Apache is not starting from XAMPP Control Panel in Windows 10

After installing the XAMPP control panel on Windows 10, many users have reported having encountered a startup error Apache. This problem usually occurs when a process such as World Wide Publishing Service continues to run in port 80 on your device. For this reason, the Windows 10 operating system does not allow the Apache server to run, and in this way, it causes the error.

5:38:38 PM  [Apache]    Error: Apache shutdown unexpectedly.
5:38:38 PM  [Apache]    This may be due to a blocked port, missing dependencies, 
5:38:38 PM  [Apache]    improper privileges, a crash, or a shutdown by another method.
5:38:38 PM  [Apache]    Press the Logs button to view error logs and check
5:38:38 PM  [Apache]    the Windows Event Viewer for more clues
5:38:38 PM  [Apache]    If you need more help, copy and post this
5:38:38 PM  [Apache]    entire log window on the forums

In fact, port 80 on a computer was also the default TCP / IP port used by the Apaches module on XAMPP. And since two different applications cannot use the same network port, you must therefore stop it before starting the XAMPP Apache server. If you are also experiencing this problem on your device, there are some simple solutions that I have mentioned in this guide. So let’s get started.

Apache does not start from the XAMPP control panel

Clearing the World Wide Web publishing service would be the best approach to restart Apache. However, you can also get it by changing the TCP / IP port number or stopping the service if necessary. So, to fix Apache which does not start on XAMPP control panel, follow these all possible methods:

1. Clear web services
2. Change the default Apache TCP / IP port
3. Stop the World Wide Web Publishing Service

Let’s see them in detail.

1]Clear web services

To resolve the problem of starting the Apache service, you must remove the World Wide Web services from your device. But before you start, make sure that no apps depend on this service.

If everything looks correct, open the Control Panel on your Windows system.

Once it opens, select to display the control panel in Large icons or Small icons , so that you can see all of the items in Control Panel.

Among the available items, select Programs and Features option.

In the left sidebar, there is a link named Turn Windows features on or off, Click on it.

In the Windows Features dialog box, expand the Internet information services field.

Now uncheck the box concerning World Wide Web services then click on Okay to save the changes.

Once you have completed the above steps, restart your device. After that, open the XAMPP control panel and click the Start button on Apache. It should now work on port 80 of your computer.

2]Change the default Apache TCP / IP port

If for some reason the workaround of the above method doesn’t work for you, you need to configure Apache to run on another TCP / IP port. So follow these suggestions:

Open the XAMPP control panel on your Windows device.

Click on the Config Apache module button.

To select Apache (httpd.conf) in the context menu list.

On the next notebook page, you should find Listen 80.

To make searching easier, press the Ctrl + F shortcut key. In the context menu, enter what you want to search for. Mark Wrap around check box, leave Match case unchecked, then click the button Find Next button.

Once you have found the respective line, change the port number to any arbitrary number of your choice.

For example, you could try port 121. The corresponding result for the TCP / IP port number would then be something like – Listen 121.

Press the Ctrl + S shortcut key to save the changes in Notepad.

Note: Please note that when using this configuration, you should always add the TCP / IP port number to the URL that you want to connect to your site. For example, to access the Apache server on your browser, you will need to enter: localhost: 121 / dashboard rather than localhost / dashboard.

After correctly completing the above steps, the problem of starting Apache in XAMPP would be resolved.

3]Stop the World Wide Web Publishing Service

Alternatively, you must stop the World Wide Web Publishing Service and modify its settings so that the service can only be started manually. So, let’s start:

To stop the World Wide Web Publishing Service, you must first open Windows Service Manager on your Windows 10 PC.

On the Services screen, find the World Wide Web Publishing Service option under the Last name column.

Once you’ve found it, double-click it to open the properties window.

In the properties window, the General tab opens by default.

In the General tab, find Startup type and switch it over Manual. This will allow you to start the service manually when required.

To continue, stop the service status and click on Apply > Okay button.

Now open the XAMPP Control Panel and click on the Start to run the Apache server.

That’s it. I hope this guide will help you solve the problem of starting the Apache service on the XAMPP control panel.