git clone https://github.com/your-username/your-laravel-project.git
cd your-laravel-project

composer install

So you just cloned a Laravel project from GitHub, but the app isn’t working on your local system? Don’t worry — you’re not alone. Every Laravel developer goes through this the first time.

In this guide, we’ll walk through step-by-step how to set up a Laravel project locally after git clone. This works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

✅ Beginner-friendly ✅ Copy-paste ready commands

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1. Clone the Laravel Project

Open your terminal and clone the repo:

git clone https://github.com/your-username/your-laravel-project.git
cd your-laravel-project

2. Install PHP Dependencies

Laravel uses Composer to manage PHP packages. Run:

composer install

If you see composer command not found, install it first: Composer Install

3. Create .env File

Copy the sample environment file:

cp .env.example .env

Windows users:

copy .env.example .env

Now open .env and update:

• Database name
• Database username
• Password

Example:

DB_DATABASE=laravel_app
DB_USERNAME=root
DB_PASSWORD=

4. Generate Application Key

php artisan key:generate

This secures your session & app data.

5. Run Database Migrations (If applicable)

php artisan migrate

If you see database errors, make sure the DB exists. Create it manually or via command (MySQL):

CREATE DATABASE laravel_app;

6. Link Storage (For uploads & images)

php artisan storage:link

7. Install Node Dependencies (If project has frontend)

npm install
npm run dev  # or npm run build for production

8. Serve the Project

Start Laravel local server:

php artisan serve

Open in browser:

http://127.0.0.1:8000

🎉 Your Laravel app is running!

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🧠 Common Errors & Fixes

Error	Quick Fix
Class not found	Run composer dump-autoload
.env file not loading	Delete cache: php artisan config:clear
500 error after migration	Check DB credentials & run php artisan migrate:fresh
npm not found	Install Node.js: https://nodejs.org/

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✅ Final Checklist

Task	Status
Clone project	✅
Install composer deps	✅
Setup .env	✅
Generate key	✅
Run migrations	✅
Install npm	✅
Run server	✅

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🎯 Conclusion

Setting up a Laravel project locally after cloning is simple once you know the process:

Task	Command
Clone project	git clone 'link projer github'
Install composer deps	composer install
Setup .env	cp .env.example .env or copy .env.example .env
Configure DB	Now open .env and update: Database name, Database username, Password
Generate key	php artisan key:generate
Run migrations	php artisan migrate
Install npm(optional)	npm install
Run server	php artisan serve

Bookmark this guide — it will save you time on every project!

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💬 Have Questions?

Drop a comment — happy to help! And if you found this useful, smash the ❤️ and follow for more Laravel tips.

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🔁 Bonus: Full Setup Script (Linux/Mac)

git clone repo-url project
cd project
composer install
cp .env.example .env
php artisan key:generate
npm install && npm run dev
php artisan migrate
php artisan serve