PHP Setup Guide (2025 Edition): How to Install, Configure & Run PHP Like a Pro

Setting up PHP the right way is the foundation of becoming a successful web developer, and in 2025, the process is more streamlined, beginner-friendly, and powerful than ever. PHP may be a mature language, but it continues to evolve, offering faster performance, modern tools, and broad compatibility across platforms.

Whether you're a complete beginner learning how to create your first dynamic web page or an experienced developer setting up a local environment for building scalable web applications, knowing how to install and configure PHP properly is critical. A solid PHP setup ensures that your code runs smoothly, errors are easier to debug, and you can take full advantage of frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, or even headless CMS platforms.

In this guide, well walk you through step-by-step instructions for the PHP Setup Guide on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Youll learn how to run PHP scripts locally using the built-in development server, how to install Composer (PHPs dependency manager), and how to troubleshoot common setup issues. Well also cover best practices for organizing your development environment, enabling error reporting, and using tools like VS Code, Xdebug, and php.ini configuration files.

No matter your level of experience, this guide will help you confidently get PHP up and running on your machine, so you can start building powerful, dynamic websites and applications right away. Lets dive in and future-proof your PHP setup for 2025 and beyond.

What Youll Need

Before we dive into the setup, heres what youll need:

• A computer with Windows, macOS, or Linux

• Internet connection

• A code editor (like VS Code or PHPStorm)

• Basic command line knowledge (optional but helpful)

Step-by-Step PHP Installation

For Windows:

1. Use Laragon or XAMPP
   Laragon is lightweight, fast, and pre-configured with Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Node.js. Its a favorite among Windows users. XAMPP is more traditional and widely used.

• Laragon: https://laragon.org

• XAMPP: https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html

• Download PHP binaries from windows.php.net

• Add PHP folder path to the system environment variables

• Restart your command prompt and verify installation with php -v

For macOS:

1. Install Homebrew (if not already installed):

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

2. Install PHP:
   
   

brew install php

3. Verify Installation:

php -v

For Linux (Ubuntu/Debian-based):

sudo apt update

sudo apt install php php-cli php-mbstring php-xml composer unzip curl

4. Optional Extensions:
   You may also need extensions like php-mysql, php-curl, php-gd depending on your project.

Verifying the Installation

After installing PHP, you can verify the installation by opening your terminal or command prompt and typing:

php -v

You should see the version of PHP that was installed.

Setting Up a Local PHP Server

PHP 8.x comes with a built-in development server thats perfect for testing small apps and scripts.

To run it, navigate to your PHP project folder and type:

php -S localhost:8000

Then visit http://localhost:8000 in your browser.

This server runs on port 8000 by default. You can change the port as needed.

Installing Composer (PHP Dependency Manager)

Composer is an essential tool for modern PHP developers. It helps manage libraries, dependencies, and frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, and PHPUnit.

Quick Install:

php -r "copy('https://getcomposer.org/installer', 'composer-setup.php');"

php composer-setup.php

php -r "unlink('composer-setup.php');"

Then move it globally:

sudo mv composer.phar /usr/local/bin/composer

Test it:

composer --version

Creating Your First PHP Project

A. Plain PHP Setup:

1. Create a project folder (e.g., my-first-php-site)

2. Add an index.php file:

<?php

echo "Hello, PHP World!";

?>

3. Run:

php -S localhost:8000

4. Visit http://localhost:8000 in your browser

B. Using Laravel Framework:

composer create-project laravel/laravel myApp

cd myApp

php artisan serve

Then visit http://localhost:8000

Best Practices for PHP Setup

• Use PHP 8.2 or newer to ensure maximum performance and security

• Use virtual environments or Docker for consistent dev environments

• Enable error reporting during development:

ini_set('display_errors', 1);

error_reporting(E_ALL);

• Use .env files for environment variables

• Keep Composer dependencies up-to-date with composer update

• Separate dev and production configs for better deployment control

Tools That Help with PHP Development

• PHPStorm: Full-featured IDE with PHP support

• VS Code: Lightweight, with extensions like PHP IntelliSense and Laravel Blade snippets

• Xdebug: For debugging and profiling PHP code

• Postman: For testing APIs

• PHPUnit: For writing unit tests

php.ini: Configuring PHP Settings

The php.ini file controls many important settings in PHP. To find its location:

php --ini

Common settings to check:

• memory_limit

• Upload_max_filesize

• post_max_size

• max_execution_time

To apply changes, restart your server (Apache/Nginx/PHP built-in).

Troubleshooting PHP Setup

• PHP not recognized? Add PHP to your system PATH.

• Syntax errors? Use php -l filename.php to lint your code.

• Extensions not working? Make sure theyre enabled in php.ini

• Permissions issues? Use chmod on Linux/macOS for proper access

• Using wrong PHP version? Use which php to verify the path

Final Thoughts

Setting up PHP doesnt have to be intimidating. With the right tools and practices, you can go from zero to running real applications in minutes. Whether youre building static sites, APIs, or full-stack apps with Laravel, a solid PHP setup is the foundation for everything.

Need a visual walkthrough? Check out our beginner-friendly PHP tutorials at The Web Learners, complete with screenshots, real-world use cases, and pro tips for 2025!

FAQs

1. Do I need Apache or Nginx to run PHP?
No. For development, PHP's built-in server works perfectly. For production, youll want to use Apache, Nginx, or managed platforms.

2. Can I run multiple PHP versions?
Yes. Use Docker, PHPbrew, or Homebrew (on macOS) to manage multiple versions.

3. Is Composer mandatory?
Not for basic scripts, but its essential for frameworks and libraries.

4. Where is php.ini located?
Run php --ini to find the file. Edit it to configure error reporting, upload size, and more.

5. What IDE is best for PHP?
VS Code and PHPStorm are highly recommended for their powerful debugging and autocomplete features.

6. How can I test if PHP is working?
Create a file called test.php with:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Then open it in your browser to view your PHP configuration.