localhost:5500: what runs on it and how to open it
Port 5500 is the default for the VS Code Live Server extension. How to open it and fix errors.
Open this address: http://localhost:5500This opens on your own computer. It only works if the program is running.
localhost:5500 is where the Live Server extension in Visual Studio Code shows your HTML files. It opens when you click Go Live, and stops when you click the status bar again.
What runs on localhost:5500
- Live Server extension in Visual Studio Code, which serves the folder you opened
Commands to start and test port 5500
"liveServer.settings.port": 5501Find what is using port 5500
Run these in a terminal on your computer. Nothing is sent to this site.
If localhost:5500 will not open
- Go Live does not appear
- Install the Live Server extension, and open a folder in VS Code, not just a single file.
- The page does not reload when you save
- Live Server reloads the page when a saved file changes. Check that you saved and that the page opened from the Live Server address, not from a file on disk.
- Port 5500 is already in use
- Another program is on port 5500. Find it with the tool below and stop it, or start yours on another port.
- This site can’t be reached (ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED)
- The server is not running. Start it and keep that terminal open. See the full checklist.
Other ports like 5500
| Port | Usually used by |
|---|---|
| localhost:3000 | React, Next.js, Express |
| localhost:5173 | Vite dev server |
| localhost:4200 | Angular dev server |
| localhost:5000 | Flask |
| localhost:8000 | Django, PHP, Python |
| localhost:8080 | Tomcat, Spring Boot, Docker |
| localhost:8888 | Jupyter Notebook |
Questions about localhost:5500
- How do I start Live Server?
- Open your project folder in VS Code and click Go Live in the bottom right bar.
- Is localhost:5500 the same as 127.0.0.1:5500?
- Yes. Both point to your own computer.
- Is localhost:5500 safe?
- Yes, as long as it stays on localhost. Only your own computer can reach localhost:5500. It becomes reachable from other devices only if you start the program on 0.0.0.0 or your computer's IP address. Development servers are for testing, so do not put them on the public internet.
- Can I use a different port instead of 5500?
- Yes. Most programs let you choose the port with a setting or a command option. Pick a free port above 1024 and open that number instead, for example localhost:5501.
- How do I check what is using port 5500?
- Use the port checker on this page. It shows the command for Windows, macOS and Linux and does not send anything to this site.
- Can I open localhost:5500 from my phone?
- Yes, if both are on the same Wi-Fi. Start the program so it listens on all addresses, then open your computer's IP address with :5500 on the phone. A firewall on the computer can still block it.
Free tools that help
- Common ports listSearch a list of common TCP and UDP port numbers: SSH 22, HTTP 80, HTTPS 443, MySQL 3306, PostgreSQL 5432 and more, with dev server ports.