Laravel is one of the most popular PHP frameworks for building modern web applications. Whether you’re creating a simple website, an eCommerce platform, or a large SaaS application, Laravel offers a clean syntax, powerful features, and an excellent developer experience.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to install Laravel 12 on both Windows and macOS from scratch.

System Requirements

Before installing Laravel 12, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

• PHP 8.2 or later
• Composer
• Git
• Node.js and npm (for frontend assets)
• A code editor like Visual Studio Code

You can verify your PHP version by running:

php -v

Check your Composer installation:

composer -V

Step 1: Install PHP

Windows

The easiest way is to install XAMPP, Laragon, or Herd.

After installation, open Command Prompt and verify:

php -v

If PHP is not recognized, add it to your system PATH.

macOS

Install Homebrew if you don’t already have it.

Then install PHP:

brew install php

Verify installation:

php -v

Step 2: Install Composer

Download Composer from the official website.

After installation, verify:

composer -V

If you see the Composer version, you’re ready for the next step.

Step 3: Install Laravel Installer (Optional)

Although you can create Laravel projects using Composer, the Laravel Installer makes the process faster.

Run:

composer global require laravel/installer

Make sure Composer’s global vendor bin directory is added to your PATH.

Verify:

laravel --version

Step 4: Create a New Laravel 12 Project

Using Composer:

composer create-project laravel/laravel my-project

Or using the Laravel Installer:

laravel new my-project

Wait for Composer to download all dependencies.

Step 5: Open the Project

Move into your project folder:

cd my-project

Open it in Visual Studio Code:

code .

Step 6: Configure Environment

Laravel creates a .env file automatically.

Open the file and configure your application.

Example:

APP_NAME=Laravel
APP_ENV=local
APP_DEBUG=true
APP_URL=http://localhost

For database:

DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=laravel_db
DB_USERNAME=root
DB_PASSWORD=

Save the file.

Step 7: Generate Application Key

Run:

php artisan key:generate

You should see:

Application key set successfully.

Step 8: Start the Development Server

Run:

php artisan serve

Output:

INFO Server running on:

http://127.0.0.1:8000

Open your browser and visit:

http://127.0.0.1:8000

If everything is working, you’ll see the Laravel welcome page.

Step 9: Install Frontend Dependencies

Laravel uses Vite for frontend asset bundling.

Install Node packages:

npm install

Start the Vite development server:

npm run dev

Leave this terminal running while you develop.

Step 10: Create Your First Route

Open:

routes/web.php

Replace the default code with:

use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Route;

Route::get('/', function () {
    return 'Laravel 12 is working!';
});

Refresh your browser.

You should now see:

Laravel 12 is working!

Create Your First Controller

Generate a controller:

php artisan make:controller HomeController

Laravel creates:

app/
 └── Http/
      └── Controllers/
            HomeController.php

Example controller:

<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

class HomeController extends Controller
{
    public function index()
    {
        return view('welcome');
    }
}

Update your route:

use App\Http\Controllers\HomeController;

Route::get('/', [HomeController::class, 'index']);

Common Installation Errors

Composer Not Found

Error:

composer: command not found

Solution:

• Restart your terminal.
• Reinstall Composer.
• Ensure Composer is added to your PATH.

PHP Not Found

Error:

php: command not found

Solution:

• Verify PHP is installed.
• Add the PHP executable to your PATH.
• Restart your terminal.

Permission Denied (macOS)

Run:

sudo chmod -R 775 storage bootstrap/cache

Missing Application Key

Error:

No application encryption key has been specified.

Run:

php artisan key:generate

Vite Manifest Not Found

Run:

npm install
npm run dev

Useful Artisan Commands

Create a controller:

php artisan make:controller UserController

Create a model:

php artisan make:model Post

Create a migration:

php artisan make:migration create_posts_table

Run migrations:

php artisan migrate

Clear cache:

php artisan optimize:clear

List all routes:

php artisan route:list

Best Practices After Installation

• Keep Composer packages updated regularly.
• Use Git for version control.
• Store sensitive information only in the .env file.
• Use environment-specific configurations.
• Keep your dependencies up to date.
• Follow Laravel’s coding standards for better maintainability.

Conclusion

Installing Laravel 12 is straightforward once you have PHP, Composer, and Node.js set up correctly. After completing the installation, you can start building modern web applications using Laravel’s powerful ecosystem.

Whether you’re a beginner learning PHP frameworks or an experienced developer building production-ready applications, Laravel provides the tools and flexibility needed to create secure, scalable, and maintainable projects.

Start experimenting with routes, controllers, models, migrations, and Blade templates to become familiar with the framework. As your skills grow, you’ll be ready to explore advanced topics like authentication, APIs, queues, jobs, and deployment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Laravel 12 free to use?

Yes. Laravel is an open-source PHP framework released under the MIT License and is free for personal and commercial projects.

Can I install Laravel 12 without Composer?

No. Composer is required to install Laravel and manage its dependencies.

Which PHP version is required for Laravel 12?

Laravel 12 requires PHP 8.2 or later.

Do I need Node.js for Laravel?

Node.js is not required to run Laravel itself, but it is needed to compile frontend assets using Vite.

Which operating systems support Laravel 12?

Laravel 12 supports Windows, macOS, and Linux, provided the required software is installed.