Installing Concrete CMS on localhost
A local installation guide for Concrete CMS (formerly concrete5) to develop and preview your site at http://localhost/concrete.
Concrete CMS (formerly known as concrete5) is a PHP CMS designed for editors, emphasizing in-page editing and block-based content. After local installation, you can safely experiment with themes and extensions.
Prerequisites
- PHP 7.4+ or 8.x (based on the official current version)
- MySQL/MariaDB
- Apache +
mod_rewriteor Nginx
Installation Steps
- Download the installation package from concretecms.org
- Extract to the web root directory
htdocs/concrete/ - Create a database
concrete_localin phpMyAdmin - Access http://localhost/concrete in your browser
- Fill in the database and admin information as prompted by the installation wizard
Database Configuration Example
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Server | localhost |
| Database | concrete_local |
| User | root |
| Password | Local MySQL password |
Common Paths
| Path | Description |
|---|---|
/concrete | Site homepage |
/concrete/index.php/dashboard | Admin dashboard |
/concrete/application/themes | Custom themes |
/concrete/packages | Extension packages |
Local Development Tips
- After installation, you can directly edit blocks on the frontend (admin login required)
- Clear cache when developing themes: Dashboard → Clear Cache
- Compared to WordPress, Concrete focuses more on enterprise sites and in-page editing experience
Frequently Asked Questions
500 Error on Installation Page
Check the PHP version and extensions (curl, gd, mbstring); review Apache/PHP error logs.
Rewrite Rules Not Working
Ensure that .htaccess exists and AllowOverride All is set.
Conclusion
The local access address for Concrete CMS is typically http://localhost/concrete, suitable for PHP CMS projects that require visual in-page editing.