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Add Your Website To Local With Flywheel: A Step-by-Step Guide

9 min read 11-15- 2024
Add Your Website To Local With Flywheel: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Adding your website to Local with Flywheel can be a game changer for managing your WordPress sites. Whether you’re a freelance developer, an agency, or just someone looking to streamline your workflow, Local with Flywheel provides an intuitive platform for managing your sites locally. This step-by-step guide will help you get started quickly and efficiently.

What is Local with Flywheel? 🛠️

Local by Flywheel is a powerful local development tool tailored for WordPress users. It allows you to create and manage your WordPress sites locally, which can be beneficial for testing, development, and staging before going live. With features that enhance your workflow, it ensures a smooth transition from local development to live deployment.

Benefits of Using Local by Flywheel 🌟

  • Speed: Local allows for quick setup and faster local development processes.
  • Customizable Environments: Create different environments for various projects.
  • Easy Collaboration: Share your local sites with clients or team members effortlessly.
  • One-Click Provisioning: Install WordPress with one click for faster setups.

Getting Started with Local by Flywheel 🚀

Step 1: Download and Install Local by Flywheel

  1. Visit the Local Website: Go to the official Local by Flywheel website.
  2. Download the Software: Choose the version that matches your operating system (Windows, Mac).
  3. Install: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Step 2: Create a New Local Site 🖥️

  1. Open Local: After installation, open the Local application.
  2. Click on “Create a New Site”: This button is typically located on the dashboard.
  3. Fill Out Site Details: Enter your site name, choose your preferred environment, and set up WordPress installation options.

Step 3: Set Up WordPress

  1. Select Your Preferences: Choose PHP version, web server type (Apache or Nginx), and MySQL version.
  2. Enter WordPress Admin Credentials: Fill in the username, password, and email for the WordPress admin account.
  3. Complete Setup: Click “Add Site” to finish the process.

Important Note:

"Make sure to remember your WordPress admin credentials, as you'll need them to log in to your WordPress dashboard later."

Step 4: Access Your Local Site 🌐

  1. Start the Site: Click on the “Start Site” button.
  2. Open Site: Once the site is running, you can view it in your browser by clicking the provided URL.

Step 5: Customizing Your Site

Now that you have your local site running, it’s time to customize it according to your needs. You can:

  • Install Themes: Go to Appearance > Themes in your WordPress dashboard to add and activate themes.
  • Add Plugins: Navigate to Plugins > Add New to install necessary plugins for your site.

Step 6: Deploying Your Site Live 🌍

Once you are satisfied with your local development, you can deploy the site live. Local provides a seamless way to do this.

  1. Open the Local Dashboard: Navigate to your site on the Local dashboard.
  2. Select “Push to Flywheel” or “Deploy”: Choose the option based on your hosting preference.
  3. Follow the Prompts: Fill out any necessary details for deployment and confirm.

Step 7: Sync Your Live Site With Local

If you are making updates on your live site and want to sync those changes back to your local version, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Local Dashboard: Click on your live site.
  2. Select “Pull from Flywheel”: This will pull the latest updates from the live site to your local version.

Step 8: Backup Your Local Site 🗂️

It’s crucial to backup your local site regularly. Here's how:

  1. Go to the Local Dashboard.
  2. Click on Your Site: Select the site you want to backup.
  3. Select “Export”: This will allow you to save your site locally.

Important Note:

"Always keep a backup of your site to prevent data loss. Use Local's export feature regularly."

Troubleshooting Common Issues 🔧

Sometimes, you may encounter issues while using Local by Flywheel. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:

Issue 1: Site Not Starting

  • Solution: Ensure that no other applications are using the same port. You can change the port by going to the site settings.

Issue 2: Slow Performance

  • Solution: Check your local machine's resources. Ensure that you have enough memory and processing power allocated to Local.

Issue 3: Plugins Not Working

  • Solution: Deactivate and reactivate the plugins. Ensure they are compatible with your WordPress version.

Additional Features of Local by Flywheel 🌈

1. Site Cloning

You can clone your local sites for testing or backup purposes. Simply right-click on the site and select “Clone”. This will create an exact copy of your site.

2. SSL Certificate

Local allows you to create self-signed SSL certificates for local development. This is particularly useful for testing HTTPS features before going live.

3. Live Links

With Local, you can create temporary public URLs to share your local site with clients or colleagues. This is particularly handy for getting feedback during the development process.

4. Database Management

You have the option to manage your database easily through PHPMyAdmin or Adminer directly from the Local dashboard.

Conclusion

Adding your website to Local by Flywheel is a straightforward process that significantly enhances your WordPress development workflow. With the ability to create, customize, and deploy websites seamlessly, you'll find this tool invaluable for both personal and professional projects. Whether you’re working alone or in a team, Local by Flywheel provides all the necessary features to help you succeed. So go ahead, give it a try, and experience the benefits of local development for yourself! 🌟

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