---
name: "caddy-start"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "caddy"
version: "2.6.2-12+deb13u1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/caddy-start"
---

# caddy-start(8)

Starts the Caddy process in the background and then returns

## NAME

caddy-start - Starts the Caddy process in the background and then returns

## SYNOPSIS

**caddy start \[flags\]**

## DESCRIPTION

Starts the Caddy process, optionally bootstrapped with an initial config file. This command unblocks after the server starts running or fails to run.

If --envfile is specified, an environment file with environment variables in the KEY=VALUE format will be loaded into the Caddy process.

On Windows, the spawned child process will remain attached to the terminal, so closing the window will forcefully stop Caddy; to avoid forgetting this, try using 'caddy run' instead to keep it in the foreground.

## OPTIONS

**--adapter**=""\
 	Name of config adapter to apply

**--config**=""\
 	Configuration file

**--envfile**=""\
 	Environment file to load

**-h**, **--help**\[=false\]\
 	help for start

**--pidfile**=""\
 	Path of file to which to write process ID

**--watch**\[=false\]\
 	Reload changed config file automatically

## SEE ALSO

**[caddy(8)](/caddy/8.md)**

## HISTORY

10-Aug-2026 Auto generated by spf13/cobra