localhost:1313 - Hugo Static Site Generator Port Guide


Updated on Aug 2, 2025

localhost:1313

Hugo Static Site Generator Port

⚡ Open localhost:1313

Access your Hugo development server with live reload

Localhost:1313 is exclusively associated with Hugo, the world’s fastest static site generator. “Localhost” refers to your own computer (typically mapped to IP address 127.0.0.1), and “1313” is the unique port number that Hugo chose for its development server. When you see localhost:1313, you’re almost certainly looking at a Hugo development server in action.

Hugo chose port 1313 as its default because it serves as a unique identifier that rarely conflicts with other services, making it instantly recognizable to developers working with static sites. The port supports JAMstack development workflows, Hugo-powered documentation projects, and Hugo-based blog and content sites, providing developers with instant feedback during the development process.

Services and Software That Use Port 1313

Port 1313 is almost exclusively used by Hugo and Hugo-related tools. Here’s what you’ll typically find running on this port:

⚡ Hugo Static Site Generator

📝 Content Development

  • Blog Development: Hugo-powered personal and corporate blogs
  • Documentation Sites: Technical documentation with Hugo
  • Portfolio Sites: Personal and professional portfolios
  • Company Websites: Corporate sites built with Hugo
  • Landing Pages: Marketing and product landing pages

🎨 Theme Development

🚀 JAMstack Development

  • Static Site Development: Modern JAMstack workflows
  • Headless CMS Integration: Hugo with headless content management
  • API Integration: Connecting Hugo sites with external APIs
  • Build Process Testing: Testing site generation and deployment
  • Performance Optimization: Optimizing static site performance

When you run hugo server, it automatically starts on port 1313 and becomes available at http://localhost:1313/. The Hugo development server includes live reload functionality that automatically refreshes your browser when you make changes to content files, templates, static assets, or configuration files, providing fast rebuilds typically under 1ms.

How to Troubleshoot Localhost:1313

If you can’t access localhost:1313, here’s how to diagnose and fix common Hugo development server issues:

🔍 Step 1: Check if Hugo Server is Running

Action: Confirm that Hugo development server is active and listening on port 1313.

How to check:

  • Start Hugo: hugo server or hugo server -D for drafts
  • Check terminal: Look for "Web Server is available at http://localhost:1313/"
  • Verify Hugo installation: hugo version
  • Check current directory: Ensure you're in a Hugo project directory

🚫 Step 2: Resolve Port Conflicts

Action: Ensure no other Hugo server or application is using port 1313.

How to fix:

  • Find conflicting process: lsof -i :1313 (macOS/Linux) or netstat -ano | findstr :1313 (Windows)
  • Stop the process: kill -9 <PID>
  • Use different port: hugo server --port 1314

🔧 Step 3: Fix Hugo Configuration Issues

Action: Resolve Hugo project configuration or content issues.

How to fix:

  • Check config file: Verify config.yaml, config.toml, or hugo.toml syntax
  • Validate content: Check for front matter errors in markdown files
  • Theme issues: Ensure theme is properly installed and configured

🌐 Step 4: Test the Connection

Action: Verify that Hugo development server is accessible.

How to test:

  • Browser: Navigate to http://localhost:1313
  • Command line: curl http://localhost:1313
  • Network access: Use hugo server --bind 0.0.0.0 for external access

Access localhost:1313 from Other Devices

If you can not reach localhost:1313 from other devices, it is probably because you are on a different network. Use Pinggy tunnel to easily access it from anywhere:

ssh -p 443 -R0:localhost:1313 free.pinggy.io

This command creates a secure tunnel that forwards traffic from a public URL to your local Hugo development server on port 1313, allowing you to:

  • Share your Hugo site with team members or clients
  • Test on mobile devices without being on the same network
  • Demo your static site from anywhere in the world
  • Preview your content on different devices and browsers

The tunnel provides a public URL that you can share, making your localhost:1313 Hugo development server accessible from any device with internet access.

Common Problems and Solutions

Here are typical issues with localhost:1313 and how to resolve them:

❌ "Port Already in Use" Error

Problem: Another Hugo server or application is occupying port 1313.

Solution: Find the conflicting process with lsof -i :1313, stop it with kill -9 <PID>, or use a different port with hugo server --port 1314.

⚠️ Hugo Server Won't Start

Problem: Hugo server fails to start due to configuration or content errors.

Solution: Check Hugo version with hugo version, verify you're in a Hugo project directory, and check terminal output for specific error messages.

🔄 Live Reload Not Working

Problem: Changes to content or templates don't automatically refresh the browser.

Solution: Check browser console for WebSocket errors, disable browser extensions, clear cache, or restart Hugo server with hugo server.

🎨 Theme Issues

Problem: Site doesn't display correctly or theme-related errors occur.

Solution: Verify theme installation, update theme submodules with git submodule update --remote, and check theme configuration in config file.

📝 Content Not Showing

Problem: New content or pages don't appear on the site.

Solution: Use hugo server -D to show draft content, check front matter syntax, verify file paths, and ensure content is in the correct directory structure.

🌐 Can't Access from Other Devices

Problem: localhost:1313 only works on the local machine.

Solution: Use hugo server --bind 0.0.0.0 to allow network access, then access via your IP address like http://192.168.1.100:1313.

Summary

  • What it is: localhost:1313 is the default address (IP 127.0.0.1, port 1313) for Hugo static site generator development server.
  • Who uses it: Web developers building static sites, blogs, documentation, and JAMstack applications with Hugo.
  • Troubleshooting: Check if Hugo server is running, resolve port conflicts, fix configuration issues, and test connectivity.
  • Common fixes: Start Hugo server, free up the port, fix config/content errors, or enable draft content viewing.

🚀 Quick Start Commands

# Create new Hugo site
hugo new site my-site && cd my-site

# Start development server
hugo server -D

# Access your site
open http://localhost:1313

Use these commands to quickly get started with Hugo on localhost:1313

Port 1313 is synonymous with Hugo development, providing developers with a fast, reliable, and feature-rich development server. Whether you’re building a personal blog, corporate documentation, or a complex static site, localhost:1313 is where your Hugo journey begins and where you’ll spend most of your development time.