How to Find a Port Number

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Computers communicate with the Internet by sending and receiving data through a network connection such as Ethernet or wireless. Different types of communications -- such as for websites, chat, or email -- are exchanged through designated ports, each having its own number. For example, website data might be exchanged at port 1031 and email data at port 25. The Windows 8 network statistics utility enumerates port information on a given computer so that you can find a port number and determine the type of data the computer is exchanging through the port.

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Places to Look

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Step 1

Port numbers can often be found in online documentation such as this for Microsoft SQL.

Check your program's documentation to find out what port it runs on.

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Step 2

The IANA website also displays which protocols are used for each port.

Check the " Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry" list on the IANA website to find out what port number the service or protocol runs on.

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Step 3

Netstat active connections.

Use Netstat. Click the Start button. Type "cmd" in the search box. Hold down "Shift" and "Ctrl" on the keyboard and then press "Enter."

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Click "Yes" in the dialog window. Type the following in the command prompt window:

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netstat -b -a

Examine the list to find the port associated with the program or service for which you want the port number. Using netstat's "-b" option requires that you have Administrator permissions on your Windows 8 user account.

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Use Netstat without Administrator Privileges

Step 1

Task Manager list of PID numbers.

Press "Ctrl," "Shift" and "Esc" simultaneously on your keyboard to bring up Task Manager.

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Step 2

Right-click in the column header to reveal a pop-up list of column names. Select "PID" from the list to display the process ID.

Step 3

The "netstat -ano" list of PID numbers.

Type "cmd" in the Start menu search box. Press "Enter." Type "netstat -ano" at the command prompt. Find the PID you previously noted and see what port it's using.

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