If Rails can't find gems even after running bundle install, there are a few common reasons and potential solutions you can try:

  1. Check Gemfile and Gemfile.lock: Verify that the gems you are trying to use are specified correctly in your Gemfile and that you have run bundle install to install them. Additionally, make sure the correct gem versions are listed in the Gemfile.lock.

  2. Load Environment with Bundler: When running Rails commands (e.g., rails server or rails console), ensure that you are loading the Rails environment with Bundler. Use the bundle exec prefix before the command:

    bash
    bundle exec rails server
  3. Check Gemfile Source and HTTPS: Ensure that you have specified a valid source for your gems in the Gemfile, and that you are using HTTPS for the source URL. For example:

    ruby
    source 'https://rubygems.org'
  4. Run bundle update: If the problem persists, try running bundle update to update your gems to the latest compatible versions. After updating, run bundle install again.

  5. Check Bundler Version: Make sure you are using the correct version of Bundler that is compatible with your project. You can check the Bundler version with:

    bash
    bundle --version

    If you need to update Bundler, use:

    bash
    gem install bundler
  6. Check Load Paths: Ensure that the gem load paths are set correctly. Verify that the bundle gem is included in your Gemfile, and check your config/application.rb file for any custom configurations related to gem loading.

  7. Clean and Reinstall Gems: If none of the above steps work, try cleaning the gem installation and reinstalling:

    bash
    gem cleanup bundle install
  8. Check System Configuration: If you are using a system with RVM (Ruby Version Manager) or rbenv, ensure that you are using the correct Ruby version and gemset for your project.

  9. Check Permissions: Ensure that the user running the bundle install command has sufficient permissions to install gems. This can be an issue when deploying to production servers.

  10. Check for Specific Errors: Look for specific error messages that may provide more insight into the problem. Error messages like "LoadError", "GemNotFound", or "cannot load such file" can provide hints about the specific issue.

By carefully checking these points and following the provided solutions, you should be able to resolve the issue and get Rails to find the required gems after running bundle install.

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