XAMPP Apache fails to start due to blocked port: Error: Apache Shutdown Unexpectedly -may be due to blocked port

Today, the Apache service installed with XAMPP shutdown on me. The following error was displayed on the XAMPP Control Panel -

"Error: Apache Shutdown Unexpectedly -may be due to blocked port, missing dependencies, improper privileges, a crash, or shutdown by another method".

Check the Apache error logs which shows -

[Fri Oct 03 07:41:34.188511 2014] [ssl:warn] [pid 404:tid 400] AH01909: www.example.com:443:0 server certificate does NOT include an ID which matches the server name
[Fri Oct 03 07:41:34.360389 2014] [ssl:warn] [pid 404:tid 400] AH01909: www.example.com:443:0 server certificate does NOT include an ID which matches the server name

Let's see how to resolve this issue.


Now, I noticed that this happened after the Microsoft OFfice Lync was upgraded to Skype for business. After a little research on Google, I realized that others too are facing an issue with Apache service when Skpye is installed on the same machine. So this issue is because Skype took over the ports 40 for HTTP and 443 for HTTPS (SSL).

So if you are facing the same issue, and Skype is also required on the computer, then you can change the ports for HTTP and HTTPS (SSL) for Apache so that both Apache service and the Skype application can run without interfering with each other.

Here is a short tutorial video describing the issue and how to change the port for HTTP and HTTPS for Apache:



Change the listen port for Apache HTTP:

• Start XAMPP Control Panel
• Click the "Config" button corresponding to Apache
• Click "Apache (httpd.conf)" to open the Apache HTTPD.CONF file. The config file will open in the system's default notepad.
•  Press CTRL+F and enter "80". Click "Find Next"
• Look for "LISTEN 80"
• Change to: "LISTEN 8080"
• Save the httpd.conf file and close it

Chane the listen port for Apache HTTPS (SSL):

• Start XAMPP Control Panel
• Click the "Config" button corresponding to Apache
• Click "Apache (httpd-ssl.conf)" to open the Apache HTTPD-SSL.CONF file. The config file will open in the system's default notepad.
•  Press CTRL+F and enter "443". Click "Find Next"
• Look for "LISTEN 443"
• Change to: "LISTEN 444"
• Save the httpd-ssl.conf file and close it

 Try starting the Apache service from the XAMPP Control Panel now. It should start without the error.

Hope you found this tip helpful.