Setup

Set up Portlivo

Two minutes from download to every dev server in your menu bar. Here’s each step, plus the settings worth changing.

Install

Download Portlivo.dmg and open it.
Drag Portlivo onto the Applications folder.
Open Portlivo from Applications or Spotlight, then eject the disk image.

Portlivo is signed and notarized by Apple, so macOS opens it without warnings. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later · Apple silicon & Intel. No account, no sign-up.

Rather click than type? Portlivo shows every port with its project and frees it in one click. Try it free for 7 days →

First launch

Portlivo lives in the menu bar, next to the clock. Press ⌥⌘P in any app to open the panel. The full window opens from the panel; closing it keeps Portlivo running in the menu bar.

A welcome window offers the four settings below. You can change each one later in Settings.

Recommended settings

Setting	Where	Why
Launch at login	Settings → General	Watches your ports from the moment you log in.
Notifications	Allow when asked	Port conflicts with Kill Holder & Retry, watched ports stopping, public links ready.
Shortcut	Settings → Shortcut	⌥⌘P by default. Pick any combination.
Website previews	Settings → General	Thumbnails of each server’s home page. Turn off to keep those requests out of your server logs.
Show system processes	Settings → General	Off shows only dev servers. On adds apps and macOS daemons that listen on ports.

Notifications are the only permission Portlivo asks for. It never needs Screen Recording, Accessibility or Full Disk Access.

Keyboard shortcuts

Anywhere

⌥⌘P Open the menu bar panel (pick your own in Settings)

Port list

↑↓ Move the selection
↩ Open the server in your browser
⌘⌫ Stop the selected server

Menu bar panel, search empty

O Open in the browser
T Bring up the terminal or editor that started it
K Stop it

Window

⌘K Command palette
⌘R Refresh now
⌃⌘S Show or hide the sidebar
⌘0 Bring the window back

Command palette

↑↓ Move between results
↩ Run the command
esc Close

The devports command

In Settings → General, click Copy Install Command and paste it into Terminal. It links the app into /usr/local/bin, so it asks for your password once:

sudo ln -sf /Applications/Portlivo.app/Contents/MacOS/Portlivo /usr/local/bin/devports

Then, from any shell:

devports ports         # list listening dev ports (--all adds system processes)
devports kill 3000     # stop whatever listens on 3000
devports open 5173     # open http://localhost:5173

If Terminal says /usr/local/bin doesn’t exist, run sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/bin and paste the command again. devports works as a Raycast script command too, and Shortcuts has List Dev Ports, Free a Port and Open Port actions.

Activate your licence

Every feature is unlocked for 7 days. When you buy, your licence key arrives by email.

Open Settings → Licence.
Paste your key.
Click Activate.

Each Mac you activate uses one of your key’s activations: one for a 1-Mac licence, up to 3 or 5 for a multi-Mac licence. To move one, click Deactivate in Settings → Licence on the old Mac, then activate the same key on the new one. It keeps working offline. Lost your key? Email support@portlivo.com.

Updates

Portlivo checks for updates automatically and installs them in one click. Each update is signed and notarized, and they’re free. Turn automatic checks off in Settings → General. See what changed in the changelog.

Uninstall

Moving to another Mac? Deactivate your licence first (Settings → Licence).
Quit Portlivo from the panel’s menu.
Drag Portlivo from Applications to the Trash.
If you installed devports: sudo rm /usr/local/bin/devports
To remove its settings too: defaults delete dev.anmolsethi.Portlivo

Try Portlivo free for 7 days. Every feature, no account.

Download for Mac

Still have a question?

Write to us — a real developer reads every email and replies personally.

support@portlivo.com

Frequently asked questionsSetup, stacks, safety and licences.

Privacy PolicyWhat stays on your Mac, and what doesn’t.

Terms of ServiceThe licence, in plain English.