How do I remove the process currently using a port on localhost in Windows?

 

To remove or terminate the process that is currently using a port on localhost in Windows, you can use the netstat and taskkill commands. Here's how to do it with an example:

Using netstat and taskkill:

1. Identify the Port:

   • First, identify the port number that you want to free up. You can use the netstat command to list the active network connections and their associated port numbers. Replace port_number with the actual port number you want to check (e.g., 80 for HTTP).

   bash

netstat -ano | find "port_number"

Example for port 80 (HTTP):

bash

netstat -ano | find "80"

This command will display a list of network connections that are using the specified port, along with their associated Process IDs (PIDs).

Identify the Process:

• Look for the row that corresponds to the port you want to free up. Note the PID (Process Identifier) in that row. For example:

yaml

TCP    0.0.0.0:80           0.0.0.0:0            LISTENING       1234

In this example, 1234 is the PID of the process using port 80.

Terminate the Process:

• Once you have identified the PID of the process using the port, you can use the taskkill command to terminate it. Replace 1234 with the actual PID you noted.

bash

taskkill /F /PID 1234

• /F is used to forcefully terminate the process.
• /PID specifies the PID of the process to terminate.

Example:

bash

3. taskkill /F /PID 1234
   

   This command will forcefully terminate the process associated with the specified PID.

After running the taskkill command, the process using the specified port will be terminated, freeing up the port for other use.

Please be cautious when terminating processes, especially system processes, as it may affect the functionality of your computer. Ensure that you are terminating the correct process, and use this method only when necessary.