEXT again.

7. You are now ready to install your Grav CMS. Click NEXT to start.

8. Wait for the unpacking and the installation to finish.

9. When done, uncheck the "Do you want to start the Control Panel now?" and click Finish to exit.

Running XAMPP Control Panel's Apache and MySQL

1. To run xampp, you can either its shortcut icon your desktop or go to Start and search for xampp and then press ENTER.

2. Inside XAMPP Control Panel, click the Start buttons for Apache and MySQL.

3. When Apache and MySQL are running, you will see Stop on both buttons.

4. If a Windows Security Alert appears, click on Allow access to exit.

Copying Grav installer to HTDOCS folder

1. Go to the Grav zip file that you downloaded earlier. Extract it and name your extracted folder as "grav" for this tutorial. Now, go to Start and search for "this pc" and press ENTER.

2. Inside This PC, click your C drive.

3. Inside, find and click on xampp folder.

4. Inside xampp, click on htdocs.

5. Paste your grav folder inside htdocs.

Grav installation via Localhost or 127.0.0.1

1. Grav do not requires making a database to be able to start its installation unlike other free CMS. So, let's start installing our website. Open your internet browser and enter 127.0.0.1/grav or localhost/grav and press ENTER.

2. If the PHP Modules: There were problems with required modules: gd - PHP GD (Image Manipulation Library) is required but not installed appears, then, do the simple steps below to fix it.

How to fix GD error during Grav installation

• Go to c:\xampp\php and find php.ini
• Right-click open with Notepad
• Find ";extension=gd"
• From ;extension=gd change it to extension=gd
• Save Notepad
• Restart XAMPP
• Restart Grav Installation

3. Assuming that there is no error or you fixed the GD error above. Type in the needed details for your admin account below. Type your username, I used "admin" for this tutorial, type your email and password. When done, press Create User to proceed.

4. Done! You are automatically login inside your admin account. And your Grav website is also created instantly.

Accessing Grav website home page

1. To view your Grav website homepage, just go to 127.0.0.1/grav or localhost/grav.

Accessing Grav website ADMIN account

1. To login your admin account, just go to 127.0.0.1/grav/admin. Type your username and password. Press Login to proceed.

2. Inside your administration page account, you will see Dashboard, Configuration, Accounts, Pages, Plugins, Themes, and Tools links that only as Administrator of your website can see and access. You can start modifying your Grav website to make it look more professional and cool. You can also start making pages or articles to have your website some contents. And if you wish to make your website accessible online, you can upload it later on a live or online web hosting. If you cannot afford a paid one, you can register for a free web hosting. There are a lot of these available today.

Done! You have successfully created a free website using Grav CMS. If you have a question, you can leave a comment below. Thank you.