Try it on your computer
Install Éclair locally to try it for free: with XAMPP, MAMP or Laragon in 5 minutes, or with PHP’s built-in server, then put your site online.
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Want to discover Éclair before choosing a host, or prepare your site quietly offline? You can install Éclair locally, on your own computer, in 5 minutes. All you need is a small web server with PHP: XAMPP, MAMP or Laragon if you’re not a developer, or PHP’s built-in server if you are. Your site will then be ready to publish as is.
Which tool should you use to install Éclair locally?
| Tool | Operating systems | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| XAMPP | Windows, macOS, Linux | The most widely used option, free, with Apache and PHP |
| MAMP | macOS, Windows | Very easy on a Mac, and the free version is enough |
| Laragon | Windows | Light and fast, popular with developers |
| PHP’s built-in server | All | Developers comfortable with the terminal |
The first three install Apache and PHP in a few clicks: that’s exactly the environment of shared hosting, .htaccess included. Just check that the PHP version they provide is 8.1 or later.
How do you install Éclair locally with XAMPP?
- Install XAMPP, then open the control panel and start Apache (MySQL isn’t needed).
- Download Éclair and unzip the archive.
- Copy the
eclairfolder into XAMPP’s web folder:C:\xampp\htdocs\on Windows,/Applications/XAMPP/htdocs/on a Mac. - Open
http://localhost/eclair/in your browser: the setup wizard starts. - Answer the 4 questions, as explained in the installation guide.
With MAMP, the web folder is also called htdocs, and the address depends on the port you chose (for example http://localhost:8888/eclair/). With Laragon, drop the folder into C:\laragon\www\, then open http://localhost/eclair/.
What about PHP’s built-in server?
For developers: Éclair’s GitHub repository includes a router that reproduces the .htaccess rules for PHP’s built-in server. You’ll need PHP 8.1 or later and Git.
git clone https://github.com/Jacckisback/eclair-cms.git
cd eclair-cms
PHP_CLI_SERVER_WORKERS=4 php -S localhost:8000 -t eclair tools/router.phpThen open http://localhost:8000. The PHP_CLI_SERVER_WORKERS variable lets the site call itself to verify its address: with a single process, that check simply fails, without affecting anything else. The same repository contains the tests (php tests/run.php, 299 checks): everything is explained on the developer page.
How do you put a site you prepared locally online?
Your whole site fits in a single folder: all you have to do is copy it.
- In the local admin, download a backup to be safe (Security › Download a backup).
- Upload all the contents of the
eclairfolder to your host, including thedataandmediafolders and the hidden.htaccessfiles. - Log in to the online admin with the same email and password.
- In Settings › General, replace the local address with the site’s final address (for example
https://your-site.com). - In Security, click Verify the site address, then clear the cache in Settings › Advanced.
Internal links adapt automatically, even if your site moves from a local subfolder to the root of a domain. If you’re hosting with o2switch, follow the o2switch guide from step 4.
Questions about local installation
Do I need to install MySQL to try Éclair locally?
No. Éclair doesn’t need any database: just start Apache in XAMPP, MAMP or Laragon. The MySQL module can stay off.
Can I install Éclair locally without an internet connection?
Yes, once Éclair is downloaded. Only the AI assistant, IndexNow and sending emails need the internet; everything else works offline.
Will my local site be visible on Google?
No. A site opened at http://localhost is only accessible from your computer. It becomes public once it’s copied to a host.
The wizard says “Installation locked”: what should I do?
The 2-hour window after the first visit has passed. Delete the data/install-window.php file in Éclair’s folder, then reload the page.