Port 8080 — HTTP alternate
TCP registered
What runs on port 8080
The most common alternative HTTP port: Tomcat, Jenkins, proxies, and anything that cannot bind to 80 without root.
Security considerations
Frequently left open by accident. Anything on 8080 is scanned as thoroughly as anything on 80.
Checking whether something is listening
# Linux / macOS — what is bound to the port
sudo lsof -i :8080
sudo ss -lntp | grep :8080
# Windows
netstat -ano | findstr :8080
Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 8080
# is it reachable from outside?
nc -zv example.com 8080
curl -v telnet://example.com:8080
Freeing the port
# find the process, then stop it
sudo lsof -ti :8080 | xargs kill # Linux / macOS
netstat -ano | findstr :8080 # note the PID, then:
taskkill /PID <pid> /F # Windows
Should this port be open to the internet?
Yes — that is what it is for. Make sure whatever is listening is something you intend to expose, and that TLS is configured properly.
Quick reference
| Port | 8080 |
| Protocol | TCP |
| Service | HTTP alternate |
| Range | Registered (1024–49151) — any user process may bind |
Frequently asked questions
What is port 8080 used for?
The most common alternative HTTP port: Tomcat, Jenkins, proxies, and anything that cannot bind to 80 without root.
Is it safe to open port 8080?
Frequently left open by accident. Anything on 8080 is scanned as thoroughly as anything on 80.
How do I check if port 8080 is open?
Locally, sudo lsof -i :8080 on macOS or Linux, or netstat -ano | findstr :8080 on Windows. From outside, nc -zv host 8080 tells you whether anything answers.
Why do I get "address already in use" on port 8080?
Another process is bound to it — often a previous run of your own program that did not exit cleanly. Find it with lsof -ti :8080 and stop it, or configure your application to use a different port.
Can I change the port this service uses?
Almost always yes, in the service's configuration. Moving off a default port reduces automated scan noise, but it is obfuscation rather than security — a real attacker scans all 65,535.