Help! My Website is Down! Fixing 'httpd.exe System Error

Help! My Website is Down! Fixing 'httpd.exe System Error' and Apache Issues in XAMPP"

Is your XAMPP not working?  You try to start Apache, but instead of that happy green light, you get a scary error message like "httpd.exe System Error" or maybe Apache just refuses to start at all?  Don't panic!  It's a common problem, and luckily, it's usually fixable without needing to be a computer genius.

This guide is for anyone using XAMPP on Windows who's facing these frustrating Apache startup problems. We'll break down the most common reasons and show you simple steps to get your local website back up and running.  Let's get started and make those errors disappear!

Why is Apache Giving Me Trouble in XAMPP?

Think of Apache as the engine that powers your local websites in XAMPP.  When it doesn't start, your websites are stuck in the garage!  Here are a few usual suspects for these "httpd.exe System Error" and Apache startup problems:

Missing "Ingredients" (vcruntime140.dll problem): Sometimes, Apache needs certain "ingredients" to run properly. The vcruntime140.dll file is like one of those ingredients. If it's missing or broken on your computer, Apache will complain. This is a very common reason for the "System Error".

Traffic Jams (Port Conflicts): Imagine your computer has doors for different programs to talk to the internet. Apache needs to use a specific "door" (called a port). If another program is already using that same door, Apache can't get in and start! This is called a port conflict.

Security Guards Getting in the Way (Firewall/Antivirus): Your firewall or antivirus software are like security guards for your computer. Sometimes, they can be too helpful and mistakenly block Apache from starting, thinking it's something bad.

Something Went Wrong Inside XAMPP (Configuration Issues): Less often, but sometimes, something might be a bit messed up in XAMPP's settings, causing Apache to stumble.

Let's Fix It!  Simple Steps to Solve 'httpd.exe System Error' and Apache Not Starting in XAMPP

We'll go through these fixes one by one, starting with the easiest and most common solutions.  Try them in order, and hopefully, one of them will get Apache running smoothly again!

Fix 1: Install the Missing 'Ingredient' - vcruntime140.dll (Visual C++ Redistributable)

This is often the #1 reason for the "httpd.exe System Error"!  The vcruntime140.dll file is part of something called "Visual C++ Redistributable". Think of it like a set of tools that many programs, including Apache, need to work. If it's missing or broken, Apache will throw an error.

Here's how to fix it:

Google It: Open your web browser (like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) and search for: "Visual C++ Redistributable latest download"

Go to the Official Microsoft Link: Look for the official Microsoft download page in the search results. It will usually be titled something like "Latest supported Visual C++ Redistributable downloads". Important: Make sure it's from microsoft.com to be safe.

Find the Right Version: On the Microsoft page, look for the section that mentions "Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015-2019" or a slightly newer version (like 2015-2022). They usually bundle these together.

Download the Right File (x64 or x86):

For 64-bit Windows: Download the x64 version. Most computers these days are 64-bit.

For 32-bit Windows: Download the x86 version. (If you're not sure, it's more likely you have 64-bit).

If you're unsure which Windows version you have: Type "System Information" in your Windows search bar and open the "System Information" app. Look for "System type". It will say "x64-based PC" (for 64-bit) or "x86-based PC" (for 32-bit).

Install It: Once downloaded, run the installer file you downloaded (it will be an .exe file). Just follow the on-screen instructions. Usually, you just need to click "Install" and "Next".

Restart Your Computer: After the installation is finished, restart your computer. This is important to make sure the changes take effect.

Try Starting Apache Again in XAMPP: Open the XAMPP Control Panel and click "Start" next to Apache. Fingers crossed, it should turn green this time!

Fix 2:  Check for Traffic Jams - Port Conflicts (Port 80 and 443)

If installing the Visual C++ stuff didn't work, the next most common problem is a "traffic jam" or port conflict.  Apache usually uses "doors" (ports) 80 and 443 to talk to your web browser. If another program is using these doors, Apache can't start.

How to check and fix port conflicts:

XAMPP Control Panel - Error Message (if any): When you try to start Apache in the XAMPP Control Panel, look closely at any error messages that appear in the log area (the bottom part of the Control Panel). Sometimes it might tell you directly about a port conflict, mentioning port 80 or 443.

Use XAMPP's Port Check:

In the XAMPP Control Panel, click the "Config" button next to Apache (it's usually on the same line as "Apache" and "Modules").

From the dropdown menu, choose "Apache (httpd.conf)". This will open the Apache configuration file in a text editor like Notepad.

Press Ctrl + F (or Cmd + F on Mac if you're somehow using XAMPP on Mac, though this article is focused on Windows errors) to open the "Find" window.

Type in Listen 80 and click "Find Next". You'll find a line that says Listen 80 (or maybe Listen 8080 or something similar if ports have been changed before). Note down the number after Listen (usually 80).

Do the same search for Listen 443 and note down the port number (usually 443).

Check if Ports are in Use:

In the XAMPP Control Panel, click the "Netstat" button (it's usually next to "Shell" and "Explorer"). This will show you a list of programs that are using network ports on your computer.

Look through the list for programs that are using ports 80 or 443 (or whatever ports you noted down in the previous step from the httpd.conf file).

Programs that commonly use ports 80 and 443 and can cause conflicts:

Skype: Older versions of Skype often used port 80. If you have Skype running, try closing it completely.

IIS (Internet Information Services): IIS is Microsoft's web server, often comes with Windows. If IIS is running, it might be using port 80. You might need to disable IIS if you want to use XAMPP on port 80. (Disabling IIS is a bit more advanced, we can cover that if needed, but first, see if closing other obvious programs helps).

Other Web Servers: If you've installed another web server program before, it might be conflicting.

Change Apache's Ports (if needed): If you find another program using ports 80 or 443 and you can't easily close that program, you can tell Apache to use different "doors" (ports).

Edit httpd.conf again: Go back to the httpd.conf file (Config -> Apache (httpd.conf) in the XAMPP Control Panel).

Find the line Listen 80 and change it to something like Listen 8080 (or Listen 81, Listen 8000, etc. - choose a port number that's not commonly used, usually numbers above 8000 are good).

Find the line Listen 443 (if you found one) and change it to something like Listen 4433 (or Listen 444, etc.). If you don't see a Listen 443 line, skip this for now.

Find ServerName localhost:80: Search for ServerName localhost:80. Change :80 to match the new port you chose for port 80 (e.g., :8080). If you changed port 443, also look for ServerName localhost:443 and change the port there too.

Save the httpd.conf file: Click "File" -> "Save" in the text editor.

Restart Apache: Try starting Apache in the XAMPP Control Panel again.

Access your website with the new port: If you changed the port to 8080, you'll now access your local website in your browser by typing localhost:8080 instead of just localhost.

Fix 3:  Tell Your Security Guards to Chill Out - Firewall/Antivirus

Sometimes, your firewall or antivirus software might be overprotective and block Apache from starting or working properly.

How to check and fix firewall/antivirus issues:

Temporarily Disable Firewall/Antivirus (for testing ONLY): As a test, temporarily disable your Windows Firewall and your antivirus software. Important: Only do this for a short time to test if it's the problem, and remember to turn them back on afterwards!

Disable Windows Firewall: Search for "Windows Defender Firewall" in your Windows search bar and open it. Click "Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off" in the left menu. Choose "Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended)" for both "Private network settings" and "Public network settings". Click "OK".

Disable Antivirus: The way to disable your antivirus varies depending on the software. Usually, you can right-click on its icon in the system tray (bottom right corner of your screen) and look for an option to "Disable protection" or "Turn off".

Try Starting Apache Again: After temporarily disabling your firewall/antivirus, try starting Apache in the XAMPP Control Panel. If it starts working now, then your firewall/antivirus was indeed the problem.

If Firewall/Antivirus was the Problem - Create Exceptions (Recommended): Don't leave your firewall and antivirus disabled permanently! 

Instead, you need to tell them to "allow" Apache to work. You need to create "exceptions" or "rules" in your firewall and antivirus for:

httpd.exe: The Apache executable file. You can find the path to httpd.exe in your XAMPP installation folder (usually C:\xampp\apache\bin\httpd.exe).

Ports 80 and 443 (or the ports you are using for Apache): Allow incoming and outgoing connections on ports 80 and 443 (or your custom ports) for httpd.exe.

How to create exceptions varies depending on your firewall and antivirus software. You'll usually find options for "Allow an app through firewall" or "Add exception" in their settings. Refer to the help documentation of your specific firewall and antivirus software for instructions on how to create exceptions for programs and ports.

Re-enable Firewall and Antivirus: After creating the exceptions, remember to turn your firewall and antivirus back on.

Test Again: Try starting Apache in XAMPP again. It should now start and work even with your firewall and antivirus enabled because you've created the necessary exceptions.

Fix 4:  Restart Your Computer (Sometimes It's Just That Simple!)

Sounds too simple, but sometimes a good old computer restart can magically fix things!  Restarting your computer can clear up temporary glitches and free up resources that might be causing Apache to stumble.  It's always worth a try!

Fix 5:  Reinstall XAMPP (Last Resort - If Nothing Else Works)

If you've tried all the above fixes and Apache is still refusing to start, as a last resort, you can try reinstalling XAMPP.  Something might have gone wrong with your XAMPP installation.

How to reinstall XAMPP:

Backup Your Website Files and Databases! Important: Before uninstalling XAMPP, make sure you backup any website files you've created in the htdocs folder (usually in C:\xampp\htdocs) and any databases you've created in phpMyAdmin. You don't want to lose your work!

Backup website files: Copy the contents of your htdocs folder to a safe location outside of the XAMPP folder.

Backup databases: Use phpMyAdmin (access it in your browser by typing localhost/phpmyadmin). Export your databases (usually by selecting each database in the left menu and then going to "Export"). Save the exported .sql files to a safe location.

Uninstall XAMPP: Use the XAMPP uninstaller. You can usually find it in the XAMPP installation folder or through the Windows "Add or remove programs" settings.

Download the Latest XAMPP: Go to the official Apache Friends XAMPP website (https://www.apachefriends.org/download.html) and download the latest version of XAMPP for Windows.

Install XAMPP Again: Run the XAMPP installer you downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions to install it again.

Restore Your Website Files and Databases:

Restore website files: Copy your backed-up website files back into the new htdocs folder of your newly installed XAMPP.

Restore databases: Use phpMyAdmin again (access it in your browser using the new XAMPP installation). Create new databases with the same names as your backed-up databases. Then, import your backed-up .sql files into the newly created databases (usually by selecting the database in the left menu and then going to "Import").

Try Starting Apache Again: Open the new XAMPP Control Panel and try starting Apache. Hopefully, a fresh installation will fix any underlying issues.

Still Stuck?  Don't Panic!

If you've tried all these steps and Apache is still giving you trouble, don't give up!

Double-Check Error Messages: Carefully read any error messages you see in the XAMPP Control Panel. They might give you clues about what's still going wrong. Search online for the specific error message.

Search Online (Google, etc.): Search online for your specific error message ("httpd.exe System Error XAMPP", "Apache not starting in XAMPP", etc.). You might find forum posts or other articles with solutions that are specific to your situation.

Ask for Help: If you're still completely stuck, consider asking for help in online forums or communities related to XAMPP, web development, or local server setup. Provide as much detail as possible about the error messages you're seeing and the steps you've already tried.

Get Back to Building!

Hopefully, one of these fixes has helped you solve the "httpd.exe System Error" or Apache startup problems in XAMPP and you can get back to building your amazing websites locally!  These are the most common reasons for these issues, and with a little troubleshooting, you can usually get things working again.