Share your VS Code Live Server page with anyone
Drop your project folder, a ZIP up to 25 MB or an .html file up to 10 MB on ship.page for a free link anyone can open, no signup. The address 127.0.0.1:5500 only points to your own computer, so a friend gets an error when they open it. Uploading gives you a shareable HTTPS link and a QR code that stay live for 30 days.
A file. A folder. A fresh start.
Your static site, one link away.
Uploading publishes your file. The link is public but unlisted, not password-protected, so leave out secrets and confidential content.
- Default Live Server address that only works on your PC
- 127.0.0.1:5500
- Free link lifetime on ship.page without an account
- 30 days
- Max ZIP size on the free plan (100 MB unpacked)
- 25 MB
- Files per upload on the free plan, no signup needed
- 100 files
How to turn your Live Server folder into a public link
Check that your homepage is named index.html
In your VS Code project folder, make sure the main page is saved as index.html. Keep your CSS, JavaScript, and image paths matching the exact uppercase and lowercase letters of your file names, because file paths on ship.page are case-sensitive.
Locate the project folder on your computer
Open your computer's file manager and find the folder you have open in VS Code. If the folder holds more than about 7 MB of files, compress it into a .zip file first.
Drop the folder or ZIP onto ship.page
Drag your project folder, a .zip up to 25 MB, or a single .html file up to 10 MB into the ship.page uploader. No account or credit card is needed, and the free plan takes up to 100 files per upload.
Send the HTTPS link or scan the QR code
Your site goes live in seconds on its own HTTPS subdomain. Copy the URL to send to a friend, or scan the QR code on the success screen (you can also download it as a PNG) to open the page on your phone.
Ways to open your VS Code Live Server project on another device
| Who needs to see it | Option | Catch |
|---|---|---|
| Just you | Default Live Server at 127.0.0.1:5500 | Only opens on the computer running VS Code |
| Your phone on the same Wi-Fi | Turn on liveServer.settings.useLocalIp in VS Code | Stops working when VS Code closes or you leave your Wi-Fi |
| Anyone anywhere | Upload the project folder to ship.page | Static files only; free links last 30 or 90 days |
Why 127.0.0.1:5500 does not work on other devices
Live Server is a VS Code extension (ritwickdey.LiveServer) that runs a local development server with live reload when you click Go Live in the status bar or right-click an HTML file and choose Open with Live Server. By default, it uses liveServer.settings.host set to 127.0.0.1 and liveServer.settings.port set to 5500.
In networking, 127.0.0.1 is a loopback address that always means the device you are using. When you text http://127.0.0.1:5500/index.html to a friend, their phone looks for a web server running on their own phone at port 5500, finds nothing, and shows a connection error.
How to open Live Server on your phone on the same Wi-Fi
If you only want to test your layout on your own phone while sitting at your desk, you can use a built-in Live Server setting instead of uploading your files. Open your VS Code settings and turn on liveServer.settings.useLocalIp.
Stop and restart Live Server with Go Live in the status bar. It will open using your computer's local network address instead of 127.0.0.1, and any phone connected to the same Wi-Fi network can open that address while Live Server is running.
Tip: If a client, classmate, or teacher on another network needs to see the page, or if you want to close your laptop, upload the folder to ship.page instead (see the VS Code guide).
What works when you upload your VS Code folder
ship.page hosts static files only, which covers the standard HTML, CSS, and JavaScript projects people build with Live Server. You can upload a single HTML file, drop the whole folder, or upload a ZIP if the folder holds more than about 7 MB of files.
- Works: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, fonts, audio, video, WebAssembly, and JSON files.
- Does not work: PHP, Node.js, Python, WordPress, or databases (those need a server that runs backend code).
- Forms: HTML forms need a third-party form service because there is no backend server.
- Page addresses: about.html opens at /about.html, while /about only works if you save the file as about/index.html.
- Privacy: Every page is sent with a noindex header so search engines leave it out, and only people with your link can open it.
How long your link stays online and how to update it
Without an account, your uploaded site stays live for 30 days. If you sign in with Google or an email link to a free account and claim the upload, it stays online for 90 days.
A free page cannot be updated in place: when you edit your code in VS Code and upload the folder again, you get a brand-new link. If you want to share an HTML file and keep the exact same URL after every edit, Pro is $4 a month and includes never-expiring pages, password protection, and ZIP uploads up to 100 MB (400 MB unpacked) with up to 10,000 files.
Questions
Why does my Live Server link 127.0.0.1:5500 not work for my friend?
The address 127.0.0.1 always refers to the device opening the link, not your computer. When your friend clicks 127.0.0.1:5500, their browser looks for a server on their own device. To let them see your site, upload your project folder to ship.page and send the HTTPS link.
How do I open my VS Code Live Server page on my phone?
If your phone is on the same Wi-Fi as your computer, enable liveServer.settings.useLocalIp in VS Code settings and click Go Live again to get a local network address. If your phone is on mobile data or you want a QR code right away, drop your project folder onto ship.page.
Is sharing my VS Code project on ship.page free?
Yes. You can upload a single HTML file up to 10 MB, a folder with up to roughly 7 MB of files, or a ZIP up to 25 MB (100 MB unpacked) with up to 100 files for free and with no signup. The link stays live for 30 days, or 90 days if you claim it with a free account.
Can I keep the same link when I change my code in VS Code?
On the free plan, each upload creates a new link and existing pages cannot be edited in place. On the Pro plan ($4 a month, cancel anytime), you can re-upload your folder and keep the same URL.
Will my PHP or Node.js project work if I upload the folder?
No. Like the Live Server extension itself, ship.page serves static files only: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, fonts, audio, video, WebAssembly, and JSON. Projects that run PHP, Node.js, Python, or a database need a server-side hosting provider.
Keep reading
- VS Code publishing guide
- How to publish a website
- Upload an HTML file
- Turn a ZIP into a website
- Pro and Team pricing
Drop your VS Code folder to share it
Drop your project folder, ZIP, or HTML file to get a live HTTPS link and QR code in seconds, free with no signup.