How to Fix “No application encryption key has been specified” in Laravel

If you’ve encountered the “No application encryption key has been specified” error in Laravel, don’t worry — this is a common issue. The message simply indicates that your application does not have an encryption key set.

To fix this error, all you need to do is run the command php artisan key:generate.

Why the “No Application Encryption Key Specified” Error Occurs

Laravel uses an encryption key to secure sensitive data such as sessions, cookies, password hashes, and serialized data. Without this key, Laravel cannot ensure the security of these components, which is why the error appears.

This can be especially problematic in production environments where data security is crucial. Here’s a step-by-step guide to resolving the issue:

1. Generate the Application Key:
First, open your terminal, navigate to your Laravel project’s root directory, and run the following command:

php artisan key:generate

This will generate a unique encryption key for your application. To ensure your configuration is updated, it’s also a good idea to run:

php artisan config:clear