When I install a backup of my Wordpress site on my local MAMP server, so i can work on it and test new features etc, and I visit ANY link or do anything (including logging in) it always throws me to the actual live website.
For example, if the local address for the site is "localhost/xyz" and I type that in, it takes me to it but anything after that throws me to the actual live site.
So on "localhost/xyz", if I click on log-in or any page etc, I end up at http://www.xyz.com
This is being VERY problematic because I can't test any page or work on any page locally.
How can i go about fixing this?
If you go into your database (on MAMP) via phpmyadmin, and check the options table, make sure that the lines for siteurl and home are set to http://localhost/ and not the live site url.