Address already in use (port already bound) - Rocketeers app

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Address already in use (port already bound)
===========================================

### [\#Hosting](https://rocketeersapp.com/knowledge/hosting)

This error means another process is already listening on the port you tried to bind. Find what is using it and either stop that process or pick a different port.

 Published by [Mark van Eijk](https://rocketeersapp.com/author/mark-van-eijk) on June 23, 2026 · 1 minute read

1. [About the error](#content-about-the-error)
2. [Why do I see this error](#content-why-do-i-see-this-error)
3. [Solution](#content-solution)
4. [Find what's using the port](#content-find-whats-using-the-port)
5. [Stop it or kill it](#content-stop-it-or-kill-it)
6. [Or use a different port](#content-or-use-a-different-port)
7. [Crashed process, port still held](#content-crashed-process-port-still-held)

[\#](#content-about-the-error "Permalink")About the error
---------------------------------------------------------

Starting a server fails with one of these:

 ```
bind() to 0.0.0.0:80 failed (98: Address already in use)   # nginx
Error: listen EADDRINUSE: address already in use :::3000    # Node
[ERROR] Can't start server: Bind on TCP/IP port: Address already in use  # MySQL

```

Only one process can listen on a given port at a time. The bind fails because something already holds it.

[\#](#content-why-do-i-see-this-error "Permalink")Why do I see this error
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

- The service is **already running** (you started it twice).
- A previous instance crashed but didn't release the port yet.
- A **different** program is using that port (Apache holding 80 when you start nginx, another dev server on 3000).
- A `php artisan serve` or Vite process from an earlier session is still alive.

[\#](#content-solution "Permalink")Solution
-------------------------------------------

### [\#](#content-find-whats-using-the-port "Permalink")Find what's using the port

`ss` (or `lsof`) shows the process holding the port. For port 80:

 ```
sudo ss -tlnp | grep ':80'
# or
sudo lsof -i :80

```

The output includes the PID and program name, exactly what's holding it.

### [\#](#content-stop-it-or-kill-it "Permalink")Stop it or kill it

If it's a service you control, stop it properly:

 ```
sudo systemctl stop apache2     # e.g. Apache squatting on port 80

```

If it's a stray process that won't go away, kill it by PID:

 ```
kill 
# if it ignores that:
kill -9 

```

To kill whatever is on a port in one step:

 ```
sudo fuser -k 80/tcp

```

### [\#](#content-or-use-a-different-port "Permalink")Or use a different port

If you actually want both running, change the port of the one you're starting. For `artisan serve`:

 ```
php artisan serve --port=8001

```

### [\#](#content-crashed-process-port-still-held "Permalink")Crashed process, port still held

A port can stay in `TIME_WAIT` briefly after a crash. Wait a few seconds and retry, or confirm with `ss` that nothing still owns it before restarting.

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