localhost on MacOSX connection refused

Question

I've had my app running on localhost port 80 via nginx on my mac for quite awhile. Recently I did some software updates and was trying to run other apps on different ports and now I can't run my first app on localhost:80.

I've very confused on where to start but think this is a firewall issue based on the following:

Tims-MacBook-Pro-2:html TimPeterson$ telnet localhost 80
Trying ::1...
telnet: connect to address ::1: Connection refused
Trying fe80::1...
telnet: connect to address fe80::1: Connection refused
Trying 127.0.0.1...
telnet: connect to address 127.0.0.1: Connection refused
telnet: Unable to connect to remote host

pointing the browser to http://localhost gives this Oops! Google Chrome could not connect to localhost

thoughts?

The answer is provided in this SO thread http://stackoverflow.com/questions/19607457/cant-run-web-app-on-localhost-mac — tim peterson, Oct 26 '13 at 19:20
I'm having trouble seeing the answer you're referring to on that link. I also got this error (along with MySql error) after installing ngnix, but I think via a different method than you. — MikeiLL, Sep 25 '14 at 02:51
I'm guessing @timpeterson is referring to that you should be using `127.0.0.1` instead of `localhost`. — Kristofer Sommestad, Aug 06 '15 at 21:51

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 27 '16 at 03:58

4

you may want to run

apachectl configtest

first.

answered Mar 27 '16 at 03:58

DrustZ

342
1
5
19

4

While this code may answer the question, providing additional context regarding *why* and/or *how* this code answers the question improves its long-term value. – Benjamin W. Mar 27 '16 at 04:56
It will run a test in your terminal and show you syntax errors and such so you know exactly what to fix for your apache to run again – Avshalom N. Israel Feb 11 '21 at 07:57
`Syntax OK` it says, still `ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED ` – Joel Stüdle Mar 16 '21 at 21:41

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 05 '22 at 00:27

My problem was specific, but might help another user. On Mac OS go to system preferences/sharing and check your computer name/localhost name (click edit to see the localhost name). My computer was reset by Apple in a non-English speaking country. They stuck some of their language in my computer name (great idea!) and it broke the Cisco login to localhost

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 27 '16 at 22:26

-1

What worked for me was uncommenting the following line in my /etc/hosts file:

::1    localhost

answered Aug 27 '16 at 22:26

Greg McFalls

59
3

localhost on MacOSX connection refused

3 Answers3