Hello, there, in today's blog we will see, how to run tpsense locally in windows PC, we will follow step by step guide to install typesense locally in windows PC and run it.

⭐ Introduction

When building modern web applications, search functionality is critical. Whether for products in an e-commerce store, blog posts in a content platform, or CRM data, fast and typo-tolerant search greatly improves user experience.

While services like Algolia are powerful, they are paid SaaS platforms. For developers or startups wanting full control and open-source alternatives, Typesense emerges as an excellent choice.

However, setting up Typesense on Windows can be confusing, especially for developers not familiar with Docker or Linux-based CLI tools.

This guide will walk you through running Typesense locally on your Windows PC step by step, explaining each concept in simple language.

What is Typesense?

Overview

Typesense is an open-source, typo-tolerant search engine designed for building instant search experiences with minimal configuration.

Key features:

1. Blazing-fast search performance
2. Typo-tolerance out of the box
3. Easy self-hosting (Docker, Linux binary)
4. Simple REST API interface
5. Cost-effective for startups

Why Use Typesense Locally?

Running Typesense locally is ideal for:

1. Development and Testing
2. Build and test your application’s search features without paying for a hosted service initially.
3. Learning Purposes
4. Understand how search indexing and queries work.
5. Self-Hosting Production Option
6. If later deployed to a cloud server or VPS, it removes reliance on third-party SaaS billing.

Typesense Installation Options on Windows

Typesense can run:

1. Via Docker (Recommended)
2. Using Windows binaries (not officially maintained recently)

The Docker method is the official and preferred approach because it ensures environment consistency and avoids Windows binary compatibility issues.

Step 1. Install Docker Desktop

First, install Docker Desktop for Windows:

1. Visit https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop/
2. Download the Windows installer.
3. Follow on-screen installation steps.
4. Restart your PC if prompted.
5. Open Docker Desktop to ensure it runs correctly.

Note:

Ensure Hyper-V or WSL2 is enabled as Docker Desktop requires virtualization.

After the installation of Docker open it and click on the run button. See the image below When Docker is running, it shows the engine running

Step 2. Pull the Typesense Docker Image

Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and run:

This downloads the latest stable Typesense server image (version 29.0 at this writing), here you to wait for 5 -10 min for the complete pull has to be done.

Step 3. Run Typesense Server Using Docker

Run the following single-line command in PowerShell or Command Prompt:

Step 4. Check docker running

after the hitting the above command go to the URL and enter http://localhost:8108/health , you can see something like the below image

Explanation of Each Part

Common Errors & Fixes

Error: Volume path error (Windows path not recognized)

Fix: Wrap path in quotes:

Error: Port 8108 already in use

Fix: Use another port, e.g., -p 8200:8108, then access via localhost:8200.

Error: Docker daemon not running

Fix: Ensure Docker Desktop is open and running before executing commands.

Conclusion

Running Typesense locally on your Windows PC using Docker is straightforward once you understand Docker commands and volume mapping.

Key Benefits Recap:

1. Fast and typo-tolerant search for your apps
2. Open-source and cost-effective
3. Easy integration with Laravel, Node.js, and frontend apps

Final Tips

1. Always use Docker for local development on Windows for Typesense.
2. Keep your API key secure.
3. Explore Typesense Cloud if you want a managed solution later.

Thank you for reading. If this guide helped you, share it with your developer friends building scalable search features.