How to solve "Error: Apache shutdown unexpectedly"?

I've just re-installed XAMPP, and when I try to start my Apache server in the XAMPP Control Panel, I now get the following errors:

16:50:25  [Apache]     Status change detected: running
16:50:26  [Apache]     Status change detected: stopped
16:50:26  [Apache]     Error: Apache shutdown unexpectedly.
16:50:26  [Apache]     This may be due to a blocked port, missing dependencies,
16:50:26  [Apache]     improper privileges, a crash, or a shutdown by another method.
16:50:26  [Apache]     Press the Logs button to view error logs and check
16:50:26  [Apache]     the Windows Event Viewer for more clues
16:50:26  [Apache]     If you need more help, copy and post this
16:50:26  [Apache]     entire log window on the forums

How do I solve this?

Solution 1:

As I am working in a corporate environment where developers faces firewall issues, none of the other answers resolved my issue.

As the port is not used by Skype, but by some other internal applications, I followed the below steps to resolve the issue:

Step 1 - From the XAMPP Control Panel, under Apache, click the Config button, and select the Apache (httpd.conf).

Inside the httpd.conf file, somehow I found a line that says:

Listen 80

And change the 80 into any number / port you want. In my scenario I’m using port 8080.

Listen 8080

Still from the httpd.conf file, I found another line that says:

ServerName localhost:80

Change 80 to 8080.

ServerName localhost:8080

Step 2 - From the XAMPP Control Panel, under Apache, click the Config button again, but this time select the Apache (httpd-ssl.conf). Inside the httpd-ssl.conf file, find line that says

Listen 443

And change the 443 into any number / port you want. I’ll using 4433 as the new port number.

Listen 4433

Still from the httpd-ssl.conf file, find another line that says

<VirtualHost _default_:443>

ServerName localhost:443

And change 443 to 4433.

<VirtualHost _default_:4433>

ServerName localhost:4433

Remember to save the httpd.conf and httpd-ssl.conf files after performing some changes. Then restart the Apache service.

Solution 2:

Open Skype.

Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Connection.

Uncheck the "Use port 80 and 443 for alternatives for incoming connections" checkbox

Sign Out and Close all Skype windows. Try restarting your Apache.

Solution 3:

In XAMPP Control Panel V3.2.1, click on "NetStat" button on top right. Make sure port 80 is not used by any other program. Then click on "Shell" Right below it. Issue this command in the shell prompt;

Apache_Start.bat

or type "ap" then tab the TAB key two times which will similarly generate the above command. You will actually see the exact error why Apache failed. It will be mostly likely virtual host configuration issue or may be something else. It will display the line number on which the error is occurring. Just fix that error. Note that in RootDocument a trailing \ can be a source of error as well. Remove any trailing "".