XAMPP, Apache - Error: Apache shutdown unexpectedl

Question

I've just re-installed XAMPP, and when I try to start my Apache server in the XAMPP Control Panel, I now get the following errors:

16:50:25  [Apache]     Status change detected: running
16:50:26  [Apache]     Status change detected: stopped
16:50:26  [Apache]     Error: Apache shutdown unexpectedly.
16:50:26  [Apache]     This may be due to a blocked port, missing dependencies,
16:50:26  [Apache]     improper privileges, a crash, or a shutdown by another method.
16:50:26  [Apache]     Press the Logs button to view error logs and check
16:50:26  [Apache]     the Windows Event Viewer for more clues
16:50:26  [Apache]     If you need more help, copy and post this
16:50:26  [Apache]     entire log window on the forums

How do I solve this?

Answer 1

The simple thing that you can do is to check if Skype or VMware is installed in your machine or not.

Skype uses port 80 and 443 as an additional port for incoming connections. To change the port number in Skype, go to

Tools > Connection Options > Connection

in the Skype window. Now change the default 80 port number to something other.

VMware Workstation uses port 443 for sharing. To change this, open VMware Workstation and goto

Edit > Preferences > Shared Vms

1. Click "Change Settings" buton
2. Then Click "Disable Sharing"
3. Then change the https port number being used (443)
4. Then you can click "Enable Sharing" button

That's all you have to do. Restart XAMPP and run the Apache server.

Answer 2

If you're using Windows 7 . Search for IIS in Windows search (Click the Window icon in left bottom and type in where it says 'Search program and files') .

Open IIS (Internet Information Service) .

In the right side in actions panel. Click Stop.

Note: The stop link is faded in screen shot. As I've stopped it. Problem Solved!

Answer 3

For me, world wide web publishing-service was using port 80. I killed this by running the following command on cmd:

net stop http

After that, XAMPP ran Apache without any problems.

Answer 4

In my case this happened after installing sql server and the solution was as described in this answer

Xampp - Can't start Apache after install SQL Server and Visual Studio

so I had to just disable "SQL Server Reporting Services" service from Windows services

Answer 5

First of all you should verify that you have no excess virtual hosts in your httpd-vhosts file. I mean following simple rule: 1 project = 1 virtual host in config file. Otherwise you'll face with error even if you'll change ports etc.

Answer 6

I tried to execute httpd.exe in cmd and got error that there's syntax error in httpd-vhosts.conf. I checked file and found what's wrong and it's working fine now.

So, if you are facing this error then it may be because of httpd-vhosts or any other file.

Try to execute the program via cmd and you will get the error details and the line where is syntax error.

Best of luck