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Installation

LaraEnv runs on Windows 10 and Windows 11, x64. Choose an installed or portable edition, then download the runtimes and services your projects need from the app.

Source and binary versions

The current Apache-2.0 desktop source supports local use without a LaraEnv account or plan. The existing 0.5.7 binary can predate that change. Read the selected release notes; this website update does not replace release artifacts. To use the current source, follow the development guide.

Requirements​

  • Windows 10 or Windows 11, x64
  • WebView2 runtime — included with Windows 11 and available for Windows 10.

Download​

You can get LaraEnv from two places:

Each release has three application artifacts and matching .sha256 checksum files:

  • LaraEnv-<version>.msi — the recommended Windows installer.
  • LaraEnv-<version>-portable-win64.zip — the portable edition. Extract it and keep the .laraenv-portable marker beside LaraEnv.exe.
  • LaraEnv.exe — the updater executable. This file alone is not the portable edition.
tip

Most users should choose the MSI installer. It registers the app with Windows and sets up Start Menu and Desktop shortcuts.

Install​

  1. Run LaraEnv-<version>.msi. The installer places the application under Program Files.
  2. Projects, configuration and downloaded runtimes use C:\laraenv\ by default. Install the versions you need from Downloads in the app.
  3. Start Menu and Desktop shortcuts are created so you can launch LaraEnv easily.

Portable edition​

Extract the portable ZIP into its own folder and run LaraEnv.exe there. The environment stays under that folder while the .laraenv-portable marker is present. Choose a folder separate from C:\laraenv; Windows treats C:\LaraEnv as the same path.

A portable copy asks before trusting its local HTTPS authority in Windows. Review Settings → Services → Local HTTPS when you want browsers to trust that copy. Copying the folder does not copy Windows certificate trust to another machine.

First launch and Administrator rights​

The first time you launch LaraEnv, Windows shows a UAC prompt asking for Administrator privileges. Approve it.

warning

Administrator rights are required because LaraEnv edits the Windows hosts file at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts to route your local project domains to 127.0.0.1.

Updates​

LaraEnv has a built-in updater (covered in detail later). It:

  1. Checks GitHub releases for a newer version.
  2. Verifies the download with a SHA-256 checksum.
  3. Uses the installer or portable update path for your edition. Close the app when an installer asks you to.

Uninstall​

To remove LaraEnv, use the standard Windows path: Settings → Apps → Apps & features (or Control Panel → Programs and Features), find LaraEnv, and click Uninstall.

Uninstalling the application preserves the environment under C:\laraenv. Keep your projects and databases when replacing a test build or reinstalling. A portable edition is managed from its extracted folder; preserve that folder if you need its data.

Next steps​

With LaraEnv installed, continue to First-time setup.