# How to open a localhost port from NotchStar

> The arrow icon on a Ports row opens http://localhost and that port number in your default browser. It always uses http, not https.

Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/help/open-localhost-port-notchstar/
Last updated: 2026-11-04

Published 2026-11-04.

To open a local server from NotchStar, go to the **Disk** tab, pick **Monitor**, then **Ports**, and press the arrow icon on the row. Your default browser opens `http://localhost:` followed by that port number. A short note in the header confirms it.

## Steps

1. Hover over the notch and open **Disk**.
2. Pick **Monitor**, then **Ports**.
3. Find your server, using the filter box if the list is long. Typing 3000 or the project name works.
4. Press the arrow icon, which is labelled Open in browser when you hover over it.

## What to know

- It always builds `http://localhost:<port>`. It does not read the address the program listens on, and it does not try https.
- Every listening TCP port gets an Open button, including ones that are not web servers, such as a database. Those will not show a page. The command column tells you what a port is.
- Ports marked local are reachable only from your Mac. Ports marked network are reachable from other devices too, but Open still uses localhost.

## If it fails

If the page does not load, the program may be bound to an address other than the local one, or it may need a path, or https. Copy the port into your browser by hand and change the address. If you are not sure what owns the port, read its command in the row, as described in [the Ports list columns](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-ports-list-columns/).

Other row buttons are [Show in Finder](https://www.notchstar.com/help/show-port-project-in-finder-notchstar/) and [Stop](https://www.notchstar.com/help/stop-process-on-port-notchstar/). The tab is covered on the [Disk feature page](https://www.notchstar.com/features/disk/).

## Quick answers.

### Why does Open show an error page?

The port may not speak web traffic, or it may expect https. NotchStar always opens http://localhost with the port number.

## Keep reading.

- [Disk space, duplicates, apps and cleanup](https://www.notchstar.com/features/disk/): See free space, find big folders, duplicates and app leftovers, compress media and clean caches from your Mac notch. Everything goes to the Trash.
- [What the NotchStar Ports list shows](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-ports-list-columns/): Ports lists every TCP port something is listening on, with the project folder, the command, local or network, and Open, Show and Stop buttons.
- [How to show a port's project folder in Finder with NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/show-port-project-in-finder-notchstar/): The folder icon on a Ports row reveals the process's working directory in Finder. It is disabled when NotchStar cannot read that folder.
- [How to stop a process on a port with NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/stop-process-on-port-notchstar/): Press Stop on a Ports row, then press it again to confirm. NotchStar sends SIGTERM, a polite quit request, and never forces a process.

## More in Ports.

- [What the NotchStar Ports list shows](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-ports-list-columns/): Ports lists every TCP port something is listening on, with the project folder, the command, local or network, and Open, Show and Stop buttons.
- [How to show a port's project folder in Finder with NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/show-port-project-in-finder-notchstar/): The folder icon on a Ports row reveals the process's working directory in Finder. It is disabled when NotchStar cannot read that folder.
- [How to stop a process on a port with NotchStar](https://www.notchstar.com/help/stop-process-on-port-notchstar/): Press Stop on a Ports row, then press it again to confirm. NotchStar sends SIGTERM, a polite quit request, and never forces a process.
- [What NotchStar cannot stop and why](https://www.notchstar.com/help/notchstar-cannot-stop-process/): Stop only asks your own processes to quit. It cannot stop system services, other users' processes or programs that ignore SIGTERM, and never forces.