ci setup

I am new to codeigniter try to resetup a ci-4 project from live server(hostinger) to my local system on xampp server, faild to do the same getting an error like 
PHP Warning:  require_once(D:\Xampp\htdocs\scholaracad\application\public\index.php): Failed to open stream: No such file or directory in D:\Xampp\htdocs\scholaracad\application\system\Commands\Server\rewrite.php on line 43
[Fri May 24 17:31:53 2024] PHP Fatal error:  Uncaught Error: Failed opening required 'D:\Xampp\htdocs\scholaracad\application\public\index.php' (include_path='.;C:\php\pear') in D:\Xampp\htdocs\scholaracad\application\system\Commands\Server\rewrite.php:43
Stack trace:
#0 {main}
  thrown in D:\Xampp\htdocs\scholaracad\application\system\Commands\Server\rewrite.php on line 43

insted of opening default route, the project is trying to open index.php file every time.
Looking for help, thanks in advance.

ensure you have download all the files to your local server. codeingter uses a design pattern called "front controller". this is where all requests MUST go through a single file and then routed to the appropriate controller , method etc.

in your case, it says /public/index.php is not found. The entry point for codeigniter is this file. you want to ensure you have downloaded all the files properly into your local server.
Also when you try to run the application on your local server, you MUST point to this file  - 
Lastly, ensure mod_rewrite is enabled on your local server