Workflow 001: Development Tunnel Workflow ​
FreshThe daily workflow for using ngrok during local development to share your work, test on mobile devices, or receive webhooks.
Decision Tree ​
Step-by-Step ​
1. Start Your Local Service ​
bash
# Example: Node.js app
node server.js
# Example: Python Flask
python app.py
# Example: React dev server
npm start2. Start ngrok ​
bash
# Basic tunnel
ngrok http 3000
# With specific domain (paid plans)
ngrok http 3000 --url https://mydev.ngrok.app3. Use the URL ​
- Share with team: Send the HTTPS URL
- Mobile testing: Open URL on your phone
- Webhook testing: Configure the URL in third-party service
4. Monitor Traffic ​
The ngrok console UI shows:
- Active connections
- Request/response details
- HTTP status codes
5. Stop When Done ​
Press Ctrl+C in the terminal running ngrok.
Tips ​
Session Persistence
On free plans, the URL changes each time you restart ngrok. Use a paid plan with --url for a stable URL during development.
Multiple Services
Define all your services in ngrok.yml and start them together:
bash
ngrok start frontend backend api