How do I free my port 80 on localhost Windows?

Question

I installed XAMPP 1.6.8 and for some reason it didn't work. Later realized port 80 is not free or not listening. How can I release it or make it free?

Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

Use TcpView to find the process that listens to the port and close the process.

Answer 2

I also had the same problem. net stop http didn't help and World wide web services option under IIS in Windows Control Panel was unchecked. So in XAMPP control panel I just checked the Svc checkbox near Apache start button (Install Apache as service) and rebooted Windows. And now each time Windows starts Apache is started automatically and occupies port 80 before any other service does. Worked for me!

Answer 3

Known Windows Services That Listen on Port 80

From Services Manager (run: services.msc), stop and disable these Windows Services which are known to bind to port 80.

Double click Service, and change ‘Startup Type’ to ‘Disabled’…

1. SQL Server Reporting Services (ReportServer)
2. Web Deployment Agent Service (MsDepSvc)
3. BranchCache (PeerDistSvc)
4. Sync Share Service (SyncShareSvc)
5. World Wide Web Publishing Service (W3SVC)
6. Internet Information Server (WAS, IISADMIN)

skype also using port 80 as default setting and you can uncheck it.

You might, or might not, have some of these Services installed and running.

In my case "SQL Server Reporting Services" was opening port 80.

Answer 4

use netstat -bano in an elevated command prompt to see what apps are listening on which ports.

But Usually following applications uses port 80 in windows.

1. IIS
2. World Wide Web Publishing service
3. IIS Admin Service
4. SQL Server Reporting services
5. Web Deployment Agent Service

Stop above applications if running and check!!!