When you're working on multiple projects at the same time, it's easy to lose track of what's running. A database here, a dev server there, an API you forgot was still open... before long, your ports become a mess.
Portero gives you a clear view of everything running on your machine, so you always know what's using each port, can stop what you don't need, and get back to building instead of debugging port conflicts.
- Live port list. Every listening TCP and UDP port, refreshed automatically, with process name, PID, address, protocol, user, and start time.
- Plain-language explanations. Portero recognizes hundreds of common processes, dev tools, and well-known ports, and tells you what each one actually is: "Vite dev server", "PostgreSQL database", "AirDrop and sharing", instead of a cryptic binary name.
- Categories. Processes are grouped into System, Apps, Terminal (dev servers you started), and Other, so you can tell at a glance what is safe to touch.
- Kill processes. End a process gracefully (SIGTERM) or force it (SIGKILL) when it refuses to die. Select several rows and kill them all at once.
- Conflict detection. When more than one process listens on the same port (the classic "address already in use"), Portero flags it and lets you filter straight to the conflicts.
- Block ports. Block inbound and/or outbound traffic on any port using the built-in macOS firewall (pf). Rules live in a dedicated anchor, no system files are edited.
- Open in browser. When a port answers HTTP (a frontend or dev server), a globe button appears to open it directly in your browser.
- Favorites. Star a process to protect it. Favorited processes cannot be killed until you unstar them.
- Search, filter, and sort by port, process, path, command line, or PID.
- Two languages. English and Portuguese, switchable in Settings.
Grab the latest .dmg for your Mac (Apple Silicon or Intel) from the Releases page, open it, and drag Portero to Applications.
Builds are not signed with an Apple Developer certificate yet. The first time you open the app, right-click it in Applications and choose Open.
- Open Portero. The table shows every listening port on your machine.
- Click a row to expand it and see the full command line, working directory, parent process, and a plain-language description of what it is.
- Use the filter tabs (All, System, Apps, Terminal, Other, Favorites, Conflicts) or the search box to find what you're looking for.
- Click Kill on a row to stop a process. You'll get a confirmation dialog with the choice between a graceful stop and a forced kill.
Note: pf firewall rules do not survive a reboot, but Portero remembers your blocks. After restarting your Mac, open Settings and click Reapply rules.
Portero is a native macOS app built with Tauri 2. The Rust backend shells out to standard system tools:
lsofandpsto discover listening ports and enrich them with process detailspfctlto manage firewall rules inside a dedicatedcom.apple/porteroanchor, which the stock/etc/pf.confalready references, so no system file is ever modifiedosascriptto request administrator privileges only when applying firewall changes
The frontend is React 19 + TypeScript + Tailwind CSS 4.
Requirements: macOS, Rust, Node.js 22+, and pnpm.
pnpm install
# run in development mode
pnpm tauri dev
# build a release bundle (.app / .dmg)
pnpm tauri buildTagged pushes (v*) also build automatically on GitHub Actions for both Apple Silicon and Intel, and publish a release with the bundles attached.
No license yet.