localhost:5173 - Vite Development Server Port Guide


Updated on Aug 2, 2025

localhost:5173

Vite Development Server Port

⚡ Open localhost:5173

Access your Vite development server with lightning-fast HMR

Localhost:5173 is the default port for Vite, the next-generation frontend build tool that has revolutionized modern web development. “Localhost” refers to your own computer (typically mapped to IP address 127.0.0.1), and “5173” is Vite’s unique port number. When you see localhost:5173, you’re looking at Vite’s lightning-fast development server in action.

Port 5173 is Vite’s clever choice as it spells “VITE” when read as “V1T3” (5=V, 1=I, 7=T, 3=E), making it a memorable and unique identifier for Vite-powered development servers. Vite has become the preferred build tool for modern frontend frameworks, offering instant server start and lightning-fast Hot Module Replacement (HMR).

Services and Software That Use Port 5173

Port 5173 is primarily used by Vite and Vite-powered applications across the modern frontend ecosystem. Here are the main applications:

⚡ Vite-Powered Frameworks

  • Vue.js 3: Default build tool for Vue 3 projects
  • React with Vite: Modern alternative to Create React App
  • SvelteKit: Svelte's application framework using Vite
  • Solid.js: Reactive JavaScript library with Vite
  • Lit: Web components library with Vite support

🛠️ Development Tools

📱 Modern Web Applications

  • Single Page Applications: SPAs built with Vite
  • Progressive Web Apps: PWAs using Vite build process
  • TypeScript Applications: TS projects with built-in Vite support
  • Vanilla JavaScript: Modern JS projects without frameworks
  • Web Components: Custom element development with Vite

🎨 Frontend Tooling

  • CSS Frameworks: Tailwind CSS, UnoCSS with Vite
  • Component Libraries: UI library development with Vite
  • Micro-frontends: Module federation with Vite
  • Static Site Generators: VitePress for documentation
  • Design Systems: Component system development

When you run a Vite development server with npm run dev, yarn dev, or pnpm dev, it automatically starts on port 5173 and becomes available at http://localhost:5173/. Vite’s development server provides lightning-fast Hot Module Replacement (HMR) with instant server start, native ES modules support, optimized dependency pre-bundling, and built-in TypeScript support.

How to Troubleshoot Localhost:5173

If you can’t access localhost:5173, here’s how to diagnose and fix common Vite development server issues:

🔍 Step 1: Check if Vite Server is Running

Action: Confirm that Vite development server is active and listening on port 5173.

How to check:

  • Start Vite: npm run dev, yarn dev, or pnpm dev
  • Check terminal: Look for "Local: http://localhost:5173/" message
  • Verify project setup: Ensure you're in a Vite project directory
  • Check package.json: Verify dev script is configured correctly

🚫 Step 2: Resolve Port Conflicts

Action: Ensure no other application is using port 5173.

How to fix:

  • Find conflicting process: lsof -i :5173 (Linux/macOS) or netstat -ano | findstr :5173 (Windows)
  • Stop the process: kill -9 <PID>
  • Use different port: npm run dev -- --port 5174

🔧 Step 3: Fix Vite Configuration Issues

Action: Resolve Vite configuration or dependency issues.

How to fix:

  • Check vite.config.js: Verify configuration syntax and plugins
  • Install dependencies: npm install or yarn install
  • Clear cache: Remove node_modules/.vite directory

🌐 Step 4: Test the Connection

Action: Verify that Vite development server is accessible.

How to test:

  • Browser: Navigate to http://localhost:5173
  • Command line: curl http://localhost:5173
  • Network access: Use npm run dev -- --host for external access

Access localhost:5173 from Other Devices

If you can not reach localhost:5173 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:5173 free.pinggy.io

This command creates a secure tunnel that forwards traffic from a public URL to your local Vite development server on port 5173, allowing you to:

  • Share your Vue/React app with team members or clients
  • Test on mobile devices without being on the same network
  • Demo your application from anywhere in the world
  • Debug Vite applications on different devices and browsers

The tunnel provides a public URL that you can share, making your localhost:5173 Vite development server accessible from any device with internet access.

Common Problems and Solutions

Here are typical issues with localhost:5173 and how to resolve them:

❌ "Port Already in Use" Error

Problem: Another application is occupying port 5173.

Solution: Find the conflicting process with lsof -i :5173, stop it with kill -9 <PID>, or use a different port with npm run dev -- --port 5174.

⚠️ Vite Server Won't Start

Problem: Vite development server fails to start due to configuration or dependency issues.

Solution: Run npm install to install dependencies, check vite.config.js for syntax errors, and clear Vite cache by removing node_modules/.vite.

🔄 HMR Not Working

Problem: Hot Module Replacement doesn't update changes automatically.

Solution: Check browser console for WebSocket errors, verify file watching in your IDE, restart Vite server, or check HMR configuration in vite.config.js.

🌐 Can't Access from Other Devices

Problem: localhost:5173 only works on the local machine.

Solution: Use npm run dev -- --host to allow network access, then access via your IP address like http://192.168.1.100:5173.

🐌 Slow Initial Load

Problem: Vite server takes a long time to start or load initially.

Solution: Clear node_modules and reinstall with rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json && npm install, remove node_modules/.vite cache, or optimize dependencies in vite.config.js.

🔌 Plugin Issues

Problem: Vite plugins cause errors or don't work correctly.

Solution: Check plugin compatibility with your Vite version, verify plugin configuration in vite.config.js, and update plugins to latest versions.

Summary

  • What it is: localhost:5173 is the default address (IP 127.0.0.1, port 5173) for Vite development server.
  • Who uses it: Frontend developers building modern web applications with Vue.js, React, Svelte, and other frameworks using Vite.
  • Troubleshooting: Check if Vite server is running, resolve port conflicts, fix configuration issues, and test connectivity.
  • Common fixes: Start Vite server, free up the port, install dependencies, or clear Vite cache.

🚀 Quick Start Commands

# Create Vue project
npm create vue@latest my-app && cd my-app && npm install

# Create React project
npm create vite@latest my-app -- --template react

# Start development server
npm run dev

Use these commands to quickly get started with Vite on localhost:5173

Port 5173 represents the future of frontend development, providing developers with an incredibly fast and efficient development experience. Whether you’re building a Vue.js application, a React project, or any modern frontend application, localhost:5173 is where Vite’s magic happens, delivering the speed and developer experience that modern web development demands.