Troubleshooting

Running into issues? Here are solutions to common problems and frequently asked questions.

Common Issues

Connection Refused / Tunnel Won't Start

Problem: The agent can't connect to the Portex server.

Solution:

  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify that port 443 (HTTPS) and WebSocket connections aren't blocked by your firewall
  • Try running with --verbose flag for detailed logs

Local Server Not Responding

Problem: The tunnel is active but requests return 502 Bad Gateway.

Solution:

  • Ensure your local server is actually running on the specified port
  • Test locally: curl http://localhost:3000
  • Check if another process is using the port: lsof -i :3000

Subdomain Already Taken

Problem: You get an error that your custom subdomain is unavailable.

Solution:

  • Try a different subdomain name
  • If you previously used this subdomain, log in to release it from your account
  • Premium users can reserve subdomains permanently

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portex free?

Yes! Portex offers a generous free tier with unlimited tunnels and basic features. Premium plans add custom domains, extended logs, and priority support.

Do I need to create an account?

No. You can use Portex in guest mode without authentication. However, logging in unlocks features like custom subdomains, request history, and dashboard access.

Is my data secure?

Absolutely. All traffic is encrypted via TLS. We don't store request/response bodies unless you're logged in and have explicitly enabled logging. Even then, only you can access your data.

Can I use Portex in production?

Portex is designed for development and testing. While it's stable and secure, we recommend using dedicated infrastructure for production workloads.

What's the difference between Portex and ngrok?

Portex is built with modern developer workflows in mind. We offer:

  • Open-source agent (full transparency)
  • Built-in static file sharing
  • PIN protection without authentication
  • Beautiful, modern dashboard
  • Competitive pricing with a generous free tier

How do I update the Portex agent?

Simply re-run the installation script. It will download and replace the old binary with the latest version:

curl -fsSL https://portex.space/install.sh | bash

How do I remove Portex from my computer?

Check out our Uninstall Guide for detailed steps on removing the binary and configuration files for your system.

Still Need Help? Join our community on Discord or open an issue on GitHub.