Need Guidance on Setting Up Frappe/ERPNext Locally and Accessing My Frappe Cloud Data

1

Hi Frappe Community,

I’m currently using ERPNext on the ₹400/month Frappe Cloud plan. I’ve been learning ERPNext and have configured modules such as CRM, Sales, Manufacturing, Workflows, Notifications, and some integrations.

Now I want to set up Frappe/ERPNext locally on my Windows laptop so I can have a complete development environment.

My goals are:

  • Install Frappe and ERPNext locally.

  • Create and develop custom apps.

  • Access the database directly (MariaDB) for learning and development.

  • Write and test Client Scripts, Server Scripts, API integrations, and custom reports.

  • Experiment freely without affecting my production site.

  • If possible, synchronize or restore my Frappe Cloud site’s data into my local environment for development and testing.

I have a few questions:

  1. What is the recommended way to install Frappe locally in 2026? (WSL2, Ubuntu, Docker, or another method?)

  2. Can I download a full backup of my Frappe Cloud site and restore it into my local ERPNext instance?

  3. Does the ₹400/month Frappe Cloud plan allow downloading complete database and private/public file backups?

  4. If not, what is the recommended approach for developers who want to work with their own production data locally?

  5. Are there any official guides or community tutorials for setting up a local development environment and restoring a Frappe Cloud backup?

Any documentation, best practices, or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

2

First download WSL 2

then you now follow these steps to isntall [Guide] How to install ERPNext v16 on Linux Ubuntu 24.04 (step-by-step instructions)

you may face one or two errors during installation but with AI it can help you , and one of the errors is going to be python environment errors

3

Hi @vikas200331

After you download WSL2 you can either install it as bare metal as the instructions above or you can use docker desktop with GitHub - rtCamp/Frappe-Manager: The production platform for Frappe/ERPNext. Automatic TLS, versioned migrations, worker orchestration, isolated benches. Everything from a single CLI. · GitHub

Each will have its own pros and cons (ask AI about them)

You can backup your db from Framework → Data → Backups

Then restore it to your cloud data to your local env using bench restore bench restore

Best of luck on your developer journey