How to fix ERROR: [Errno 13] Permission denied: Binding to port 80 requires root privileges in Python

PythonINTERMEDIATEMEDIUMUpdated Dec 7, 2025· 212 views

This error occurs when Python lacks the necessary file system permissions to read, write, or execute a file or directory. The fix depends on whether you need to change file permissions, ownership, or relocate your project.

Quick fix

Fixes ERROR: [Errno 13] Permission denied: Binding to port 80 requires root privileges

ls -la /path/to/file
ls -la /path/to/directory
  1. Check current file permissions
  2. Change file permissions with chmod
  3. Change file ownership with chown
  4. Use virtual environment with correct permissions
python — error
ls -la /path/to/file
ls -la /path/to/directory
ERROR: [Errno 13] Permission denied: Binding to port 80 requires root privileges

What this error means

The "Permission denied" error means your Python process tried to access a file or directory but doesn't have the required permissions. This happens when: 1. File/directory permissions are too restrictive (e.g., 644 without write permission) 2. The file is owned by a different user (typically root) than the one running Python 3. Your Python installation or virtual environment is in a protected system directory 4. The file is on a read-only file system (USB drive, CD, etc.) This is a file system access control issue, not a Python bug. The fix is to adjust permissions or ownership using `chmod` and `chown` commands, or to use a virtual environment in your home directory.

Typical symptoms

  • Python scripts fail with permission denied errors
  • Unable to access or modify files or directories
  • Operations work for some users but not others
  • Running with sudo is a temporary workaround

Common causes

  1. File or directory permissions are too restrictive
  2. User doesn't have read, write, or execute permissions
  3. Running script as wrong user (root-owned file accessed by regular user)
  4. Virtual environment in a protected directory
  5. File or folder ownership mismatch after installation

How to fix "ERROR: [Errno 13] Permission denied: Binding to port 80 requires root privileges"

1Check current file permissions

Check which files or directories are causing the issue:

bash
ls -la /path/to/file
ls -la /path/to/directory

Look for owner and permission patterns (drwxr-xr-x).

2Change file permissions with chmod

Make the file readable and writable by the owner:

bash
chmod u+r /path/to/file      # Add read for owner
chmod u+w /path/to/file      # Add write for owner
chmod u+x /path/to/file      # Add execute for owner

For directories, add execute permission to allow access:

bash
chmod u+x /path/to/directory
3Change file ownership with chown

If files are owned by root but you're running as regular user:

bash
sudo chown -R username:groupname /path/to/directory

Example:

bash
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER ~/.local/lib/python3.9/
4Use virtual environment with correct permissions

Create and use a virtual environment in a user-owned directory:

bash
python3 -m venv ~/myenv
source ~/myenv/bin/activate
pip install package-name

Advanced notes

On shared systems or servers, always create virtual environments in your home directory. Use umask 0022 to ensure new files have proper default permissions. For system-wide installs, use package managers (apt, yum) instead of pip.

Frequently asked questions

What does "ERROR: [Errno 13] Permission denied: Binding to port 80 requires root" mean?
The "Permission denied" error means your Python process tried to access a file or directory but doesn't have the required permissions. This happens when: 1. , 644 without write permission) 2.
How do I fix "ERROR: [Errno 13] Permission denied: Binding to port 80 requires root"?
This error occurs when Python lacks the necessary file system permissions to read, write, or execute a file or directory. The fix depends on whether you need to change file permissions, ownership, or relocate your project.
What causes "ERROR: [Errno 13] Permission denied: Binding to port 80 requires root"?
File or directory permissions are too restrictive User doesn't have read, write, or execute permissions Running script as wrong user (root-owned file accessed by regular user)
Is the "ERROR: [Errno 13] Permission denied: Binding to port 80 requires root" error serious?
It is a medium-severity error — more of a blocker than a risk. The steps above resolve it.

Official resources & further reading