How to Set Up Laravel 12 Development Environment on Windows Using Herd (with MySQL via DBngin)

Setting up a Laravel development environment on Windows used to be a frustrating process. Developers had to manually install PHP, configure Apache or Nginx, manage virtual hosts, install MySQL separately, and then deal with version conflicts across projects.

Laravel Herd for Windows changes this completely. It provides a Laravel-focused local development environment that handles PHP versions, web serving, HTTPS, and Laravel tooling automatically. Combined with DBngin for database management, you can have a clean, production-like Laravel 12 setup in minutes.

This guide explains the correct, real-world way to set up Laravel 12 on Windows using Herd, and how to use MySQL instead of the default SQLite.

Why Use Herd for Windows?

Laravel Herd is built specifically for Laravel developers. Unlike XAMPP or WAMP, which are generic PHP stacks, Herd focuses on modern Laravel workflows.

With Herd, you get:

• Automatic PHP installation and version switching
• Built-in Laravel installer and Composer
• Automatic local domains (.test) with HTTPS
• Zero Apache, Nginx, or IIS configuration
• Clean per-project setup

Herd removes the need to manually manage web servers or PHP extensions, which is where most Windows Laravel issues traditionally come from.

Laravel 12 Default Behavior (Important to Understand)

Laravel 12 ships with SQLite as the default database for new projects. This allows Laravel to work immediately without installing any database server.

That means:

• If you create a new Laravel 12 project and do nothing, it will use SQLite
• No MySQL or PostgreSQL is required initially

However, most real projects use MySQL or PostgreSQL, especially when matching production environments. For that, we’ll use DBngin.

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:

• Windows 10 or Windows 11
• Administrator access (required for Herd installation)
• Git for Windows
• Basic Command Prompt or PowerShell knowledge

No need to install PHP, Composer, Node, or Laravel manually — Herd handles those.

Step 1: Install Laravel Herd for Windows

Download Herd for Windows from the official Laravel website and run the installer as Administrator.

During installation:

• Herd installs PHP, Composer, Node.js, and the Laravel installer
• It configures local DNS handling for .test domains
• It runs quietly in the system tray after installation

Once installed, open Herd from the Start menu. You’ll see a simple dashboard showing PHP versions and available sites.

Note: Admin access is required because Herd manages local domains and background services.

Step 2: Verify Laravel Installer (Very Important)

Herd automatically installs the Laravel installer, which allows you to create projects using:

laravel new project-name

This method is faster and cleaner than composer create-project.

Verify it works:

laravel --version

If you see a version output, you’re ready.

Step 3: Create a New Laravel 12 Project (Recommended Way)

Navigate to your projects directory:

cd C:\Users\YourUsername\Projects

Create a new Laravel project:

laravel new coolposts

During setup, Laravel will ask configuration questions such as:

• Database type (SQLite, MySQL, PostgreSQL)
• Testing framework
• Git initialization

For now, you can allow SQLite (default). We’ll switch to MySQL shortly.

Move into the project:

cd coolposts

Step 4: Add the Project to Herd

Open Herd and click Add Site.

• Select the Laravel project folder (coolposts)
• Herd automatically detects the public directory (no manual config needed)
• Choose the PHP version (Laravel 12 works well with PHP 8.2+)
• Start the site

Herd will assign a local URL such as:

https://coolposts.test

HTTPS is enabled automatically.

Step 5: Install MySQL Using DBngin (Recommended)

Herd does not always bundle MySQL in the free Windows version. For reliable database management, DBngin is the best solution.

Install DBngin

Download DBngin from the official site and install it.

Create MySQL Server

Open DBngin and:

• Create a new MySQL server
• Choose MySQL version (8.x recommended)
• Start the server

DBngin will show:

• Host (usually 127.0.0.1)
• Port (may be 3306 or a custom port)
• Username (usually root)
• Password (auto-generated)

Create a database, for example:

coolposts_db

Step 6: Configure Laravel 12 to Use MySQL

Open the .env file in your Laravel project and update:

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

⚠️ Note: Leave DB_PASSWORD empty unless you explicitly set one in DBngin. Always use the exact port shown in DBngin.

Step 7: Run Laravel Setup Commands

In your project directory:

php artisan key:generate
php artisan migrate

If you have seeders:

php artisan migrate --seed

If migrations run successfully, your MySQL connection is working.

Step 8: Frontend Assets (Vite)

Herd installs Node.js automatically, so you can run:

npm install
npm run dev

For production builds:

npm run build

Laravel 12 uses Vite by default, so no extra configuration is required.

Common Issues and Real Fixes

Database Connection Refused

• Ensure DBngin server is running
• Check port number carefully
• Confirm database exists
• Restart Herd after DB changes

PDO Driver Missing

Open Herd → PHP settings and ensure:

• pdo_mysql is enabled Restart the site afterward.

Vite Manifest Not Found

Run:

npm run build

or use npm run dev during development.

Port Conflicts

Disable IIS or other web servers using ports 80/443:

netstat -ano | findstr :80

Best Practices

• Keep APP_ENV=local and APP_DEBUG=true in development
• Use SQLite only for quick demos or tests
• Match production DB (MySQL/Postgres) locally using DBngin
• Use laravel new instead of Composer for new projects
• Let Herd manage PHP — don’t install PHP separately

Herd vs Traditional Windows Stacks

Final Thoughts

Laravel Herd makes Windows a first-class Laravel development platform. When paired with DBngin for MySQL, it provides a clean, fast, and production-aligned workflow without the historical pain of Windows PHP setups.

Laravel 12’s SQLite default is great for quick starts, but for serious projects, combining Herd + DBngin + MySQL is the most realistic and professional approach.

This setup scales well, stays maintainable, and avoids the configuration traps that slow developers down.