How to Install PrestaShop on Windows 11

If you're looking to start an online store, then you might want to consider PrestaShop. It's a free, open-source eCommerce platform that's easy to install and use. In this tutorial, we'll show you how to install PrestaShop on Windows 11, step by step.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, there are a few things you need to have and know:

  • A Windows 11 computer
  • A web server (Apache or Nginx)
  • PHP version 7.1 or later
  • A MySQL or MariaDB server
  • A web browser
  • Basic understanding of the command line interface (CLI) and web servers

Step 1: Download PrestaShop

To download PrestaShop, visit their website at https://www.prestashop.com/. Click on the "Download" button, and choose the latest stable version.

Step 2: Install a Web Server

To install Apache or Nginx on Windows 11, follow these steps:

  1. Open PowerShell by right-clicking on the start menu and selecting "Windows PowerShell."
  2. Type the following command to install the Apache web server:
PS C:\Users\username> Install-WindowsFeature Web-Server -IncludeManagementTools
  1. Type the following command to install PHP:
PS C:\Users\username> Install-WindowsFeature php
  1. Type the following command to install the MySQL/MariaDB server:
PS C:\Users\username> Install-WindowsFeature MySQLServer

Step 3: Configure the Server

Now that you have installed the web server and the database server, you need to configure them properly.

  1. Open the Apache configuration file located in C:\Program Files\Apache Group\Apache2\conf\httpd.conf with a text editor.
  2. Find the line that says #LoadModule rewrite_module modules/mod_rewrite.so and remove the # in front of it to enable URL rewriting.
  3. Save and close the file.
  4. Restart the Apache server by typing the following command in PowerShell:
PS C:\Users\username> Restart-Service apache2.2

Step 4: Create a Database

  1. Open the MySQL/MariaDB prompt by typing the following command in PowerShell:
PS C:\Users\username> mysql -u root -p
  1. Enter your root password when prompted.
  2. Type the following command to create a new database:
mysql> CREATE DATABASE prestashop;
  1. Type the following command to create a new user and grant it access to the prestashop database:
mysql> GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON prestashop.* TO 'prestashop_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password';
  1. Replace new_password with a secure password of your choice.

Step 5: Install PrestaShop

  1. Extract the PrestaShop archive you downloaded in Step 1 to C:\Apache24\htdocs\prestashop.
  2. Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost/prestashop.
  3. Choose your language and click "Next."
  4. Read and agree to the license agreement, then click "Next."
  5. The installation wizard will check your server configuration. Fix any errors that are displayed.
  6. Enter your database details:
  • Database Server Address: localhost
  • Database Server Login: prestashop_user
  • Database Server Password: <new_password>
  • Database Name: prestashop
  1. Choose your store's currency, and set up an administrator account.
  2. Click "Next" to finish the installation.
  3. Remove the install folder from the PrestaShop directory to prevent security issues.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed PrestaShop on your Windows 11 computer. Now you can start setting up your online store and customizing its design.