PortPilot
Localhost Port Manager for Developers
Scan active ports, kill stuck processes, register your dev apps, and take control of your local development environment.
Windows 10/11 & Linux · v1.6.2 · MIT Licence
Features
Browse & Auto-detect
One-click project setup. Scans directories for Node.js, Python, Go, .NET, Rust, Ruby, and Docker projects.
Port Conflict Warnings
Visual warnings when unknown processes block your app ports. Preview and kill with one click.
Favorites System
Star frequently-used apps for quick access with collapsible sections.
Cross-Platform
Works on Windows 10/11 and Linux (AppImage + .deb). No admin rights needed to install.
Port Scanner
Scan all TCP ports with process name, PID, command line, memory, uptime, and connection count.
One-Click Kill
Free up stuck ports instantly without Task Manager or terminal commands.
Process Control
Start/stop apps with automatic port detection, fallback ranges, and countdown feedback.
Docker Integration
Detect Docker apps, see live status badges, launch Docker Desktop with one click.
6 Themes
TokyoNight, Brutalist Dark/Light, Nord, Dracula, and Solarized Light.
System Tray
Stop all apps from tray menu. Configurable minimize-to-tray and quit behaviour.
Single Instance
Only one PortPilot runs at a time. Second launch focuses the existing window.
IPv4/IPv6 Aware
Shows bind type (localhost vs all interfaces) and IP protocol version for each port.
Knowledge Base
Everything you need to know about PortPilot
⚙️ How It Works
PortPilot scans your system for active TCP ports using native OS commands.
- Scans via
netstat(Windows) orlsof(Mac/Linux) - Shows process name, PID, and command line
- One-click kill for stuck processes
- Register apps with preferred ports
🚀 Quick Start
- Scan Ports - Click the button to discover active ports
- Add Apps - Register your dev projects with start commands
- Start/Stop - Control apps from the My Apps tab
- Kill Ports - Free up stuck ports with one click
🔌 Common Dev Ports
🏷️ App Badges
PortPilot auto-detects app requirements and shows badges:
💻 System Tray
PortPilot lives in your system tray for quick access:
- Left-click - Show/hide window
- Right-click - Menu: Show, Scan Ports, Stop All Apps, Quit
🐳 Docker Integration
Smart Docker Desktop integration:
- Yellow pulsing - Docker not running
- Green badge - Docker ready
- Click badge - Starts Docker Desktop
🛠️ Troubleshooting
Port won't kill?
Some system processes require admin. Run PortPilot as Administrator.
App won't start?
Check working directory and command. View app logs for errors.
Docker app fails?
Make sure Docker Desktop is running. Click the yellow badge to start it.
🌐 IPv4 vs IPv6
PortPilot shows which IP protocol apps are bound to:
- v4 - IPv4 (
0.0.0.0:3000) - v6 - IPv6 (
[::]:3000)
Browsers may prefer IPv6. PortPilot opens the correct URL.
Smart App Detection
PortPilot automatically detects app requirements and shows visual badges
Getting Started
Install
Run the installer. No admin rights needed.
Scan Ports
Click Scan Ports to discover active ports.
Register Apps
Add your dev projects with start commands and preferred ports.
Keyboard Shortcuts
AI Agent Integration
Control PortPilot with natural language via MCP (Model Context Protocol)
Example Commands
Download PortPilot v1.6.2
Free, open source, no account required