Port 80: HTTP
Unencrypted web traffic.
- Port
- 80
- Protocol
- TCP
- Service
- HTTP
- Exposure
- Normal to expose when the host is meant to offer this service
What is port 80 used for?
Websites and APIs; usually only to redirect to HTTPS.
Is it safe to expose port 80 to the internet?
Fine to expose on a web server, but serve content over HTTPS and redirect port 80 to 443.
If port 80 seems closed or unreachable
- Check that the HTTP service is running and listening on port 80, not only on 127.0.0.1.
- Check the firewall on the host itself (Windows Defender Firewall, iptables, nftables, ufw) for a rule that allows TCP 80.
- If the host is behind a router, confirm the forwarding rule points to the correct internal address and that your internet provider does not use carrier-grade NAT.
- Test from outside your own network. A port can be open locally and blocked at the edge, or the other way round.
Using port 80 safely
Port 80 is normally open on a server that provides this service. Keep the software current, use encryption where available and monitor the service like any other public endpoint.
Check whether port 80 is open on your host
The check connects from our server, so it shows what the internet can reach.
Open the port checker