Would you like to configure a custom domain name for your XAMPP/WAMP server on a Windows system? Follow these steps to make the switch from "localhost" to your desired domain:
Update the Hosts File:
- Locate the "hosts" file on your computer. Typically, it is located in "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\".
- Open the file using a text editor with administrator privileges (e.g., Notepad with "Run as administrator").
- Add a new entry at the end of the file in this format: "127.0.0.1 yourdomain.com", where "yourdomain.com" is the custom domain you want to use.
- Save the changes and close the text editor.
Configure XAMPP/WAMP:
- For XAMPP, navigate to the "httpd-vhosts.conf" file. It is usually located in "C:\xampp\apache\conf\extra\".
- For WAMP, look for the "httpd-vhosts.conf" file in "C:\wamp\bin\apache\apacheX.X.X\conf\extra\", where "X.X.X" represents the Apache version number.
- Open the "httpd-vhosts.conf" file with a text editor.
- Add a new virtual host entry to map your custom domain to the local server. The entry should look like this:
<VirtualHost *:80> ServerName yourdomain.com DocumentRoot "C:/xampp/htdocs" # Adjust this path if you have a different document root </VirtualHost>
Save your modifications and then proceed to close the text editor.
Restart Apache:
- Open XAMPP/WAMP control panel and stop Apache.
- Start Apache again to apply the changes.
Update the Windows DNS Resolver Cache:
- Open Command Prompt with administrator privileges (search for "cmd," right-click, and choose "Run as administrator").
- Enter the following command to flush the DNS resolver cache:
ipconfig /flushdns
Test Your Custom Domain:
- Open a web browser and enter "http://yourdomain.com" (replace "yourdomain.com" with your actual custom domain) in the address bar.
- If everything is set up correctly, you should see your local website served by XAMPP/WAMP under the custom domain.
While it is possible to create a domain name similar to "localhost" without any extensions, experts recommend utilizing ".local" or ".test" extensions to minimize the risk of conflicts. Implementing these extensions ensures a more secure and trouble-free configuration.
Remember that this configuration is local and will only work on your machine. To access your custom domain from other devices, you'll need to set up DNS resolution or make appropriate changes to the "hosts" file on those devices.
Congratulations! You have successfully changed your XAMPP/WAMP server's domain from "localhost" to a custom domain name on your Windows system.
