To share a running local web app without configuring router port forwarding, install cloudflared and run:
cloudflared tunnel --url http://localhost:8000Replace 8000 with the port your app uses. Cloudflare prints a temporary public trycloudflare.com URL that you can open or share. The command starts the tunnel; it does not start your app or install cloudflared. Cloudflare says Quick Tunnels require no account or DNS setup. Cloudflare Quick Tunnels
What the command does—and what you need first
A Quick Tunnel connects a service on your computer to a public URL through an outbound connection to Cloudflare. That lets someone reach the local service without you opening an inbound port on your router. The machine must be online, and outbound firewall rules must allow the tunnel connection. Cloudflare Quick Tunnels
- A local HTTP app must already be running, such as a development server listening on
localhost:8000. cloudflaredmust be installed and available in your terminal. Follow Cloudflare’s operating-system-specific installation instructions.- Use the port where your app is listening, not necessarily
8000.
Start and share a Quick Tunnel
- Start your web app using its usual command. Confirm that it opens locally at an address such as
http://localhost:8000. - Open a terminal and run
cloudflared tunnel --url http://localhost:8000, changing the port if needed. - Wait for
cloudflaredto print a public URL ending intrycloudflare.com, then open that URL to test the page or share it with intended recipients. - Leave the terminal process running while the tunnel is in use. Stop it when you are done; the Quick Tunnel URL is temporary, not a permanent address.
Know the exposure and testing limits
The public URL makes your local service reachable from the internet. Do not assume the URL itself is an access-control mechanism: use the app’s authentication or other protections where appropriate, and share the link only with people who should be able to reach the service.
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Cloudflare documents Quick Tunnels as a testing option, with a limit of 200 concurrent requests and no support for Server-Sent Events (SSE). These are stated product limits, not a performance benchmark. Cloudflare’s documentation advises: “For production use, create a tunnel instead.” Cloudflare Tunnel setup documentation
If the tunnel does not connect
First confirm that the app is running and that the URL in the command uses the correct local port. If your network has restrictive outbound firewall rules, Cloudflare says to check access to port 7844. A network that blocks the required outbound connection may prevent the tunnel from working. Cloudflare’s tunnel setup guidance
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Need a stable hostname instead?
A Quick Tunnel provides a temporary Cloudflare URL; it does not reserve a chosen domain. For an enduring public hostname, use Cloudflare’s separate published-application setup, which requires a Cloudflare account and a domain on Cloudflare. That workflow maps a public hostname to a local service rather than relying on the temporary Quick Tunnel URL. Cloudflare Tunnel getting started and Cloudflare Tunnel routing
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Another localhost-tunneling option
ngrok also describes using a local agent to create a tunnel for sharing a localhost app. Its linked overview supports that general alternative, but does not establish a directly comparable set of current account requirements, URL behavior, or traffic limits. ngrok: Preview, test, and share apps on localhost
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