diff --git a/server/.env b/server/.env
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a66b8ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/.env
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+PORT=8081
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/index.js b/server/index.js
index 318c0a8..ca56a44 100644
--- a/server/index.js
+++ b/server/index.js
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ const { Server } = require('socket.io');
 const express = require('express');
 const cors = require('cors');
 const http = require('http');
+const dotenv = require('dotenv');
+
+dotenv.config();
 
 const io = new Server(8080, {
     cors: true
@@ -13,7 +16,7 @@ const server = http.createServer(app);
 
 app.use(cors());
 
-app.get("/" , (req, res) => {
+app.get("/", (req, res) => {
     res.send("Hello World");
 });
 
@@ -61,4 +64,4 @@ io.on("connection", (socket) => {
     });
 })
 
-server.listen(process.env.PORT || 8081, () => console.log(`Server has started.`));
\ No newline at end of file
+server.listen(process.env.PORT, () => console.log(`Server has started.`));
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/package-lock.json b/server/package-lock.json
index ea4120d..a9984c2 100644
--- a/server/package-lock.json
+++ b/server/package-lock.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
       "license": "ISC",
       "dependencies": {
         "cors": "^2.8.5",
+        "dotenv": "^16.3.1",
         "express": "^4.18.2",
         "socket.io": "^4.7.2"
       },
@@ -297,6 +298,17 @@
         "npm": "1.2.8000 || >= 1.4.16"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/dotenv": {
+      "version": "16.3.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-16.3.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-IPzF4w4/Rd94bA9imS68tZBaYyBWSCE47V1RGuMrB94iyTOIEwRmVL2x/4An+6mETpLrKJ5hQkB8W4kFAadeIQ==",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=12"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://github.com/motdotla/dotenv?sponsor=1"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/ee-first": {
       "version": "1.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ee-first/-/ee-first-1.1.1.tgz",
@@ -1512,6 +1524,11 @@
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/destroy/-/destroy-1.2.0.tgz",
       "integrity": "sha512-2sJGJTaXIIaR1w4iJSNoN0hnMY7Gpc/n8D4qSCJw8QqFWXf7cuAgnEHxBpweaVcPevC2l3KpjYCx3NypQQgaJg=="
     },
+    "dotenv": {
+      "version": "16.3.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dotenv/-/dotenv-16.3.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-IPzF4w4/Rd94bA9imS68tZBaYyBWSCE47V1RGuMrB94iyTOIEwRmVL2x/4An+6mETpLrKJ5hQkB8W4kFAadeIQ=="
+    },
     "ee-first": {
       "version": "1.1.1",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ee-first/-/ee-first-1.1.1.tgz",
diff --git a/server/package.json b/server/package.json
index b59715d..7a7cd3d 100644
--- a/server/package.json
+++ b/server/package.json
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "cors": "^2.8.5",
+    "dotenv": "^16.3.1",
     "express": "^4.18.2",
     "socket.io": "^4.7.2"
   }