Are you struggling to upgrade XAMPP on your Windows computer? Don't worry, I have a complete solution for you. After searching for the most effective method, I found a step-by-step guide that actually works.

SOME MAJOR CHANGES!

However, if you're upgrading XAMPP after a long time, there are some significant changes that you need to be aware of. XAMPP no longer uses the MySQL server and instead, it comes with MariaDB in versions 5.5.30 and 5.6.14. This means that copying and pasting MySQL data files from the old version to the new one won't work anymore.

But fear not, with our complete solution and easy-to-understand guide, you'll be able to upgrade XAMPP smoothly and hassle-free.

THE CHALLENGES!

When updating XAMPP, there are typically two challenges that need to be addressed:

1. Transferring all of the website files. This step is relatively straightforward and can be accomplished by copying and pasting the files to the new server.
2. Transferring all of the databases to the new server. This step is often the most time-consuming and tedious part of the process. Many people avoid updating XAMPP frequently because of the need to individually back up each database and then import them into the new server.

THE COMPLETE SOLUTION

Follow the steps below and your XAMPP will be updated in no time!

BACK UP OLD DATA!

First, we should create a backup of all the databases.

To backup all the databases in XAMPP, follow these steps:

1. Open XAMPP Control Panel as an Administrator.
2. Click on the "Shell" option.
3. In the Shell window, type the following command: mysqldump -u root -p --all-databases > all-db-dump.sql. If you use a different username for your databases, replace "root" with that username. If you don't have a password, simply press enter. Otherwise, provide the password when prompted.
4. This command will create a SQL file called "all-db-dump.sql" that contains all of the databases in your MySQL server. You can find this file in the XAMPP folder.
5. Stop both Apache and MySQL servers, and then quit the XAMPP Control Panel. Also, close the command prompt.
6. Finally, rename your "xampp" folder to "xampp-old". This way, if anything goes wrong during the update, you can easily revert to the previous version.

INSTALL THE NEW ONE!

To update XAMPP, follow these steps:

1. Download the latest version of XAMPP.
2. Install it in the same drive where your old XAMPP was originally installed.
3. Go to the XAMPP folder and run the XAMPP Control Panel as an Administrator.
4. Start both Apache and MySQL servers and check whether they are working properly. Also, check the PhpMyAdmin page.
5. Copy the "htdocs" folder from the "xampp-old" folder to the "xampp" folder.
6. Go to "xampp\php\php.ini".
7. If you have a very large database, use the CLI to import the database (skip to step 19). Otherwise, continue with the remaining steps.
8. Configure the "php.ini" file and increase the value for the following options: "upload_max_filesize", "memory_limit", and "post_max_size".
9. Set "post_max_size" and "memory_limit" to a value larger than "upload_max_filesize". Make them high enough so that big files can work on the server.
10. Go to "xampp\phpMyAdmin\libraries\config.default.php".
11. Look for "$cfg['ExecTimeLimit'] = 600;".
12. Change the value "600" to a higher value, such as "6000".
13. Restart both Apache and MySQL servers.
14. Go to phpMyAdmin.
15. Go to the "Import" tab.
16. Import the "all-db-dump.sql" file directly to the server through the import option.
17. If importing does not suit you, you can use mysql -u root -p < all-db-dump.sql in the shell.
18. Depending on how many databases you have, it will take some time.
19. If you have followed all the steps correctly, you will get a success message saying "Import has been successfully finished".
20. After that, run the following command in the Shell option: "mysql_upgrade".
21. Check whether your site and databases are working properly.
22. If everything is working fine, you can delete the "xampp-old" folder.

If you have followed the instructions provided, your XAMPP should be fully functional without any issues. However, in case you encounter any problems:

Refer to the comment section where some individuals have shared their own problems and solutions.

If you are still experiencing issues, feel free to leave a comment.

I will do my best to assist you.

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