Quick Start
Get up and running with LaraDashboard in minutes. Learn the basics of navigating the admin panel, creating content, and customizing your installation.
Quick Start
Assumes you've completed installation. Start the dev server if it's not running:
php artisan serve
npm run dev
1. Access the Admin Panel
Visit http://localhost:8000/admin and log in with the credentials you set during installation (or superadmin@example.com / 12345678 if you used the seeder).
The dashboard shows quick stats, recent posts, and an activity log. The sidebar gives you access to all features — Users, Posts, Pages, Media, Settings, and any installed modules.
2. Create Your First Post
- Posts → Add New Post
- Enter a title, write content in the editor, set a featured image, and assign categories
- Click Publish
For complex layouts, use the visual builder instead:
- Pages → Add New Page → Use Visual Builder
- Drag blocks (Hero, Text, Columns, Gallery) from the sidebar, customize each one
- Click Save & Publish
3. Manage Users & Roles
Add a user: Users → Add New User → fill in details → assign a role → Create User
Default roles:
| Role | Access |
|---|---|
| Super Admin | Everything |
| Admin | Users, content, settings |
| Editor | All content |
| Author | Own content only |
| Subscriber | View only |
Create a custom role: Users → Roles & Permissions → Add New Role → select permissions → Create Role
Impersonate a user: Users → All Users → Actions dropdown → Login As → use Switch Back in the top bar to return.
4. Configure Your Site
- Settings → General — site name, description, timezone, admin email
- Settings → Theme — primary color, sidebar/navbar mode, logo, favicon
- Settings → Email — add a mail connection (SMTP, Mailgun, etc.) and create notification templates
See Configuration for all available options.
5. Media Library
- Upload: drag files into the Media Library or click Upload Files
- Supported formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, SVG, PDF, MP4
- LaraDashboard auto-generates responsive sizes, compresses images, and creates WebP variants
6. Install a Module
Settings → Modules → Upload Module → select a ZIP → Install → Activate
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl/Cmd + S |
Save current form |
Ctrl/Cmd + K |
Open global search |
Esc |
Close modal / drawer |
What's Next?
- Content managers: Content Management · Media Library · Email Templates
- Administrators: User Management · Settings · Backup & Restore
- Developers: Architecture · Module Development · Hooks · API Reference