How To Fix 11ty Browsersync Not Working?

When you run an Eleventy project and Browsersync stops working, it slows everything down. You save a file, but the browser does nothing. Or the local server never starts. Or it loads once, then gets stuck. This guide breaks down why it happens, what causes it, and how to fix it with clear steps anyone can follow.

What Is the 11ty Browsersync Issue?

11ty uses Browsersync to show your site in a local browser. It also reloads the page when you edit HTML, CSS, Markdown, or template files. When Browsersync breaks, your live preview stops working. You end up refreshing everything by hand, which gets annoying.

You might see the issue in different places. Sometimes the terminal shows no server output. Sometimes the browser loads a blank page. Sometimes the reload script never fires. All these signs point to the same thing. 11ty and Browsersync are not talking to each other.

Common Causes of Browsersync Not Working

This problem can come from different parts of your setup. Below are the most common triggers:

• Browsersync not enabled in your .eleventy.js config
• Missing config settings or broken JavaScript in the file
• Another program using the same port
• Corrupted node_modules folder
• Old Node.js or NPM version
• Wrong input or output folder path
• Browser cache blocking the reload script

How To Fix 11ty Browsersync Not Working?

Here are ten fixes that help most people get 11ty and Browsersync working again. Try them one at a time.

Fix 1: Restart the 11ty Dev Server

This sounds simple, but it fixes a lot of small issues. Close your terminal window. Reopen it. Run your dev command again. For most people, that command is:

If the server starts clean, you know the issue was temporary.

Fix 2: Check Your .eleventy.js File

Many Browsersync problems come from the config file. A small syntax error can break the dev server.

Here are the following steps which help you check the config:

1. Open your .eleventy.js file.
2. Look for module.exports.
3. Find the setBrowserSyncConfig section.
4. Make sure you did not remove or rename any keys.
5. Save the file.
6. Restart the server.

Fix 3: Delete and Reinstall node_modules

Corrupted Node packages cause strange problems in 11ty. A clean install often resets everything.

Follow the steps below to reinstall:

1. Delete the node_modules folder.
2. Delete the package-lock.json file.
3. Run npm install.
4. Start 11ty again.

Fix 4: Clear Browser Cache

Sometimes the reload script gets stuck in old cache. Clearing it gives the browser a clean version.

You can perform the following steps:

1. Open your browser settings.
2. Find Clear Browsing Data.
3. Clear cache only.
4. Restart your browser.

Fix 5: Update Node.js and NPM

Old versions of Node or NPM cause file watcher issues. Browsersync needs a stable Node environment.

Try these steps to check versions:

1. Run node -v
2. Run npm -v
3. If they are old, update them from nodejs.org
4. Restart your computer if needed

Fix 6: Check for Port Conflicts

Browsersync needs a port like 8080 or 3000. If another app is using that port, the server will not start.

Here’s how you can find the problem:

1. Stop all other local servers.
2. Close any tool that uses localhost.
3. Restart the 11ty dev server.

If it starts, then the conflict is gone.

Fix 7: Run 11ty in Verbose Mode

Verbose mode shows details in the terminal. It tells you where the problem happens.

Run:

You will see messages about file watchers, build errors, and reload attempts.

Fix 8: Reset Input and Output Folder Paths

If you changed your input or output paths, Browsersync might be watching the wrong places.

Follow these easy instructions:

1. Open .eleventy.js
2. Look for dir settings
3. Make sure input and output match your actual folders
4. Save the file
5. Restart the server

Fix 9: Fix Template Errors

Even a small template error stops the build and stops Browsersync. A missing bracket in Nunjucks or a wrong include path breaks the whole pipeline.

When this happens, check the terminal for build errors. Fix them. Then restart 11ty.

Fix 10: Reinstall Eleventy Globally

If everything else fails, reinstalling Eleventy often fixes system-level problems.

Perform the following steps carefully:

1. Run npm uninstall -g @11ty/eleventy
2. Run npm install -g @11ty/eleventy
3. Restart your terminal
4. Try running the dev server again

Prevention Tips to Avoid Errors in Future

A few habits help avoid future issues:

• Keep Node.js updated
• Delete old caches often
• Use clean folder structures
• Avoid breaking template files
• Do not run too many local servers at once
• Restart your browser during long work sessions

Conclusion

11ty Browsersync stops working when something breaks between the build system and the live preview script. It can be a config issue, a port conflict, a Node problem, or simple cache trouble. The good news is that most problems have easy fixes.

Try the steps in this guide. If nothing solves it, check the official Eleventy docs or the 11ty GitHub issues page. There might be a known bug or update. If this helped you, share it so other developers can fix their setup too.