How to Change the Port of Apache or Nginx

What this is

This guide explains how to change the port used by Apache or Nginx (for example from 80 to 8080).

What it is for

• Run multiple web services on the same server
• Avoid conflicts (port already in use)
• Test a staging site on a different port

Prerequisites

• SSH + sudo
• Know which web server you use

Step-by-step

Step 1) Confirm what is listening on ports

sudo ss -lntp | grep -E ":80|:8080"

Apache: change port

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/ports.conf

Change/add:

Listen 8080

Also update your site config if needed (<VirtualHost *:8080>).

RHEL-based:

sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf

Change:

Listen 8080

Nginx: change port

Edit the server block:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/default

Change:

listen 8080;

RHEL note: configs often in /etc/nginx/nginx.conf or /etc/nginx/conf.d/.

Step 2) Test configuration

Apache:

sudo apachectl configtest || sudo httpd -t

Nginx:

sudo nginx -t

Step 3) Open the new port in the firewall

UFW:

sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp

firewalld:

sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=8080/tcp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Step 4) Restart service

Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2 || sudo systemctl restart httpd

Nginx:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Step 5) Verify

curl -I http://127.0.0.1:8080

Conclusion

Port changes require 3 things: update config, open firewall, restart and verify.