Hi Guys,
Today’s topic is-
Port 80 in use by system!
Very often Techies, to narrow it down and call Web developers and relatively other developers encounter this line text.
This line of text “Port 80 in use by system” is not just a text message. This line of text is an error message thrown out of Xampp control panel. This will be quite disgusting when developers find no clue for why this message is been shown up all of a sudden.
Here is what the exact error that you might see as:
Problem detected!
Port 80 in use by “system”!
Apache WILL NOT start without the configured ports free!
You need to uninstall/disable/reconfigure the blocking application or reconfigure Apache to listen on a different port

Xampp port 80 issues – port 80 in use by system
Here is what I have found out!
When you install multiple local servers on local computer’s like IIS from Microsoft and Xampp from Apache friends – each of the servers need a port to listen through. Listening in the sence – what I’ve understood is that it is the command that the user gives the server.
For example – You tell to load your local website set up on your system. See below:
The server will respond to your command and load your website on the browser. That is the server listens and does it in return!!
By default any server that is been installed on your personal computers would listen through “Port number – 80“. It is the default port set for any servers to listen through and react. Though there are many other ports available – this is considered as standard by default.
As far as you have a single server installed on your system – either IIS or Xampp, you don’t run into this Port issue. When you install both the servers installed on a single system – you will encounter this issue.
If it is imperative that you should have both the servers on a single machine – Don’t worry – I have the found the solution.
So that means to say – IIS will still use Port 80 as default. But, Xampp will consider port 81 as default. However, this doesn’t happen automatically – you have to do some modifications to one of the files inside Xampp.

Xampp port 80 issues – port 80 in use by system – httpd conf file
Find the file under the above directory and open the same with the help of any editor. Preferably, Notepad++ which is a small and efficient program for any such quick edits.
First, you need to quit Xampp control panel and then follow the steps.
Please follow the instruction very carefully – any misjudgment and misinterpretation would lead to error.
Step 1: Open httpd.conf with the help of an editor
Step2: Go to line number 47 and change [ Listen 80 to Listen 81 ]. Also feel free to change the same where ever you encounter port number “80” in the file. Better you do a find and replace – so that you won’t miss any occurrence of the “Port number“.
For your convenience I shall list it out – Line number 45, 46, 47 and 184. Make sure that you have made change to all the four occurrence to be on safer side.

Xampp port 80 issues – port 80 in use by system – edit line 45 46 47
Step3: Save and close the file and then run Xampp once again. Now, click on the start button next to Apache – It will run correctly. How ever you will still see the error “Port 80 in use by system” listed out there . But, you need not worry about that error listed there.

Xampp port 80 issues – port 80 in use by system – apache server running again
From now on – when ever you want to load your local website – please, be sure to type in the port number after localhost. Please see below:

Xampp port 80 issues – port 80 in use by system – new localhost url
Also, if you want it the other way – you can do it. You can leave “Port 80” for Xampp and change IIS server port to 81. Feel free to visit http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8103924/xampp-port-80-is-busy-easyphp-error-in-apache-configuration-file for more expert talks. You can see people talk about their experience on the same issue.
Guys, that’s it – Hope you got a nice piece of information on solving issues with “Port 80 in use by system“. If you found this article useful – please feel free to share across your friendship network.
Any queries regarding this – please feel free to comment it below on the comment box provided.
i wasted aeound 2 hr in searching solution for running xamp
this is the ultimate solution one can xpect……….thnx from the core of my hert
Hi Mayuresh,
Welcome and I’m glad that this post helped you to solve your problems with running XAMPP.
Thanks!
Sumesh M.S
thanks a bunch. your solution hs saved me alot
Hi Masifas,
Glad to know that this solution has helped you solve your issue with port 80 issue while installing xampp!!
Thanks!
Sumesh M.S
Thanks, after blocking SQL Reporting Services and changing in Config file. MY Xaampp working fine.
Hi Isaac,
You are always welcome!
Great to here this tutorial helped you solve your issue with XAMPP port.
Thanks!
Sumesh M.S
I am very thankful to Mr. Sumesh. My problem was solved from your suggestion. Thank u a lot.
Hi Dipak,
Glad to hear that your problem was solved following my solution. Great!
Thank you so much!!!! I have been burning a lot of midnight oil on this…
You have helped so much. :0
Hey,
Great to hear that the solutions I put over here help people!
Love this. solved my problem. Keep on!
Your welcome!
Thanx Buddy
You are welcome!
Thanks alot sir,it worked like magic you dont know how much this means to me,you just made my christmas.Merry christmas to you sir
Great, it worked for you Mide! and sorry for being late on this
Thank you so much
Dankie Boss!
You’re welcome Nelly!
Thank you so much
You’re welcome!
thank you
You are always welcome Yassine!
how to solve this problem pls
Error: Apache shutdown unexpectedly.
This may be due to a blocked port, missing dependencies,
improper privileges, a crash, or a shutdown by another method.
Press the Logs button to view error logs and check
the Windows Event Viewer for more clues
If you need more help, copy and post this
entire log window on the forums
Problem detected!
Port 443 in use by “”C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation\vmware-hostd.exe” -u “C:\ProgramData\VMware\hostd\config.xml”" with PID 3700!
Apache WILL NOT start without the configured ports free!
You need to uninstall/disable/reconfigure the blocking application
or reconfigure Apache and the Control Panel to listen on a different port
Hi Manikandan,
It points to a blocked port. So – to say, that there is another process that is blocking/using the port that xampp usually uses. 99 out of 100% chances are that Skype might be using the same port as xampp.
So, can you consider unchecking the use of port in Skype configuration. Do you know how to do that?
Nice. Thanks.
You are always welcome
Really Helpfull
Really helpfull, I’ve been stuck in running Apache since morning but with this I’ve made it work correctly.
Awesome!
Hi Sumesh,
Your post helped me out a lot thanks, but I still seem to have an issue when I try to open my local host all I get is ” the page cannot be displayed” and ideas?
Hi Ricardo,
Can you make sure that xampp is running and both apache and MySQL is running as well.
If they are running correctly. Check if Microsoft IIS is running in parallel on you system along with Xampp. If so, go to task manager and stop IIS and check if you are able to view your localhost page now.
If that doesn’t solve yet. Please, can you email me what exactly is the issue you are facing there along with screenshots of Xampp and the web browser with the “the page cannot be displayed” message.
Hi Sumesh,
Thanks for the reply. Yes both the Apache and the MySQL server are running correctly however the iis is not running I had to stop it because it was taking up port 80 so when I shut it off the port 80 became available and apache pick it up and started running correctly. When I hit the admin button on the xampp control panel the local host web page just says his page cannot be displayed.
Hi Ricardo,
When we click on the admin button it will throw error some times.
Anyways, what is the URL you see in the browser address bar when you click on the admin button on Xampp?
Mean time try this,
I would suggest you to do this:-
1. Go to C:\xampp\apache\conf
2. Find and open httpd.conf file with any text/html editor [Notepad++ - preferably]
3. Find this line [ServerName localhost:]
4. Copy the entire line there and paste it here as comment. Actually, that should be the URL for your localhost.
http://localhost/xampp/
Okay Ricardo,
Did you do what I said in the comment earlier? Did you happen to open the .config file?
I did Sumesh and I get the same thing maybe I’m missing something. I should explain a little better. so our server crashed and I had to reinstall it and I reinstalled XAMPP on it so I can reinstall our Joomla intranet back on it. I have those back up files but the fact that I cant get to the admin page to put back on is where im stuck
Hi Ricardo,
Sorry – I’m not sure what this issue is. Can you post this question onto Stackoverflow.com. People there might help you.
how to activate FTP, SMTP and tomcat service
I updated to Windows 10 yesterday, and I’m guessing this is what caused my XXAMP/Apache to crash. I found your resolution and it worked for me. THANKS
This is by far one of the most prolific resolutions I have encountered in all my troubleshooting years. Thank you Sumesh M.S, your intelligence in cunning.
please help for the following error i am facing while loading http://localhost:81/phpmyadmin/
Error
MySQL said: Documentation
Cannot connect: invalid settings.
Connection for controluser as defined in your configuration failed.
phpMyAdmin tried to connect to the MySQL server, and the server rejected the connection. You should check the host, username and password in your configuration and make sure that they correspond to the information given by the administrator of the MySQL server.
thanks a lot Mr Sumesh M.S.
This was cool ..thank you guru
Hey
mysql is not running in xampp control pannel, i have changed port number also still it is not working, apachi is working fine but mysql is not working it showing me read color what can i do? how can i start mysql in xampp controll pannel help me .