Ubuntu Linux

How to Install Apache on Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by

Richard

Jan 17, 2024 Updated Aug 13, 2026 4 min read

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The Apache HTTP Server is a free program that lets you host websites on your computer or a web server, and it powers a huge part of the internet. Ubuntu includes version 2.4.x by default, which you can install in just a few minutes using the terminal.

⚡ Quick Answer

Install Apache on Ubuntu by running `sudo apt update` then `sudo apt install apache2`. Verify it’s running with `sudo systemctl status apache2`. Allow traffic on ports 80 and 443 using `sudo ufw allow ‘Apache Full’`.

Install Apache

Ubuntu includes Apache in its default software repositories, meaning installation takes a couple of commands. Open your terminal and run `sudo apt update` followed by `sudo apt install apache2`.

To install Apache, run the command below.

🐧Bash / Shell

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

Once Apache is installed, it will start automatically.

To verify the service is running, use the command below.

🐧Bash / Shell

sudo systemctl status apache2

The command should output lines similar to the one below.

💻Code

● apache2.service - The Apache HTTP Server
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/apache2.service; enabled; vendor prese>
     Active: active (running) since Wed 2024-01-17 17:25:14 CST; 1min 22s ago
       Docs: https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/
   Main PID: 3668 (apache2)
      Tasks: 55 (limit: 2261)
     Memory: 4.9M
        CPU: 51ms
     CGroup: /system.slice/apache2.service
             ├─3668 /usr/sbin/apache2 -k start
             ├─3670 /usr/sbin/apache2 -k start
             └─3671 /usr/sbin/apache2 -k start
...

Allow traffic on HTTP and HTTPS ports

To let people connect to your website, you need to open the correct ports in your firewall, which Apache uses for web traffic.

Here is how to do that on Ubuntu Linux. Run the command below to open the firewall, assuming UFW is being used.

🐧Bash / Shell

sudo ufw allow 'Apache Full'

Setup Virtual Host

Configuring Virtual Hosts Apache handles multiple websites on a single machine through virtual hosts, which separate files and settings for each domain. This capability proves helpful when running more than one site. Apache already comes with a default virtual host set up, which will handle any domain names pointing to your server's IP address.

Apache comes with one virtual host enabled by default. If domains point to your server's IP address, they'll all match the default virtual host. For a single website, upload its content to the default virtual host's directory and edit the host configuration file.

If you are hosting a single website, you can upload its content in /var/www/html and edit the virtual host configuration found in the /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/000-default.conf file.

To test a virtual host, run the command below to create a website folder called example.com in the /var/www/ directory.

🐧Bash / Shell

sudo mkdir -p /var/www/example.com/public_html

Then, create a basic HTML index file in the directory.

🐧Bash / Shell

sudo nano /var/www/example.com/public_html/index.html

Copy and paste the content below into the file.

💻Code

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>Welcome to example.com</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Success! example.com home page!</h1>
  </body>
</html>

Save the file and exit.

Change the ownership of web content to the Apache user, named `www-data`, by running the command `sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html`. This ensures Apache can read and write files in its web directory.

🐧Bash / Shell

sudo chown -R www-data: /var/www/example.com

Next, create a virtual host file for the website. Apache vhosts files are stored in the /etc/apache2/sites-available directory.

🐧Bash / Shell

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/example.com.conf

A very basic vhost file should resemble the one below.

💻Code

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName example.com
    ServerAlias www.example.com
    ServerAdmin webmaster@example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com/public_html

    <Directory /var/www/example.com/public_html>
        Options -Indexes +FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/example.com-error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/example.com-access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Save the file.

Next, run the command below to enable the configuration.

🐧Bash / Shell

sudo a2ensite example.com

Test the config and ensure nothing is wrong.

🐧Bash / Shell

sudo apachectl configtest
sudo systemctl restart apache2

When all is configured correctly, you should see a test page when browsing the website.

With the service running and your virtual host configured, you are ready to build out your web projects.

Conclusion:

Apache is a versatile and widely used open-source web server providing powerful features for web applications.
Installing Apache on Ubuntu Linux is straightforward using the package manager, making it a convenient web hosting option.
Configuring virtual hosts allows running multiple websites on a single server, each with separate content and domain names.

Does Ubuntu come with Apache installed?

Apache is included in Ubuntu's default package repositories, so you can install it using standard package management tools. Let's start by updating your server's local package index to make sure you're installing the latest available version.

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Tags: #Apache #Ubuntu Linux

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About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.

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