How to Use pktriot.exe for Windows Hosting with XAMPP 2025

Hosting your local XAMPP server live on the internet can be challenging, especially if you don’t have a public IP or if your ISP blocks certain ports. This is where Packetriot (pktriot.exe) comes in. It allows you to tunnel your localhost to a publicly accessible domain using a secure and reliable method.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to set up pktriot.exe on Windows, configure it with XAMPP, and make your local website accessible online. Whether you’re a developer testing applications, running a personal project, or showcasing a demo, this method is efficient and straightforward.

What is Packetriot (pktriot.exe)?

Packetriot is a tool that allows you to securely expose a local server to the internet via an encrypted tunnel. It eliminates the need for a static IP and complex port forwarding settings. With pktriot.exe, you can:

Host websites from your local computer
Bypass ISP restrictions on hosting
Securely tunnel your traffic using HTTPS

Step-by-Step Guide to Hosting XAMPP with pktriot.exe

1. Download and Install pktriot.exe

To get started, download the latest version of pktriot.exe for Windows:

🔗 Download pktriot.exe

Extract the ZIP file to a folder on your system.
Open Command Prompt (CMD) and navigate to the extracted folder using:
```
cd C:\path\to\pktriot-folder
```

2. Create an Account and Login

Before using Packetriot, you need to create an account:

Go to Packetriot and sign up.
Once signed up, return to the CMD and run:
```
pktriot.exe configure
```
Follow the prompts to log in with your credentials.

3. Rename Your Tunnel

If you want to give your tunnel a custom name, use:

pktriot.exe edit --name 'your_custom_name'

4. Add an HTTP Tunnel

Now, let’s create a tunnel for your XAMPP server running on localhost:8080:

pktriot.exe tunnel http add --domain elastic-sunset-03040.pktriot.net --destination localhost --http 8080 --letsencrypt

This command: ✔ Maps your localhost to a publicly accessible URL. ✔ Uses Let’s Encrypt SSL for HTTPS security.

5. Start the Tunnel

Once the configuration is done, start the tunnel with:

pktriot.exe start

Now your XAMPP localhost is live at:

elastic-sunset-03040.pktriot.net

6. Configure a Custom Domain (Optional)

To use your own domain like test.finderpe.com, update your CNAME records in your domain provider’s DNS settings:

Name: test.finderpe.com.
TTL: 1800
Type: CNAME
Record: elastic-sunset-03040.pktriot.net

After updating DNS, add the domain to pktriot:

pktriot.exe tunnel http add --domain test.finderpe.com --destination localhost --http 8080 --letsencrypt

Now, your local site will be accessible via test.finderpe.com.

7. Verify the Setup

Check if everything is working:

pktriot.exe info

If your tunnel is active, it should display:

Client:
   Hostname: your-tunnel.pktriot.net
   Server: assigned-server.packetriot.net
   HTTP services:
   - test.finderpe.com -> localhost:8080
   - elastic-sunset-03040.pktriot.net -> localhost:8080

Automating pktriot.exe Startup on Windows

To ensure that pktriot.exe starts automatically when your system boots up, you can create a batch file (.bat) and place it in the Startup folder.

Steps to Create a Startup Batch File:

Open Notepad and paste the following code:
```
@echo off
cd /d "C:\path\to\pktriot"
pktriot.exe start
exit
```
Replace C:\path\to\pktriot with the actual directory where pktriot.exe is located.
Save the file with a .bat extension, e.g., start_pktriot.bat.

Adding the Batch File to Startup

Press Win + R, type shell:startup, and hit Enter.
This will open the Startup folder.
Copy and paste the start_pktriot.bat file into this folder.

Now, pktriot.exe will automatically run every time you start your computer.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you’ve successfully hosted your XAMPP server online using pktriot.exe. This setup is perfect for web developers, testers, and small business owners who want an easy way to deploy their sites without complex networking configurations.

✔ No need for a static IP ✔ Secure with HTTPS (Let’s Encrypt) ✔ Easy domain mapping

Now you can share your localhost with the world instantly!

Disclaimer

This guide is for educational purposes only. If you face any issues related to hosting, please refer to Packetriot’s official documentation or contact their support. For any domain-related queries, verify with your domain provider’s settings.

🔗 Official Packetriot Docs

Introduction