Use Laragon to quickly set up a PHP development environment
Jun 26, 2025 am 01:22 AMLaragon simplifies PHP development setup on Windows by bundling Apache, MySQL, PHP, and tools into one package. 1) Download and install Laragon, choosing a path without spaces. 2) Launch the app and start all services. 3) Access localhost to confirm installation success. 4) Place project files in the www directory for automatic virtual host setup. 5) Use built-in CLI tools like Composer for project creation and management. Laragon also supports multiple PHP versions, environment variables, MailHog for email testing, and offers quick access controls via the system tray menu, making local PHP development fast and hassle-free.
Setting up a PHP development environment doesn’t have to be complicated. Laragon makes it fast and painless — especially if you're working on Windows. You don’t need to juggle multiple tools or spend hours configuring servers. With Laragon, everything you need is bundled into one neat package.

What is Laragon and why use it?
Laragon is a lightweight, portable, and powerful development environment for Windows that includes Apache, MySQL, PHP, and other useful tools out of the box. It's ideal for developers who want to get started quickly without dealing with manual setup.

Why it’s handy:
- Pre-configured stack so you can start coding right away
- Comes with built-in support for popular frameworks like Laravel, WordPress, etc.
- Easy to manage multiple projects with virtual hosts
- Supports CLI tools like Composer, Node.js, Yarn
You basically install it once, and from there, it handles most of the backend stuff for you.

How to install and configure Laragon
Getting Laragon up and running takes just a few steps:
- Download the installer – Go to the official Laragon website and grab the latest version.
- Run the installer – Choose your installation path (avoid spaces in folder names if possible) and let it install.
- Launch Laragon – Once installed, open the app and click "Start All" to boot up Apache, MySQL, and other services.
-
Check localhost – Open your browser and go to
http://localhost
. If you see the Laragon welcome page, you're good to go.
One thing to watch out for: sometimes port 80 might be blocked by other apps like Skype or IIS. If Apache fails to start, check the error log and try switching to port 8080 or stop conflicting services.
Setting up a new PHP project
Once Laragon is running, creating a new project is straightforward:
- Place your project files inside the
www
directory (usually found atC:\laragon\www
) - Each folder in
www
becomes a separate site – for example,C:\laragon\www\myproject
becomeshttp://myproject.test
- No need to manually edit host files – Laragon automatically creates
.test
domains - Use the built-in terminal (
Ctrl Alt T
) to run commands likecomposer create-project
ornpm install
For frameworks like Laravel:
composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel myproject
Then navigate to http://myproject.test
in your browser.
If things aren’t loading, make sure the database credentials in your .env
file match what’s in Laragon (default user is root
, no password).
Useful features you shouldn’t miss
Laragon has some nifty tools that simplify common tasks:
-
Environment variables – The
.env
file in your project controls settings like DB connections, app key, etc. - Multiple PHP versions – You can switch between different PHP versions directly from the Laragon menu.
-
Auto virtual hosts – Just drop a folder in
www
, and it becomes a new domain. - MailHog – Test email sending locally without real SMTP setup.
- Quick access menu – Right-click the Laragon icon in the system tray to restart services, open terminals, or manage configs.
These small touches save time and reduce friction when switching between projects or debugging issues.
That’s basically all you need to get going. Laragon handles the heavy lifting, so you can focus on writing code instead of fighting with server config. It’s not flashy, but it works well for local PHP development — especially if you value speed and simplicity.
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