Additionally, you may notice that the error message indicates the problem may also be attributed to “missing dependencies, improper privileges, a crash, or a shutdown by another method.” Usually, it means that another application installed on your computer, such as Skype, is using the same port as XAMPP. This message is most commonly caused by a blocked port. However, what may be new to you is the “Apache shutdown unexpectedly” error you’re seeing.
If you’re reading this article, we’ll assume you’re already at least somewhat familiar with XAMPP. You can use XAMPP without having to upload your site’s files to your web hosting service. This means that if you are building a website, you can install WordPress locally on your computer. It runs PHP and Perl scripts, and is used to develop and test dynamic websites on local machines. XAMPP is a free, open source server stack that includes the Apache server and MariaDB database: The XAMPP website. An Introduction to the XAMPP “Apache Shutdown Unexpectedly” Error
