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How to migrate from XAMPP to Herd

If you’re coming from XAMPP and want to switch to Herd, this guide will help you migrate your development environment smoothly. Herd provides a more streamlined development experience with automatic domain handling, multiple PHP versions, and integrated debugging tools.

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Main Differences

Before diving into the migration process, here are the key differences between XAMPP and Herd:
  • Herd is optimized for Laravel development (and support all major frameworks)
  • Herd uses .test domains instead of localhost URLs (e.g., mysite.test instead of localhost/mysite)
  • Herd provides automatic domain handling via the HerdHelper service instead of manual virtual hosts
  • Herd manages PHP versions per site, allowing you to run different versions simultaneously
  • Herd provides built-in debugging tools and service management with Herd Pro

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Migration Steps

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1. Install Herd

First, download and install Herd from the official website. During installation, Herd will:
  • Install the HerdHelper service for domain management
  • Set up PHP, nginx, and other required tools
  • Create a parked directory at %USERPROFILE%\Herd

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2. Migrate Your Sites

1

Move your site files

Move your site files from the XAMPP htdocs directory to your new Herd directory:
# Create directories if they don't exist
mkdir %USERPROFILE%\Herd

# Copy your sites
xcopy C:\xampp\htdocs\your-site %USERPROFILE%\Herd\your-site\ /E /H /C /I
Replace your-site with the actual name of your project directory.
2

Configure domains

Herd automatically makes sites available via http://directory-name.test. For example, if your site is in %USERPROFILE%\Herd\my-wordpress, it will be available at http://my-wordpress.test.If you need additional domains or want to point multiple domains to a single site, you can use the herd link command:
cd %USERPROFILE%\Herd\your-site
herd link additional-domain

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3. Migrate Databases

1

Export existing databases

Before shutting down XAMPP, export your databases via phpMyAdmin or the MySQL command line:
mysqldump -u root your_database > your_database.sql
2

Set up database services

If you’re using Herd Pro, you can install MySQL directly from the Services tab in the settings:
MySQL Service Setup
Alternatively, you can install MySQL separately or use tools like DBngin.
3

Import your databases

After setting up your database service, import your databases via the command line:
mysql -u root -h 127.0.0.1 -P 3306 your_database < your_database.sql
Or use TablePlus/AdminerEvo which are accessible directly from Herd’s service configuration:
MySQL Service Management

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4. Update Configuration Files

Update your site’s configuration files to match Herd’s setup:
.env
DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3307  # Use your configured port
DB_DATABASE=your_database
DB_USERNAME=root
DB_PASSWORD=

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5. Secure Your Sites

If your XAMPP sites used HTTPS, you can secure them in Herd using the herd secure command: 
cd %USERPROFILE%\Herd\your-site
herd secure
You can also toggle HTTPS in the Site Manager:
Secure Sites

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6. PHP Configuration

While XAMPP uses a global php.ini file, Herd allows you to:
  • Use different PHP versions per site via isolation
  • Configure PHP settings via the GUI or by editing version-specific php.ini files
  • Manage PHP extensions for each version independently
You can find your PHP configuration files at: 
%USERPROFILE%\.config\herd\bin\<version>\php.ini

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7. Virtual Hosts Migration

If you used virtual hosts in XAMPP, you can achieve the same with Herd’s linking feature: 
cd %USERPROFILE%\Herd\your-site
herd link your-domain
This automatically:
  • Updates your hosts file
  • Configures nginx
  • Makes the site available via http://your-domain.test

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Development Tools

Herd Pro provides several tools that improve upon XAMPP’s development experience:
  • Mail Testing - Built-in mail catcher for testing emails
  • Log Viewer - Convenient log viewing and searching
  • Dumps - Advanced debugging with request information
  • Xdebug - On-demand Xdebug activation
  • Service Management - GUI for managing databases and other services

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Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during migration: If you need to start fresh, you can follow the uninstall guide to remove Herd completely and reinstall.

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After Migration

After successfully migrating to Herd, we recommend:
  1. Uninstall XAMPP to avoid port conflicts
  2. Remove old virtual host entries from your hosts file
  3. Consider upgrading to Herd Pro for additional development tools
  4. Familiarize yourself with Herd’s CLI commands