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How to Remove a Package from Laravel using Composer (Step-by-Step Guide)

How to Remove a Package from Laravel using Composer (Step-by-Step Guide)

When working with Laravel, you often install multiple Composer packages to extend functionality. But what if you no longer need one? In this guide, you’ll learn the correct way to remove a package from Laravel using Composer — safely and cleanly.

Step 1: Identify the Package Name

To begin, open your composer.json file or run the following command in your Laravel project root:

composer show

This lists all installed Composer packages. Find the exact name of the one you want to remove — for example, barryvdh/laravel-debugbar.

Step 2: Remove the Package

Use the composer remove command to uninstall it:

composer remove barryvdh/laravel-debugbar

This command will:

  • Uninstall the package from your Laravel project.
  • Update the composer.json and composer.lock files.
  • Automatically clean up the vendor directory.

Step 3: Clear Laravel Cache

After removing a package, it’s a good idea to clear Laravel’s cached files to prevent reference errors:

php artisan cache:clear
php artisan config:clear
php artisan route:clear
php artisan view:clear

Step 4: Remove Manual References

If the removed package was manually added to config/app.php or other files, remove those references too:

// Example: Remove from config/app.php
'providers' => [
    // Remove the following line if it exists
    Barryvdh\Debugbar\ServiceProvider::class,
],

Also, delete any configuration files the package created under the config directory if they’re no longer needed.

Optional: Update Dependencies

Finally, you can run an update to ensure your Laravel project dependencies are optimized:

composer update

Why Removing Packages Properly Matters

Removing unused packages helps you:

  • Reduce project size and improve performance.
  • Eliminate unused dependencies that might cause conflicts.
  • Keep your composer.json clean and easy to maintain.

Summary

Command: composer remove vendor/package-name
⚙️ Then: Clear caches and remove any manual references.
๐Ÿ’ก Pro tip: Regularly review installed packages to keep your Laravel application lightweight and secure.


Author:Rana Saha

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