How to Install PHP on Windows, Linux, and macOS

Before you install Laravel, the first requirement is PHP. Laravel runs on PHP, so setting it up correctly is the foundation of your development environment.

In this guide, you will learn how to install PHP on Windows, Linux, and macOS.

👉 After installing PHP, follow our complete Laravel setup guide to build your first project.

Install PHP on Windows

Step 1: Download PHP

Go to the official PHP website and download the Thread Safe ZIP version.

Step 2: Extract Files

Extract the ZIP file and move it to:

C:\php

Step 3: Add PHP to PATH

• Open Environment Variables
• Edit System PATH
• Add:

C:\php

Step 4: Verify Installation

php -v

Install PHP on Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

Step 1: Update System

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install PHP

sudo apt install php php-cli php-mysql unzip -y

Step 3: Verify

php -v

Install PHP on macOS

Step 1: Install Homebrew (if not installed)

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Step 2: Install PHP

brew install php

Step 3: Verify

php -v

Common Issues

• PHP not recognized → Restart terminal
• Wrong version → Reinstall or update PATH