How to Install Apache on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS

Learn how to install Apache on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS with this beginner friendly step by step guide. Install Apache, configure a virtual host, enable the firewall, and host your first website in minutes.

Apache is one of the most popular web servers available for Linux. It is free, reliable, and works well for everything from small personal websites to large production applications. Ubuntu 26.04 includes Apache in its official package repository, so installation only takes a few minutes.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

An Ubuntu 26.04 dedicated server
A user with sudo privileges
An internet connection

Learn how to install Apache on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS step-by-step

Step 1: Update the Package List

First, refresh your package index so Ubuntu knows about the latest available packages.

sudo apt update

This command does not install anything. It simply updates the package information.

Step 2: Install Apache

Install Apache using the default Ubuntu repository.

sudo apt install apache2 -y

Ubuntu downloads Apache along with all required dependencies and installs them automatically. Apache is then started as a system service.

Step 3: Check the Apache Version

After installation, verify that Apache is installed correctly.

apachectl -v

You should see output similar to:

Server version: Apache/2.4.x (Ubuntu)

The exact version may differ depending on the latest security updates available for Ubuntu 26.04.

Step 4: Check the Apache Service Status

Confirm that Apache is running.

sudo systemctl status apache2

If everything is working, you'll see:

Active: active (running)

Press Q to exit the status screen.

Step 5: Enable Apache at Boot

Apache normally starts automatically after installation, but you can ensure it starts after every reboot.

sudo systemctl enable apache2

Step 6: Allow HTTP and HTTPS Through the Firewall

If UFW is enabled, allow web traffic.

sudo ufw allow 'Apache Full'

This opens:

Port 80 (HTTP)
Port 443 (HTTPS)

You can verify the firewall rules with:

sudo ufw status

Step 7: Test Apache

Find your server's IP address.

hostname -I

Example output:

192.168.1.100

Open your browser and visit:

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP

If Apache is working correctly, you'll see the default Apache2 Ubuntu Default Page.

You can also test from the terminal.

curl http://localhost

If HTML content is returned, Apache is serving web pages correctly.

Step 8: Create a Sample Website

Create a simple HTML page.

sudo nano /var/www/html/index.html

Paste the following content:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Apache on Ubuntu 26.04</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Apache is Working!</h1>
    <p>Your web server has been installed successfully.</p>
</body>
</html>

Save the file and exit.

Refresh your browser. You should now see your custom page instead of the default Apache page.

Step 9: Create a Virtual Host

If you plan to host your own domain, create a separate virtual host instead of using the default website.

Create a directory for your website.

sudo mkdir -p /var/www/example.com

Set the correct ownership.

sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /var/www/example.com

Create a sample web page.

nano /var/www/example.com/index.html

Example content:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Example Website</title>
</head>
<body>
    <h1>Welcome to example.com</h1>
</body>
</html>

Now create the Apache configuration file.

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/example.com.conf

Add the following configuration.

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName example.com
    ServerAlias www.example.com

    ServerAdmin [email protected]
    DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com

    <Directory /var/www/example.com>
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/example.com-error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/example.com-access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Enable the new site.

sudo a2ensite example.com.conf

Disable the default Apache site.

sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf

Check the Apache configuration for errors.

sudo apachectl configtest

If you see:

Syntax OK

Reload Apache.

sudo systemctl reload apache2

Your new virtual host is now ready. Point your domain's DNS record to your server's IP address, and Apache will serve your website.

Useful Apache Commands

Restart Apache

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Reload configuration without disconnecting users

sudo systemctl reload apache2

Stop Apache

sudo systemctl stop apache2

Start Apache

sudo systemctl start apache2

View Apache logs

sudo tail -f /var/log/apache2/error.log

Apache Configuration Files

The main Apache configuration files are located in:

/etc/apache2/

Some important directories include:

/etc/apache2/apache2.conf
/etc/apache2/sites-available/
/etc/apache2/sites-enabled/
/etc/apache2/mods-available/
/etc/apache2/mods-enabled/

These directories make it easy to manage multiple websites and enable or disable Apache modules.

Conclusion

We have seen how to install Apache on Ubuntu 26.04, verified that the service is running, configured the firewall, created your first website, and set up a virtual host for hosting your own domain. From here, you can install PHP, enable HTTPS with Let's Encrypt, or host multiple websites on the same server as your projects grow.